Lovers of Old Puma Fixed Blades? I Wonder

straitshot

straitshot

Joined
Mar 18, 2006
Messages
520
Some time ago my view of the ideal hunting knife was an old but well- preserved Puma fixed blade. I eventually got a 1973( I think) Hunter's Companion in new condition. Believing I had finally reached the summit, my quest was over. Then, at a gun show, I inspected what I thoroughly believed to be a Puma White Hunter that had barely survived a serious fire of some kind. The handle, probably stag, had been completely burned away.
The remaining burnt blade had no markings left. The blade, guard, and tang looked authentic Puma as far as I could tell.
The blade tang passed through the thick guard and ended in a small threaded tang only about an inch long. It was attached to the handle with a threaded nut nestled in the recess of a skeletonized handle!!!
At home, I studied my Hunter's Companion closely. The blade spine was rounded and a different color of stainless than the exposed "tang". There was enough space above the handle rivet to allow for a nut the size and location of the one I had seen. It really appeared to me that the blade and exposed tang were two different pieces of steel.
I know old Pumas have a good reputation for strength, but it bothered me so much I trade it away and still have that belief every time I see one.
Did I deceive myself and all was well, or have we all been mistaken believing the blade and "full tang" are one piece, or is it common knowledge how they are built? It still BUGS me because I really liked that knife.
 
I should add that the blade base and upper handle frame were keyed into and fitted tightly into the guard. This appeared to make a rigid connection between the two pieces because the guard is relatively deep. The nut only kept them drawn into the guard and the sides of the nut were ground flat so it was only slightly thicker than the handle frame. Everything was very well fitted.
 
The only Puma I own is a Sea Hunter I got while I worked at Abercrombie & Fitch in NYC in 1975 and 1976.

While working there I did see a few of these returned broken off at the tang which gave me pause.

Mine has never been used hard so it remains in near new condition after all these years.

orig.jpg
 
What made you believe the burned knife was a Puma? Puma hunting knives were copied by other manufacturer's both in germany and japan.
 
I didn't go into more detail above due to the length of explanation, but because it was a gun show I was able to put it next to a nice one for comparison. When looking at both, and then mine when at home, I couldn't see how the seamless guard could be fitted over the tang or over the blade because of the dimensions. I doubted it was cast in place. Without destroying my Hunter's Companion, I couldn't verify if the blade and tang were two pieces mortised into the guard. The seeds of doubt kept me from trusting the knife regardless of reputation. I'm hoping someone here, perhaps someone who has seen one rehandled, can explain why I'm mistaken. If so I'll be looking for another like the one I traded away.
 
That style of construction, with a guard that cannot be slipped back out over the handle due to the wider full tang, has been around a long time. Harder and more expensive to make, yes. It has always been my impression that real Puma knives were made that way. As has been stated, a number of companies made copies, some good, some not so good. I don't think the burned knife was a real Puma. The fixed blade Pumas that I have are all very obviously full tang.
 
I've handled three old Puma knives, a friend's grandfather who was an avid hunter and outdoorsman left one for me, one for my friend and one for my friend's father when he died. The three of them were just the blades and guards, as he was going to have them rehandled (I ended up sending them to a good knifemaker to do it), so I could play with the blades a bit and check out the tangs.

They are all full tang, the tangs were left much softer than the blade and were not polished (maybe that's the colour difference you're seeing?).

I had the guard on mine (a skinner) replaced with a brass one, and the handle should be done this week.
 
Thanks for removing my doubts. I will now search for one similar to the one I traded away. I wish I had known about this forum about 3 or 4 years ago, but live and learn. Thanks again. ss
 
straightshot
If that burned knife originated somewhere between Dallas and Padre Island, TX, I can probably provide background on it's demise. I had taken my Puma along on trip to the coast. Did not have luggage as such so I placed it in a brown paper bag with a few other items. On the way down, one of the girls along with my buddy and I, used the bag for trash, and at a gas stop disposed of the trash without my knowledge. They either dumped the trash and burned, or the garbage truck picked it up. So there has been [was] a Puma White Hunter out there somewhere since 1970.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top