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Jeremiah Johnson bush knife was a ?

L

Loosearrow

Joined
Apr 14, 2008
Messages
1,810
I can't remember the knife he used in the movie. Was it a Western 49 in a mountain man sheath? Any help would be appreciated.
 
Some will swear it was a custom by John Nelson Cooper, but after about 200 times watching that movie, and freeze framing the DVD several times, I am still fairly convinced that it was just a Western #49.
 
It's one of my favorite movies. Can't remember if the guard fit into the mountain man sheath or just up to it. I am thinking the same as you about the knife. I like the older 49 carbon blades. They take a good edge. Have enough heft for splitting wood. As good as one of those thin hatchets. I do like the dangler on the sheath but have been thinking of a mountainman sheath for it. Guard in or out of the sheath or cut the guard back are my considerations. Regards
 
Bear Claw Chris Lappe said:
Some will swear it was a custom by John Nelson Cooper, but after about 200 times watching that movie, and freeze framing the DVD several times, I am still fairly convinced that it was just a Western #49.
Click to expand...

I recall reading an article that mentioned Cooper's knife being used for the movie posters but a Western being used in the actual film.
 
Loosearrow said:
It's one of my favorite movies. Can't remember if the guard fit into the mountain man sheath or just up to it. I am thinking the same as you about the knife. I like the older 49 carbon blades. They take a good edge. Have enough heft for splitting wood. As good as one of those thin hatchets. I do like the dangler on the sheath but have been thinking of a mountainman sheath for it. Guard in or out of the sheath or cut the guard back are my considerations. Regards
Click to expand...

I loved mine...except for the huge guard. Best chopper I ever owned. Wish I had kept it.
 
mistwalker said:
I loved mine...except for the huge guard. Best chopper I ever owned. Wish I had kept it.
Click to expand...

You can still find used W-49s.

BowieChopper009.jpg


Here is a carbon steel one that I cut the guard down on and rounded the handle.

w49001.jpg
 
My very first good fixed blade was a Western (Coleman) w49 Bowie.
After Coleman sold off Western a lot of places had deep discounts on the Coleman marked Westerns. Found a mint one for $50 in a pawn shop about 4 years after i bought the first one.
Then i modded the heck out of the first one,lol.
It has some extra ugly moose antler slabs/panels, cut-down guard, reshaped/profiled blade with choil added! :eek:
Ironic considering i've since come to loath choils. lol.
If i ever get it presentable again i'll have to take some pics.
Might just rehandle it again with some nice wood, got some Bocote coming to me in the mail.

Every now and then you will see the W49 blade blanks on Ebay.
 
Nice pics. Like the shortened guard. Good job. Since I now have 2 older carbon bladed ones, I may just cut the guard down and make a mountain man sheath for it. It feels like a great chopper and the steel just seems to hold an edge fairly well and is easy to sharpen.
 
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