Original Bowie info needed.

[Gerhard Swart]

Good day all,

I have a have a knife with an interesting story and I am looking for any additional information and valuation if possible (although I am not looking to sell it).

This knife was found by my father (while swimming) in The Crocodile river in Komatie Poort South Africa in 1969. He grew up in this little town. This is prime big 5 hunting area and now borders Mozambique and the Kruger National Park. The story of how an Original Bowie made knife ended there is a mystery but most likely a Big game hunter probably dropped it in the river and was not willing to face the crocodiles and hippos in the murky water to try and retrieve it. For little boys growing up in the area they new which parts is swimmable and which parts you should avoid.

It looks like it could have had a guard that was missing when found. Any info will be appreciated.

Stamped: Original Bowie with a crown and sword.
Also ERN Solingen Germany

12 inch knife, blade is more than 7 inches long and 5mm thick with some sort of bone finished handle.
Upload pictures but it seems that can only be done through Hyperlink.

 

[Vlade]

I think the fellows would like to see a picture of it. And I also think that you have to be a gold member to get a valuation.

 

[eisman]

I'm not going to speak to specific valuation. There's a link to look at for that bookmarked all over this forum. But the "Original Bowie Knife" marking is pretty common on knives from Germany. I have one, a gift from a friend who's no longer able to hunt, and I've seen many for sale. They are not expensive. Edge, Wingen, and Gutmann all made "Original" Bowie Knives.

They were very common back in the 1950's and you can find ads for them in old magazines. Not bad knives, but nothing really special. That being said, it's very usable.

NEW MEMBERS :: Please read this :: WHAT IS MY KNIFE WORTH?

From Bladeforums rules: WHAT IS MY KNIFE / GADGET / SPATULA / TUNING FORK WORTH ?!?!?!?! In order to curtail potential abuse of membership privileges associated with the forums, questions regarding valuation of knives and collections are limited to those with a membership level which permits...

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https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/my-precious-is-it-rare.872930/

 

[Gerhard Swart]

I think the fellows would like to see a picture of it. And I also think that you have to be a gold member to get a valuation.

Thank you for the feedback. I will happily email you the pictures if that is allowed? I was not aware I was breaking any rules

 

[Gerhard Swart]

I'm not going to speak to specific valuation. There's a link to look at for that bookmarked all over this forum. But the "Original Bowie Knife" marking is pretty common on knives from Germany. I have one, a gift from a friend who's no longer able to hunt, and I've seen many for sale. They are not expensive. Edge, Wingen, and Gutmann all made "Original" Bowie Knives.

They were very common back in the 1950's and you can find ads for them in old magazines. Not bad knives, but nothing really special. That being said, it's very usable.

NEW MEMBERS :: Please read this :: WHAT IS MY KNIFE WORTH?

From Bladeforums rules: WHAT IS MY KNIFE / GADGET / SPATULA / TUNING FORK WORTH ?!?!?!?! In order to curtail potential abuse of membership privileges associated with the forums, questions regarding valuation of knives and collections are limited to those with a membership level which permits...

www.bladeforums.com

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/my-precious-is-it-rare.872930/

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I was not aware of the valuation rules. As for the manufacturer I have received info on the logo. It looks like ERN Solingen Germany - Carl Friedrich is the be the manufacturer. The knife could not be made in 1950's as Carl produced razors and knifes in 1870. But I can't find any info of him making a Bowie Model. I will happily email you the pictures if that is allowed.

 

[Gerhard Swart]

Thank you for the feedback. I will happily email you the pictures if that is allowed? I was not aware I was breaking any rules

I just found out the Crown with sword belong to a razor and knife maker that operator in the 1870's called Carl Friedrich in Germany.

 

[killgar]

Your knife is not from the 1870's. The ERN company produced hunting knives as recently as the 1980's.

 

[Kbrasmodeler]

Thank you for the feedback. I will happily email you the pictures if that is allowed? I was not aware I was breaking any rules

You can upload your photos to Imgur, or another hosting site, then copy the BB code, and paste in a post. It's free and easy.

 

[Gerhard Swart]

Your knife is not from the 1870's. The ERN company produced hunting knives as recently as the 1980's.

Hi, Thank you for the reply. You state it's definitely not from the 18'hundreds. Do you have info or year of production for it? How do you know it definitely not from that time. Just trying to understand and learn.

 

[killgar]

Hi, Thank you for the reply. You state it's definitely not from the 18'hundreds. Do you have info or year of production for it? How do you know it definitely not from that time. Just trying to understand and learn.

From previous research it is my understanding that ERN produced/sold knives (as opposed to razors) from the 1920's through the 1980's. Since your knife was found in 1969, that means it's date of manufacture can be narrowed down to between the 1920's and the 1960's.

If you're looking for proof, as in, a catalog or an invoice from ERN that says when exactly your knife was made, you won't likely get any. I certainly don't have any.

ERN also imported knives from other countries (Italy, Japan) and sold them under their own brand. But the ones marked "Solingen" were made in Germany.

 

[Arathol]

The knife could not be made in 1950's as Carl produced razors and knifes in 1870. But I can't find any info of him making a Bowie Model. I will happily email you the pictures if that is allowed.

No.....The fact that the company made razors in 1870 is irrelevant. The Carl Friedrich Ern Gruppe didn't start making knives until 1925 under Otto Ern. Starting from the 1950s through the 60s into the 70s there was a slew of German made bowie knives of all shapes and sizes with stag and bone handles made in Solingen by a number of manufacturers.
Need pictures for further info....
>open free Imgur account
>upload pics to Imgur
>locate the BBCode url (link) for the picture, its the one with the IMG tags
>copy the url and paste it here in the response box
For example, the url will be formatted like this

[img]https://i.imgur.com/9BxPRXal.jpg[/img]]

Which produces a picture in-line in the post

 

[Cobalt]

like this?

 

[Danke42]

Crazy! Time Traveller Bowie Knife. Made in Solingen Germany in 1870 commissioned by someone who was on the sandbar the Mississippi in 1827 then jumped forward to South Africa in 1969.

I know the rule is "Buy the Knife, not the story" but c'mon. This one has to be the exception.

 

[eveled]

“The Original Bowie”. Is one of the reason I dislike Bowie knives as a concept.

It would be like me making “The Original Samurai Sword”

It is cultural appropriation for profit at its worst.

Basically nice knives with a shady marketing scheme. IMHO.