Although I'm not a motorcycle guy, I do like a good looking Buck Bowie knife!...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

Joined
Aug 4, 2013
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I placed an order in today for this Buck Custom Shop Bowie Knife...

BUCK KNIVES HARLEY DAVIDSON 50TH BLACK HILLS BOWIE​

It's a Harley Davidson anniversary/commemorative custom Buck model 908 knife celebrating 50 years of the Sturgis, S.D. motorcycle rally in 1990.

I don't ride motorcycles, but if I had ever decided to, I know it would have been a Harley Davidson!

Anyhow, the blade on these knives was from the same batches of forged blades that had been specifically made for Buck's production of their Buckmaster 184 Survival knives.
Of course they machined the blade slightly differently for these Custom Shop Bowie knives, but it's the same beefy Buckmaster blade 😊

I guess these were made in a limited run series of 3,000 total.

The first time I saw and read about this Bowie, was in a book I purchased on the story of the Buckmaster 184 survival knife. After buying the Buckmaster knife, I had wanted to learn more about them, and the book was a great resource, it having tons of information.
In one part of the book it showed variations of the Buckmaster 184, and the Custom Shop Bowie was shown in that section, it explaining how the blade used to make it was the same as for the Buckmaster 184.

I had run into a few of them on a couple online auction sites, but the prices were a bit steep for the more minty specimens that I would prefer to have, so I passed on them.
Well, I found a very good deal today, so I clicked the buy button! 👍

Here are some pics of it from the vendor I ordered it from...

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Here is a picture of my Buckmaster 184. As one can see when comparing it to the Buck Custom Bowie, the blade shape is similar. But, of course the Custom Bowie has no spine saw, and has a polished blade, (rather than a bead blast of the Buckmaster)...

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I'm excited about adding this new addition to my collection.
👍😊👍
 
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Definitely a beefy blade, and a beefy hilt, and an aggressive swedge! The handle butt looks almost delicate in comparison. Nice find!
 
The only reason to have Harley-Davidson gear or clothing around is if the Motor Company is paying you a healthy royalty. Shakespeare said it all for me:

“A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”.
Macbeth, Act V, Scene 5.
 
Legendary_Jarl said:
The blade reminds me of the M9 bayonet.... I wonder how it compares side to side to one. Not my style of blade to be sure but it looks really nice. Should fit well in your collection :).
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Actually, the Buckmaster blade was the foundation for the M9 bayonet's.
That tid bit was in that Buckmaster book that I mentioned above 👍
What is not often known about the Buckmaster 184 knife, is that it was actually designed for use with the US Navy Seals.
Although it was not adopted, they did purchase some and field test them.

It seems that the Harley Davidson motorcycle company has likely well passed it's heyday. Although it's a well established American brand, much of their bikes components have been made in foreign countries for many years now, and has lost a lot of that all American feel they once had. Also, the latest generation of younger men and women seem to have very little interest in their products.

So, as the older generations pass away, so too does the brand's fan base.

I don't know what will happen to Harley Davidson in the future, maybe it will come back from the brink of possible extinction... It can happen.

But, no matter what, Harley Davidson will go down as a major part of what America has been, a piece of our nation's history and culture.

Even the yearly Sturgis rallies attended by Harley riders from all across the nation, will be read about in America's history books...

Harley Davidson is simply a piece of Americana.

Heck, even a non motorcycle rider, (such as myself), realizes the phenomenon that the iconic brand and it's products has been to the American culture.

So, although I purchased this knife for the knife itself, I see the connection it has with the famous Harley Davidson brand, and it's tradition with the Sturgis rallies, as being icing on the cake 🇺🇸
 
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jfk1110 said:
That's a beauty!!!!
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Thanks, I thought so too 👍
I can only base it's condition by the description and pics offered by the vendor, so I have my fingers crossed that it will be as minty as it appears.
I know it's a collectable, but even collectable knives often get improper or even poor care. Also, if it's been kept in poor air environment conditions, that too can cause issues. But, I think I should be okay with this one, (based on the pics) 🤞
 
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The knife came with it's original walnut and glass display case with a blue felt interior lining.
I wanted to cover the 30+ year old blue felt with a fresh one. I didn't have any new blue material handy, but still had some red satin material left over from a recent previous project, so used it in on this display.
I didn't remove the original blue felt, the new red material is only covering it, this way it keeps things original 👍

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PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Actually, the Buckmaster blade was the foundation for the M9 bayonet's.
That tid bit was in that Buckmaster book that I mentioned above 👍
What is not often known about the Buckmaster 184 knife, is that it was actually designed for use with the US Navy Seals.
Although it was not adopted, they did purchase some and field test them.

