Bob Cargill Cripple Creek Knives

[mckgreg]

Cargill used stainless on the specialty knives like the 4th Anniversary piece and the Tribe knife as an example. The rest of them are all high carbon steel. Which particular steel I don't know. It wasn't that big of an issue
35 years ago. Most people couldn't tell the difference between one steel or another then and certainly not now. It is an issue to argue over and that's about it.
If you read thru the Smoke Signals I post you will get a better understanding of what Cripple Creeks are all about. Even the Smoke Signals are rare. The ones I will post are probably the only ones made in 1983-86.
They took a lot of time away from Cargill when he could be in the shop making knives. For this reason the Smoke Signals didn't continue for long. In time, I will be posting pages from a catalog of a large
collection that gives about as much information about Cripple Creeks out there. There are a few books that document the knives up to a certain point.
Keep in mind, the only knives Cargill did in large quantities were the Knife World knives and the NKCA knives as examples. The majority of Cripple Creeks were limited to small quantities. There is no rule
of thumb. For instance, there are 100 of a particular Trapper made and only 10 of another. Pearl Cripple Creeks outside of the Anniversary and NKCA knives only amount to about 3% of the knives.
Glad you like the Barlow Bugdoc.
More later.
Greg

 

[Bugdoc]

I will definitely be reading the Smoke Signals this weekend. Thanks Greg.

 

[mckgreg]

It should be noted that Cripple Creek originated in Lockport, IL in 1981 and the move to Old Fort, TN occurred in 1987. So, any knife without the Old Fort stamp,
not dated at all or is dated before 1987 would have been made in Lockport, IL. Also, any knife dated 1987 forward or with the Old Fort stamp will be a Old Fort, TN knife.
I hope that's clear.
The image below shows how the 1981-82 knives were date stamped. The same dating system (year in a circle) is used on the Old Fort, TN knives too.
More later.
Greg

 

[mckgreg]

Another early LI-1. Notice there is no date in the circle on the secondary blade. So, it would be a 1981-82
This knife gave me fits trying to get the lights to hit it right. The stag is so thick on a short frame it kept wanting
to roll no mater what I tried. Fits the hand pretty good tho.
More later.
Greg

 

[mckgreg]

This is the second Smoke Signal released. Loaded with info.
Greg

 

[mckgreg]

Here are the last 2 pages.
Greg

 

[mckgreg]

I'll post more Smoke Signals soon. Need some eye candy in here first.
A very rare Peanut with Buffalo Etching on the Master Blade.
Greg

 

[pmek5]

That’s very nice. Getting a lot of good info from his Smoke Signals. Thanks for posting them.

 

[sunnyd]

Greg, I just catch my breath when I move on to your next post and it starts over again. This one is wonderful, the pattern, that beautiful bone and a blade I can only describe as a reverse sheepsfoot just comes together so well. Have you said what steel was used in the Indians?

I cannot believe I haven't seen more of Bob's work posted, our maybe I wasn't paying attention.

Well put Bugdoc.. I as well am having to catch my breath after each post and find Greg's breadth of knowledge regarding Bob's knives astounding. IMO, Greg is the foremost expert in everything Cargill - Cripple Creek that I've ever encountered in this forum or anywhere else for that matter.. So we are blessed and are fortunate enough to get to enjoy all he has to offer.

Anthony

 

[pmek5]

Well put Bugdoc.. I as well am having to catch my breath after each post and find Greg's breadth of knowledge regarding Bob's knives astounding. IMO, Greg is the foremost expert in everything Cargill - Cripple Creek that I've ever encountered in this forum or anywhere else for that matter.. So we are blessed and are fortunate enough to get to enjoy all he has to offer.

Anthony

Well said guys.

 

[mckgreg]

Thanks guys. I try to do my best. Here's the main body of info from the 3rd and 4th quarter. There is more to this issue but I will post it separately.
To my knowledge this is the final Smoke Signals that was made. Cargill didn't have the time to do more. If anyone has any other Smoke Signals, please let us know.

We have added Smoke Signals up to 1986 in this thread.

From late 1986 the amount produced of a certain pattern were usually stated in ads in Knife World and other magazines. Unless we can find Smoke Signals
for the time period,we will have to rely on those ads for information.


The ads are what everyone needs to watch for and post in here.
Greg

 

[mckgreg]

Take notice of the LI's that were replaced. (LI-3 trhu LI-8). So the ones that were made previously is all there is of them. The original LI-6 for example. They were low in number to begin with
and then discontinued. There are others to look for too. I just used the LI-6 as an example because I have 2 photos of it in here.
Take notice regarding the Sachems. The 1st run was a serial numbered Coke Bottle Hunter.
More later on the Wounded Knee Barlows.
Greg

 

[mckgreg]

The White Hawk that was mentioned in the Smoke Signals.
Greg

 

[mckgreg]

Another LI-6.
Greg

 

[Bugdoc]

Greg I thank you for this thread, which inspired me to buy this tonight:

My favorite patten too.

 

[mckgreg]

That's certainly a good one to have. The stag on those is nothing short of incredible.
Greg

 

[Augie]

Greg, thank you again for all the great knives and information you are contributing to this thread, really is appreciated.

Question on the Nutmeg Barlow I first posted, it has Cripple Creek USA in script on the tang but no date stamp, does this make it one of the earlier ones?

 

[mckgreg]

Augie, if that knife was a 2 blade instead of a single blade it would have a tang stamp of 1984 on the secondary blade. That, with the information
provided in posts previous to this one will give you your answer. So is it?

On a separate issue,according to the Smoke Signals, Cargill eventually replaced patterns LI-3 thru LI-8 so any of those patterns will be limited to the ones that had already been made.
Look thru the Smoke Signals to find the quantities made.
Which also means they will all be Lockport, IL pieces. Those will be rare ones. Some even more so than others. Anyone of them will be a good find.
Here's another LI-5 that was replaced by a Slant Bolster Stockman.
More later.
Greg

 

[mckgreg]

Augie, I just thought of something. On the tang stamp of your knife, does it read Cripple Creek USA or just Cripple Creek? It's times like this
when I miss my knife books. Lost them all in my move across the country.
Greg

 

[Augie]

Augie, I just thought of something. On the tang stamp of your knife, does it read Cripple Creek USA or just Cripple Creek?
Greg

Greg, Cripple Creek USA, just like the tang stamp on your Wounded Knee Barlow, nothing on reverse side of tang. I reread everything and what I come up with is some time between 1981 and 1987.