a Bulldog brand congress on order... ?'s about these knives...

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Aug 4, 2013
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There are different generations... Don't know which one this ones from, but is a 2007 German made knife. I did read that Gec and Queen were the folks making the Bulldog brand knives under contract now, but even that info may or may not be up to date. Does anyone know if the prior makers of the Bulldog knife in Germany are simply no more? In any case, if anybody can share their thoughts or info about these knives, I'd greatly appreciate it. Also... the knife, which I do not have the model number of, is a 4 blade congress in stag... if you have this model, or a Bulldog fitting the description, your pics will also be greatly appreciated. I like the fact that the blades will be of the hammer forged type, which other than my French laguiole, I have no other of... and know that hammer forged blades were a standard back in the day... So, I like that being represented in my collection of mostly modern made knives :) Thanks in advance for anything you can share :)
 
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2005 – 2008; February 2005, Bulldog Brand Knives retired the Double Dog Head Tang Stamp, and replaced it with a single Fighting Bulldog Stamp.

A trademark has to be used every three years to keep it active, so a few knives with the rare two “Fighting Dogs” stamp are released every few years.

The Bull Dog Brand Knives are 100% Completely Handmade in Solingen, Germany by Master Cutlers. Each Carbon steel blade is individually hammer-forged with over 240 hand operations going into each knife, then each blade is reverse frost etched with the Double Dog Head logo. Nickel Silver Pins and Shield, and Brass Liners add to the top quality craftsmanship.

I collect congress patterns, and my bulldog is probably the smoothest action and best made, it is a 2007

Pete
 
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1984, German, 2nd from top. Others on the forum have the other suits' shields as well (spades, clubs, etc.)
 
Here is a more complete history


Bulldog Brand Knife History

Charlie Dorton had the first Bulldog Brand Knife produced in 1978 in the Friedrich Olbertz Factory in Solingen West Germany. Bulldog Brand Knives are still produced in the same factory. Bulldog Knives have five important periods in their existence; collectors refer to them as different generations.

First Generation. 1978 – 1987; Thirty two different patterns were produced. Out of 32 patterns came 469 styles. A Bulldog Brand Knife Collectors Club was formed in the early 1980’s and a number was assigned to each knife as it went to a customer. There were no Bulldog knives shipped into the United States from late 1987 to 1992.

Second Generation. 1991 – 1992; Jim Parker purchased the Bulldog Brand Knife Company. In 1992 the Olbertz factory shipped about 7,000 Bulldog knives to the USA. Later, some knife parts were purchased from Blue Grass Cutlery to complete additional Bulldog knife sets.

Third Generation. 1993 – 1995; 17 new knife patterns were ordered from the Olbertz factory and 5 new handle materials were introduced. Oyster Shell handle material and Lady Leg knives were introduced in this year. The third generation knives ended the era of the two “Fighting Dogs” stamp.

Fourth Generation. 1996 - Early 2000; Jim Parker commissioned an artist to draw “Lucky” Mrs. Parkers purple ribbon bred American Pit Bull Terrier. This drawing appeared as the new Bulldog Knives trademark in 1996.

Fifth Generation. 2000-2003; According to Jim Parker’s Pocket Knife Traders Price Guide, the double dog head stamp was introduced around this time.

2004 Silver Anniversary; This is the Year of the Reintroduction of the “Fighting Dog” Tang Stamp. 25 Year – Silver Anniversary of Bulldog Brand Knives

2005 – 2008; February 2005, Bulldog Brand Knives retired the Double Dog Head Tang Stamp, and replaced it with a single Fighting Bulldog Stamp.

A trademark has to be used every three years to keep it active, so a few knives with the rare two “Fighting Dogs” stamp are released every few years.

The Bull Dog Brand Knives are 100% Completely Handmade in Solingen, Germany by Master Cutlers. Each Carbon steel blade is individually hammer-forged with over 240 hand operations going into each knife, then each blade is reverse frost etched with the Double Dog Head logo. Nickel Silver Pins and Shield, and Brass Liners add to the top quality craftsmanship.

Sixth Generation – 2009 to Present; Bulldog Brand USA Knives are being manufactured by Great Eastern Cutlery in Titusville, PA and models are product by Queen Cutlery in Titusville, PA. Bulldog Brand USA Knives are high quality Knives, made in the USA, that carry on the Bulldog Brand Legacy.

Source: "Pocket Knife Trader's Price Guide Volume 8" By: James "Buzz" Parker and Ed Henley



And my knife in Himalayan rams horn when it was new

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Pete
 
That Ram's horn is beyond belief, really nice stuff!

I've got three Bulldog knives, 2 Barehead Jacks from 2005 with the double fighting dogs stamp and a single blade Saddlehorn style from 2008 this too has the two dogs stamp. All these knives are acrylic or perhaps cell handled? Quality is frankly variable on the Jacks, good snap and no gaps but both have pronounced raised springs on open (a pet dislike of mine) The single-blade is decent but has rather lurid handles. All have matchstriker pulls and certainly offer interestingly different patterns from other companies.

Thanks, Will
 
Wow, Pete... That's a beauty! Those handle scales seem translucent... very cool! :) Thank you and the others for your responses... I am now looking even more forward to receiving my new addition. The gentleman that sold it to me is a collector himself, and it seems, by his description, that I will be impressed with this knife. In any case, it will be my first Bulldog, and I have been wanting one in the German made flavor. I do still wonder what happened, if anything, to the German maker (Olbertz) that used to be tge makers under contract for Bulldog? I wonder if they went out of business?
 
Thanks Will, I watched it on the online auction site for about 3 weeks the price kept dropping, no one bid on it, I paid less than the price of a peanut for it, great deal, and the F&F is spotless, not a flaw, I almost didn't bid, I don't like repeating blades on congress patterns, but this one is really nicely made and nice in the hand, I sharpened the blades that open to the left at a shallow angle, the right side steeper, it's become a favorite.

Pete
 
Great thread with a lot of good info,thank you Jimmy & Stich.
Threads like this is why I keep coming back here.:thumbup:
 
Great thread with a lot of good info,thank you Jimmy & Stich.
Threads like this is why I keep coming back here.:thumbup:

Thank you, sir, for the nice comments :) And I agree... this place is a great source for information and the sharing of :)
 
I have a 1st Generation Cattle King stockman, the big boy, and a 3rd Generation pearl trapper.
Both have very nice, smooth action and top quality materials. The trapper is my Sunday knife.

SerpTrap.jpg~original
 
I guess Olbertz has workers showing up periodically, as there are still a few Eye Brand knives trickling out. They simply got too expensive and the quality seemed to taper off over the last 3-4 years.
 
Ahh.. that stag congress you have there, is pretty much what it will look like. The big difference will be that mine will have a bar shield (yours has a nicer shield). Very nice knife, sir :)
 
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I have only had one Bulldog it was really nice! 1 of 40 2005 Red Sodbuster. FF was better than Case. Handle to me was more comfortable than Case. Lockup was solid too! Chewy1 had gifted it to me. I couldn't find a line up for it as a user so I gifted it to Pinnah.

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Does not seem like they are/were made in large numbers... I mean, they are discussed, but not too often. Seems they have some decent pedigree, and if they went from quality German (olbertz) production to quality American (Queen & GEC) production, then it seems somebody wants that quality saga to continue :)
 
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