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BB-166 Buffalo Bill Question
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Codger_64
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http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=467578&highlight=BB166
From: Henry B. Baer May 7, 1968
#166 - As described above, the blade to be etched with the fascimile signature of W. F. Cody in quotations "Buffalo Bill." We will have to buy an emblem approximately the size of a dime to be inserted near the base of the handle. Sample will be enroute to you at the time of this memo...
The first 400 were indeed made in 1968-69, all serialized. Numbers1-10 were sent to the "21 Club" in NYC., number 21 to Henry Baer via IKAC New York, NY., and the balance of first 100 sets to the Buffalo Bill Historical Society in Cody Wyoming. These were boxed sets including the BB125s. Some early numbers may be found with a "TR” suffix indicating they were sent to the Trustees of the W.F. Cody Museum. I also see notations of changes from the early proposed walnut handles to African Rosewood, and the Cody bust handle shields were coined in house when outsourcing proved to be too expensive. The matching “antique finish” Gaucho style sheaths for the knives were produced by El Cid of Santa Monica, California.
They were sold also through Abercrombie & Fitch (150), Norm Thompson (250) and an unknown quantity to Hoffritz, “Made expressly for Hoffritz” also etched on the blade.
The knife later appeared for open retail sale first in the 1970 Schrade Walden catalog, and for a second and final time in the 1971 catalog. They were not listed as sets with the companion folding hunter BB125, and the BB125 did not appear individually either.
An additional 750 were sold as Sears #21628 in 1969 and 1970. While it is not at this point a certainty, this pattern likely closely followed the later BB166 design with single brass guards having forward curved upper and lower quilons, the rounded African Rosewood handle and brass rivets.
From: Henry B. Baer May 7, 1968
#166 - As described above, the blade to be etched with the fascimile signature of W. F. Cody in quotations "Buffalo Bill." We will have to buy an emblem approximately the size of a dime to be inserted near the base of the handle. Sample will be enroute to you at the time of this memo...
The first 400 were indeed made in 1968-69, all serialized. Numbers1-10 were sent to the "21 Club" in NYC., number 21 to Henry Baer via IKAC New York, NY., and the balance of first 100 sets to the Buffalo Bill Historical Society in Cody Wyoming. These were boxed sets including the BB125s. Some early numbers may be found with a "TR” suffix indicating they were sent to the Trustees of the W.F. Cody Museum. I also see notations of changes from the early proposed walnut handles to African Rosewood, and the Cody bust handle shields were coined in house when outsourcing proved to be too expensive. The matching “antique finish” Gaucho style sheaths for the knives were produced by El Cid of Santa Monica, California.
They were sold also through Abercrombie & Fitch (150), Norm Thompson (250) and an unknown quantity to Hoffritz, “Made expressly for Hoffritz” also etched on the blade.
The knife later appeared for open retail sale first in the 1970 Schrade Walden catalog, and for a second and final time in the 1971 catalog. They were not listed as sets with the companion folding hunter BB125, and the BB125 did not appear individually either.
An additional 750 were sold as Sears #21628 in 1969 and 1970. While it is not at this point a certainty, this pattern likely closely followed the later BB166 design with single brass guards having forward curved upper and lower quilons, the rounded African Rosewood handle and brass rivets.
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- Sep 14, 2003
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If you look at Rusty's icon (avatar) you will see the other 1/2 of the BB set.
I know hes' posted a better picture of it here before. I think I have it on the site somewhere too but cant find it at the moment.
I'm 1st on his buyers list so dont even offer (in my opinion)
TTYL
Larry
I know hes' posted a better picture of it here before. I think I have it on the site somewhere too but cant find it at the moment.
I'm 1st on his buyers list so dont even offer (in my opinion)
TTYL
Larry
Beautiful Jackie...but you have to show the box as well which I know is not only scarce but nearly as important to people like me who want to see it as it would have been in the hardware shop or whatever years ago! You are lucky mate that seller told me he would not sell to Australia however I am glad you got it. I've got 2 in sheaths ...but no box. I guess when folk were buying these and other knives originally the box/bling did not seem as important as it does today to me anyway. Hoo Roo.
P.S. Thats a low mint number as well. Mine dont have numbers on cross guard <I dont think>
P.S. Thats a low mint number as well. Mine dont have numbers on cross guard <I dont think>
