Puma knives??? any good.

T

tassie

Joined
Dec 24, 2007
Messages
6
Hi guys i'm thinking of buying a Puma Bowie,you guys know a lot more then me so i would appreciate your comments on it.I'm looking for a bowie style knife which would hold a good edge.
Thanks for any input....:thumbup: tassie
 
165_1024918941_1.jpg

Handmade in Solingen, Germany
• Blade length: 6 1/2"
• Total length: 11"
• Special D1.4 Cutlery Steel
• Fully riveted
• Rockwell Hardness Test: 57-59
• Design: PUMA
• Genuine Staghorn scales(Stag may vary in size, color, texture)
• Beautiful Brown Leather Sheath
• Packaging: Puma gift box
Click to expand...

This one?? go for it!
 
Puma made some nice knives in the 70's and 80's, but I'm not sure on current production Puma knives in relation to "current" production knives from other makers.

Anyone have a good idea what Puma is using for steel? Not sure what the "D1.4" steel is and a reasonable comparison to U.S. steels may be.
 
Puma made the some of the finest production knives in the world before they were sold in the mid-eighties but their current stuff doesn't come close to the quality of what they used to produce.

I'd heard Puma quality had tanked but Nostalgia got the better of me (I still have a couple of old Puma folders from the 70's in mint condition) and I purchased a couple of Puma 4-Star folders over the internet 7 or 8 years ago - that's not a mistake I'll make again. F&F was lousy, the blade was dull as a butter knife, the edge was ground uneven, and the dye job on the bone scales was lousy. (oh yeah, and their steel doesn't come close to the quality of the the 440C they used back in the day)
 
If you do ebay searches for "vintage puma" you'll get plenty of hits, as the date of manufacture of these knives plays heavily into their quality (and of course desireability) as has been said. I have a couple of Pumas from the 70s, and truly, they come as close to custom for attention to detail as any production I've ever seen. Of course, a vintage bowie like the one you're looking at in decent shape will probably run you three to five times as much as one of the new ones will. You have to decide whether that's worth it to you or not. For many, it is.
 
One knife which I had and used greatly was a Puma hunter. I even wound up reforming the tip after it was broken off (a fool visiting at my apartment when I was gone threw it into the woodwork and snapped the tip off).
They are great knives you will not be disappointed. Mine was Carbon steel whereas I think the new ones are stainless.
 
These days they make 3 series:

- the standard expensive made in Germany Puma knives which should be rather ok. Many of their modern designs are rather ugly in my opinion, but they also offer lovely classic knives. I only played with them in a shop, but they felt good. That's worth something!

210945.jpg


- the more affordable "IP" (International Program) series which are typically made in Spain. I have one of these knives (a heavier kind of laguiole that's a bit a cross between a standard laguiole and a hunting folder, 440C) and the quality/price is pretty ok in my opinion:

840666.jpg


- the even more affordable PumaTEC series that are made in far away. A number of these use so-so 420 steel, which shouldn't be expensive indeed. But this series also offers a few honest damascus folders for gentleman use, and these are convincing at the price. I have one:

qxq5hj.jpg

28k80fr.jpg
 
Last edited:
Dagon said:
- the even more affordable PumaTEC series that are made in far away. A number of these use so-so 420 steel, which shouldn't be expensive indeed. But this series also offers a few honest damascus folders for gentleman use, and these are convincing at the price. I have one:

qxq5hj.jpg

28k80fr.jpg
Click to expand...

How does it perform? Is it razor sharp? I saw a similar model for about fifty dollars. For fifty bucks you'd expect some pretty good quality. Those models are from Japan, aren't they? Seki?

...Worth it or not?
 
Last edited:
I'm surprised no one has pointed this out of corrected it yet because of all the people asking.
D1.4 is what the Germans call 440a.
 
> How does it perform? Is it razor sharp? I saw a similar model for about fifty dollars.

I posted my initial opinion here.

After sharpening it worked pretty well. A decent compact edc for lighter general use.

> For fifty bucks you'd expect some pretty good quality.

Overall quality/price is ok, in my opinion, esp. considering the (basic - it must be said) damascus
 
yoopernauts™;6056272 said:
Is D1.4 anything like D2? Or are they just trying to sound impressive?
Click to expand...

IN the "Werkstoffnummer - WNR" numbering System for German Steels and Alloys. Alloys with a number beginning with 1.4 are stainless steel. It requires more digits than that to define exactly which stainless steel alloy it is.

My guess is that D1.4 is Puma's internal code, just as Carbon V was Cold Steel's name for an alloy that they used.. So AFAIK, D1.4 means "stainless steel".
 
I used Puma many years ago,and it was good knife.As for steels they listed them on their site,with AISI names when possible.Try here.
 
Well i have received my Puma Bowie today,looks good and now i have caught the knife buying bug,bought 2 bayonets 1 M7 Milpar U.S .bayonet and 1 Russian AK47 bayonet and i have a bid on a Gerber steadfast Tactical Bowie.

:eek: tassie
 
JOSECA433 said:
Hey there, i'm new with puma knives and i was thinking to get one of these two
http://www.pumaknives.de/dispitem_10...tem_no=7161312
or the leather hunter
http://www.pumaknives.de/dispitem_10...item_no=806374
greetings form Bolivia
Click to expand...

Greetings from the USA! Welcome to Bladeforums!

I cannot read either of the links you posted. They look like they were copies from another post, and have been truncated. Could you find them again on the http://www.pumaknives.de/ website and copy the URL again, in full?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top