It seems that the Harley Davidson motorcycle company has likely well passed it's heyday. Although it's a well established American brand, much of their bikes components have been made in foreign countries for many years now, and has lost a lot of that all American feel they once had. Also, the latest generation of younger men and women seem to have very little interest in their products.

So, as the older generations pass away, so too does the brand's fan base.

I don't know what will happen to Harley Davidson in the future, maybe it will come back from the brink of possible extinction... It can happen.

But, no matter what, Harley Davidson will go down as a major part of what America has been, a piece of our nation's history and culture.

Even the yearly Sturgis rallies attended by Harley riders from all across the nation, will be read about in America's history books...

Harley Davidson is simply a piece of Americana.

Heck, even a non motorcycle rider, (such as myself), realizes the phenomenon that the iconic brand and it's products has been to the American culture.

So, although I purchased this knife for the knife itself, I see the connection it has with the famous Harley Davidson brand, and it's tradition with the Sturgis rallies, as being icing on the cake 🇺🇸
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There is just too much image attached to Harley these days.

If you just want to ride a bike vs if you want to be seen riding the right bike.
 
Drop bear said:
There is just too much image attached to Harley these days.

If you just want to ride a bike vs if you want to be seen riding the right bike.
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Like I mentioned earlier, I'm not a motorcycle guy. With that said, when I was growing up, and during my younger man years, the Harley was still the coolest bike to own. Even then it had a lot to do with it being a status symbol.... I mean, the Asian made bikes were less expensive, more reliable, lighter, faster, but... the Harley still held that cool desirable status.

I don't believe that is still the case at all today with the younger generations of potential buyers. If that doesn't somehow change, I can't see Harley Davidson surviving in the long run, since it needs a new pool of younger followers for survival.

Actually, since there were a good number of Harley guys in the past, knives, like the one I purchased above, will continue to be released back onto the market as these fellas pass away. The market for these types of HD knives is obviously shrinking as well. I paid only $300 for this very minty quality made knife, and I believe their prices will continue to drop as less folks are left that are interested in their bikes or it's branding on any given products.

Not a bad time to score on such knives if the HD brand doesn't bother the person considering the purchase of the knife. One just has to look beyond the HD brand, and more carefully look at the knife itself 😊
 
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DangerZone98 said:
For a solid user Bowie, the Becker BK9 looks like a great choice.
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Or a Buck 124. Both are great knives.

As far as the OP’s knife. Its a shame they wasted those blades on that project. IMHO

I would prefer it without all the Harley and Sturgis stuff.

I road a lot of bikes for a long time including Harleys. I still love motorcycles but do not enjoy riding them anymore. I have never felt the need for “Harley Stuff”.
 
Drop bear said:
There is just too much image attached to Harley these days.

If you just want to ride a bike vs if you want to be seen riding the right bike.
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I ride a Harley and I don't see it as anything, other than another motorcycle. I've had many other brands and it's a motorcycle, just like the rest. Has it's own character and pluses and minuses, but so did all the others. I don't get into the Harley branded gear at all, but I never got into any other brands gear either.
 
jill jackson said:
I ride a Harley and I don't see it as anything, other than another motorcycle. I've had many other brands and it's a motorcycle, just like the rest. Has it's own character and pluses and minuses, but so did all the others. I don't get into the Harley branded gear at all, but I never got into any other brands gear either.
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I guess my view is different because I purchased the knife as an addition to my collection, not as a user.

I look at the Buck knife company and it's products as having earned it's place in our Country's history... a piece of our Americana.

I also see Harley Davidson as having earned it's place as a piece of our history... Again, a piece of our Americana.

And, seeing Mt. Rushmore depicted on the knife's blade... Well, no doubt you can't get any more Americana than that!

So much representation of our country, all on this one knife 👍

If one thinks about the Bowie knives made during their 1800's era heyday, many of them were etched with American patriotic scenes and slogans. This Buck Bowie knife actually falls in line with that part of the Bowie knife tradition 👍

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It's just something cool to own and keep for posterity... Hey, and it already has over 30 years under it's belt! 👍🇺🇸👍
 
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