Bailey Bradshaw "Whitewing"

neilashton

neilashton

Joined
Sep 19, 2006
Messages
286
I picked this one up recently and it's a beauty. A search here has revealed they were made by Bailey Bradshaw as a production knife and he used CPM3V for the (very thin ground) blades. I gather there was a range of slip joints and lockers but other than that i'm clueless :confused:

I'd love to find out more, if anybody can add any info or pics of other knives in the range that'd be great. Failing that, enjoy the pic's folks :D


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Neil
 
As I recall, Gus had (or perhaps still has) several. He may be able to post some images.

I'd seen them when visiting with Bailey at Blade Show's in the past. They were nice knives to be sure.
 
Actually I do have a few of Bailey's handmades, but never owned a Whitewing.
What I do know is that the early ones were hand made while later on Bailey went into a production mode using a wire edm to make them.

If memory serves me correctly, the "production type" versions were marked differently (I think it was the etch. Could easily be wrong here, but Bailey being Bailey, I know he never tried to be deceptive with the process.)

Like Elliott, I was very much impressed with the quality of these knives. I am pretty sure we got to see quite a few of them at Blade together the year Bailey started selling them.
 
Bastid said:
Actually I do have a few of Bailie's handmades, but never owned a Whitewing.
What I do know is that the early ones were hand made while later on Bailey went into a production mode using a wire edm to make them.

If memory serves me correctly, the "production type" versions were marked differently (I could be wrong here, but Bailey being Bailey, I know he never tried to be deceptive with the process.)

Like Elliott, I was very much impressed with the quality of these knives. I am pretty sure we got to see quite a few of them at Blade together the year Bailey started selling them.
Click to expand...

Paraphrasing Roger Clemens, (:rolleyes:), I must've misremembered.

What do you expect at my advanced age? :eek:

;)

I think Bailey was just a little too far ahead of his time. I bet had he put forth this venture a few years later than he had originally it would have been a bigger success.
 
Arizona Custom Knives has one listed right now. The maker is shown as Whitewing. I imagine it's one of Bailey's as the mark is exactly like yours. It's a lock back in stag with engraved bolsters. Nice looking knife. I remember when Bailey announced these some years back.
 
Thanks for the replies fellas.

All i can say is it's the nicest production knife i've ever handled. Okay the scales are screwed on rather than pinned and there's no half stop but the cam tang has a nice progressive feel to it and it snaps open nicely. I'd guess that Bailey must've ground the blade as it's ground really nice and thin and i hear that 3V isn't the easiest steel to grind. As Corey said its a very elegant folder and made with premium materials. I think Elliott hit the nail on the head when he said that maybe Bailey was before his time with these. Whatever, i think i'll slip it in my pocket tomorrow...

Thanks again folks

Neil
 
Neil thats a neat little folder.
Bailey Bradshaw is super talented, I've had a few real nice stag slipjoints,and at least one,or two folders with the Sawby lock. One knife I once had,of his,well,maybe one of those "I shouldn't have parted with it" deals...It was a hidden tang stag handled hunter,a semi skinner,forged 52100.The stag was pinned & mortised.
Thanks for showing it Neil,I think Elliott & Gus' info & opinion spot on , from thier vast experience & knowledge of custom knives,for sure :thumbup:
-Vince
 
I think Corey nailed it - elegant. Not to mention it must be a mean cutter with the thin 3V blade.
 
Whitewing wares became available May 2000.

Three patterns were offered – trapper, front release lockback, and surveyor jack. The former and latter were published as coming in either a single or two blade. The first run of knives had a blade material of CPM3V and stag scales. Pre-ban elephant ivory scales offered later (if not mistaken, pearl also).

They were considered production knives, but hand finished and assembled by Bailey. Fit, finish, walk, and talk = top shelf (Duh, dealing with Bailey Bradshaw). :D

NOTE: Not my picture or knives, but thought it interesting. . . .


Whitewing.jpg
 
Great pic and just the info i was looking for. Thanks Jeff.

Anybody know when Bailey ceased the Whitewing venture?
 
No problem.

In response to your latest query. . . .drop Bailey a note. He's a member here

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/member.php?u=117070

I have a year stuck in my head, as to when Whitewing Knives stopped hitting the shelves, but keep second guessing the date. lol


Here are a few more pictures (not mine) of some Whitewings (again, not mine).

The first. . . .one of the two bladed Trappers. :eek:


Whitewing2bladeTrapper.jpg


StagLockback.jpg


StagLockback2.jpg


StagLockback2spine.jpg
 
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