Buffalo Bill Bowie Knife

[rprocter]

i recently acquired a NIB/paper "Buffalo Bill Bowie", serial #01714. it does not have the "BB 166" stamping, so is from the original production run of '69 and listed in 1970 catalogue.

as an OAL of 12", it's even bigger than "Sven":

were there any other knives produced using this pattern ?
roland

 

[Codger_64]

were there any other knives produced using this pattern ?
roland

Yes. Well, I have several Craftsman knives made with this same honker of a blade. They were made for Sears in both the Buffalo Bill configuation and several subsequent orders with a different handle (Delrin) for the American Eagle Series in 1967/69/69.

Michael

 

[Upstream]

Nice find!! I like those big blades and that thick leather sheath should last at least a lifetime.

 

[thawk]

How does the handle feel Roland? Comfy grip?

 

[Rusty1]

Nice one Roland!! Awesome condition for one of the early examples!

Russell

 

[rprocter]

Thank You gentlemen. yes, it is very nice for 40 years old.
handle is o.k, but i have a smaller hand and i think it would tire with prolonged stabbing. balance is nice, just in front of guard.
it's pretty solid, but whatayagunna use it for ?
not ideal for hunting, although it would work. basically it's for hackin' and S.D. in fact size, proportions and blade profile are close to exactly the same as the 1219C2, of which Camillus made many beginning in 1942( yep ! the Mark 2 Combat Knife).
so i think "they" dragged out the aging Mark 2 pattern and changed handle and guard and voila: The BB 166.
roland

 

[tongueriver]

Here is a sample of the Craftsman version. The BB has serial # 45XX. Also shown is a 41OT, whose handle is clearly a cousin to the big Craftsman.

 

[ea42]

Roland, that's a very interesting comparison with the Mark 2, I never noticed the incredible similarities. The only really striking difference is the size of the fuller groove on each one.

Tongueriver, nice grouping, you've got quite a nice little Schrade collection from what I've been seeing lately!

Eric

 

[Larry303]

G'day Roland....In answer to your question re lack of B166 on tang of early production Buffalo Bill Bowies....my knife is #00556 of the very first production run and has Tang simply SCHRADE WALDEN MADE IN USA like yours...definately the initial production run 1970. What is unusual is that the original white cover to this knife has 166BB stamped on it <refer photos> but the Tang does not..whereas my other later production run BB166's have it stamped on tang.....still one of the funkiest Waldens they ever made IMO....Hoo Roo

 

[Larry303]

....another photo....

 

[Larry303]

Don't see as many of these now, as we once did.....