Native American Series

DeSotoSky

DeSotoSky

Gold Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2011
Messages
6,574
Pulling this from the Sunday Picture Show into it's own thread.
There were two references to the series in the BCCI Newsletter, one in Feb, 1997 and again in the Nov, 1997 Newsletter (as shown below). They were referred to as the "NATIVE AMERICAN COLLECTIBLE 110's". The are also listed on the 1997 Special Projects list. Thunderbird (115) Quail (88) Scorpion (109) Kachina Doll (129). Original MSRP was $180. Two of my boxes have original price tags of $150. They must not have sold well as the engraved serial numbers were for a run of 1,500. I have not seen any other references and do not know what the inlay materials are or if they were a SFO by someone specific.

110.Native.American.Series 2_zpsw95cutzp.jpg Nov 97 Newsletter_zpsa8ev3lj2.jpg
 
Last edited:
jqcRXDr.jpg


This was copied from the BCCI website. I recently acquired this series with 3 prototypes of this series that never were produced. These were offered to all Buck dealers but they sold in very low numbers. I want to clean up the bolsters before I share images. I also will have a color copy of this flyer and will post at a later date.
 
[Chilibrown] Chilebrown, when you say "3 prototypes", are they prototypes of the 4 patterns shown or 3 new and different patterns?
 
Last edited:
DeSotoSky DeSotoSky S sportingspecialist pjsjr pjsjr

Love your knives! Even though Buck calls the inlay on your knives a "Kachina Doll", it is actually a Zuni Knifewing God. The Knifewing does not appear in traditional Zuni or Hopi kachina dances, so it is not a kachina. IMO, it is actually cooler than a kachina! Here is a 1940s Zuni Knifewing bolo in my collection and more information below. Please excuse my geekiness. It kicks in when least expected. :D

Gg7Sy6A.jpg


"The Zuni Knife-wing God (A-tchi-a la-to-pa), a sky being, has a combined human-bird form. Though an animistic spirit, he holds no religious significance when rendered in silver but is merely decorative. As described by anthropologist Frank Hamilton Cushing, who lived with the Zunis from 1879-1884: "This curious god is the hero of hundreds of folklore tales, the tutelary deity of several societies of Zuni. He is represented as possessing a human form, furnished with flint knife-feathered pinions, and tail. His dress consists of the conventional terraced cap (representative of his dwelling place among the clouds)... His weapons are the Great Flint-Knife of War, the Bow of the Skies (the Rainbow), and the Arrow of Lightning. His guardians or warriors are the Great Mountain Lion of the North and that of the upper regions. He was doubtless the original War God of the Zunis."
 
TAH, I agree with you. This has been pointed out before, perhaps by you. Additionally, The 4th knife (in my picture above) which Buck labeled as a "Scorpion" is clearly not a Scorpion in shape or number of legs. (a scorpion would have 8). It does more closely resemble a Gecko or Lizard.
 
Last edited:
Shameless exploitation of Native American Heritage for monetary gain.

I’m mostly being sarcastic. But I do find them mildly offensive.

They aren’t even accurate a Kachina that isn’t a Kachina, a Scorpion that looks like a Gecco.

I don’t think Buck would appropriate cultural images and slap them on a knife today. Times have changed.

If they did it to raise money for a Native American charity of some sort, maybe I’d feel differently.

They are beautiful knives.
 
eveled said:
Shameless exploitation of Native American Heritage for monetary gain.

I’m mostly being sarcastic. But I do find them mildly offensive.

They aren’t even accurate a Kachina that isn’t a Kachina, a Scorpion that looks like a Gecco.

I don’t think Buck would appropriate cultural images and slap them on a knife today. Times have changed.

If they did it to raise money for a Native American charity of some sort, maybe I’d feel differently.

They are beautiful knives.
Click to expand...
didn't realize that. was under the impression they were endorsed or okayed. not for any reason. just didn't consider the other way.

a set that was done under Native American collaboration would be very cool.......
 
I wonder who did the inlays. I have heard David Yellowhorse did them although I have never seen anything verifying that. Were they done by a craftsman at Buck or did David Yellowhorse actually do them?
 
They don’t really look like his work that I’ve seen.

What are the inlays made of? They don’t look like individual pieces of a mosaic, more like molded plastic. I can’t see any seams.
 
Through out history, artists and artistic expression have been interpreted, used and assimilated by others. It expands understanding, increases awareness and communication. I see it as positive, all growing and benefiting from the exchange. However, like most things it can can be viewed and slanted different ways.
 
Thanks Paul,

I have never seen those flyers and I do have some of those knives. Now who were the "Skilled craftsman" the 119 flyer refers to?
 
These three knives are prototypes for the Native American Series. They are samples that were never put into production. The top knife has a gold wolf inlay. This inlay did make another series called the “Predator” Collectibles which comprised of the Buck 119 model. The second knife is referred to as the “Native American Bird”. Lastly the bottom knife has a nickel silver bolster and brown fibron handle where the production knives had brass bolsters and obeche handles. This is an interesting side not to the Native American Series.


RM7NoVx.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top