Frank Buster Celebrated Fight'n Roosters

black mamba

black mamba

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There were a few older threads (6 yrs old) that I decided not to resurrect, but just recently I've gathered a couple Fight'n Rooster Frank Buster Celebrated Cutlery Co. knives, so decided to start a new thread. These are very high quality, well built knives, primarily in celluloid, but also built with bone and stag. The pulls (5-6) on my two are exemplary, very like the Charlows with great snap and action. The carbon steel blades take a keen edge easily, and the F&F are on a par with today's GECs.

Made in Solingen, Germany, maybe by Olbertz? Anyone with Buster Roosters, or any info on these fine old knives, please chime in. Here are my couple (so far ;)).

1987 Blade Show & Cutlery Fair Gunstock Stockman, 3.5" in burnt stag (new, unused condition, with pen third blade)

FnRoosterStagClosed_zps0f38e4cd.jpg~original


FnRoosterStagOpen_zps3160735c.jpg~original


1990 Hook, Line & Sinker Stockman, 3.8" in fish scale celluloid (slight patina, a great user)

FnRoosterOpen_zps60a76954.jpg~original
 
Tow superb knives, Jeff! Hook Line @ Sinker has it all but then again so does the gunstock!! Super nice

Here is my toothpick

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Nice knives Jeff and Gev. Thanks for sharing, I am new to these and they look great! :thumbup:
 
Thanks, Jeff and Mark! Jeff, I had put it away and your reminded me that they are of such quality. Maybe the stockman and the pick today.

Just because its cold outside...yes yes yes ..finally

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Nice ones Jeff and Stevo.
Mine one and only,there are a few more I wouldn't mind having though.
4" shadow

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Not the biggest fan of the gunstock pattern but that gunstock stockman in burnt stag has me drooling! Amazingly nice piece, I'm jealous!
 
This is the only one I have, picked it up because I wanted something in the lockback whittler pattern.
Lockback whittler dressed in mother of pearl
FR%20whittler%201.jpg
 
I own one, this 3-7/8" Stockman - I really like the green bone - bought it in an antique mall several years ago (so I'm not sure how old it is). They really made some nice knives from what I can see in your pictures. OH

Fight_n_Rooster_Stockman_Green_Pick_Bone.jpg
 
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Great old knives from the Olbertz factory (although some "display" models were made in England, and a handful were made in Japan). They were typical Olbertz with great action and steel, but did have the typical open backsprings and small gaps that was once accepted of pocket knives. A lot of gassing issues, periodic blade rub, and lazy blades due to the tight joints were not uncommon. But, all in all, some of the best knives made in the 1980's and into the 1990's.
 
I had not seen this brand before. Did a little looking around online. They made some very nice looking stuff.

Please excuse my vast ignorance, but is the "Hen and Rooster" brand an offshoot of Fighting Rooster?
 
No it isn't. These were made by the Olbertz factory in Germany and designed by Frank Buster out of Lebanon TN. "Cuz" as his friends knew him, would make a trip a year to Solingen to show and discuss his new designs with the factory. He also owned an antique store on the square in Lebanon for many years and I remember going there in the late 90s. He was good friends with Jim Parker who owned Case at one time. Both traded knives with each other, both have passed on now and we were all hopeful that Cuz' son, Sterling would carry on the FR knives and quality but that was not to be. I have many friends who stayed with Fightn Rooster till the very end but quality suffered and Sterling didn't have the passion of his father so it all ended. Most of the last knives produced were made out a type of acrylic or Zlox as it was refered to. Obviously the 1980s "club knives" and pearl knives are most sought after by collectors today. But honestly, if you found a stag or a rare FR made from older Sheffield parts, meaning fancy bolsters and or file work, well then you really have something!
Perry
 
singin50 said:
No it isn't. These were made by the Olbertz factory in Germany and designed by Frank Buster out of Lebanon TN. "Cuz" as his friends knew him, would make a trip a year to Solingen to show and discuss his new designs with the factory. He also owned an antique store on the square in Lebanon for many years and I remember going there in the late 90s. He was good friends with Jim Parker who owned Case at one time. Both traded knives with each other, both have passed on now and we were all hopeful that Cuz' son, Sterling would carry on the FR knives and quality but that was not to be. I have many friends who stayed with Fightn Rooster till the very end but quality suffered and Sterling didn't have the passion of his father so it all ended. Most of the last knives produced were made out a type of acrylic or Zlox as it was refered to. Obviously the 1980s "club knives" and pearl knives are most sought after by collectors today. But honestly, if you found a stag or a rare FR made from older Sheffield parts, meaning fancy bolsters and or file work, well then you really have something!
Perry
Click to expand...

Wow, great history lesson on this brand. Thanks singin50, very nice knives everyone.
 
Here is another one to add, a green pick bone four blade canoe from 1987. Another quality touch is the shield has two pins through the scale, one for each "lobe."

4BlCanoeOpen_zpsdc9b7f76.jpg~original


4BlCanoePile_zps5073db97.jpg~original
 
Some great looking knives so far!

Nice bone on the green and brown, and nice stag on that gunstock/stockman.


That lockback whittler in pearl is a keeper too!
 
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