need info on knife

[poet1254]

My metal detector found a hunting knife With Schrade USA 497 on
the blade. It is approx. 8 3/4' long , brass guard and screw down end
and bone or antler handle. i have not been able to find this anywhere on the net. Please help!

 

[thawk]

One from the 49ers Bench Made Series. There are a couple of experts here on the fixed blades. They will line you out on what you found.

 

[Codger_64]

As thawk said, the 497 was one of the "Benchmade '49ers". It came with a leather washer handle as the 497L, and with a Staglon (Delrin) handle as the 498S. They were introduced circa 1973 as updated versions of older fixed blade patterns, the 497's ancestor being the 147. They came in a box marked "Benchmade" with a squared sheath embossed with the "'49ers" emblem.

Michael

 

[thawk]

http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/corners/Collectors_corner.htm

Look in Arnold and Larry H's collections to see some examples of these knives.

 

[Codger_64]