Puma Original Bowie

LostViking

LostViking

Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
3,431
The path of a knife guy can be an interesting one. Sometimes straight and wide, clearly marked, and easy to follow. Other times it is tight, narrow, curvey, and obscured from view. Every now and then leading down to a dead end. Forcing one to back track and start again.

I recently traded a newer fancier knife for an older less exciting one, that I have wanted for years. A Grohmann #3 Forces Knife. Time will tell whether that was wise or not.

But that trade got me to thinking about another knife I always lusted after and never acquired. The Puma Bowie. Back when I originally wanted it. It was well beyond my reach financially. Then I lost track of it until recently. It'snhard not to love the classic bowie lines.

I was actually scrolling through threads up here in the traditional section and stumbled upon it. I have not spent much time up here. Blade is a huge forum, with lots going on. And I just never ventured up this way.

I like the feel of this section. It feels calmer to me. Calm is good!

I am somewhat shocked by the powerful draw the Puma Bowie and even the White Hunter have excerted over me, and how quick that occured. To be fair I have wanted one for decades, so it isn't totally new.

I even find myself looking at traditional folders now too.

The path is varied, but never boring.

So if any of you Traditional folks would like to chat about, or offer up advice. I am more that willing to listen.

I have searched here and elsewhere. Learning about older Pumasteel, rockwell dots, boiled stag, green and yellow plastic boxes, and other assorted Puma nomenclature. Acquiring just enough knowledge to be dangerous.

As much as I like the Bowie. I can't help but wonder if the White Hunter wasn't the precursor of the WSK. It just has that look about it.

I must say, I am enjoying this part of the path.
LV,
 
I think the Puma Original Bowie is the very first knife I bought purely for the artful beauty of it; it was a lot more expensive than any other knife I'd acquired at that time. Saw it in a cutlery shop at the mall back in the early '80s, and just HAD TO HAVE IT. It was an '81 model as indicated by the date code on the guard, in the plastic yellow box w/green lid, complete with the Rockwell Hardness test 'dimple' on the 'GENUINE - PUMASTER - STEEL' blade.

I can definitely relate. :thumbup:


David :)
 
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I have accumulated around 23 Pumas, all of them folders. Most are lockbacks. Of the 23, 19 are from 1985 or earlier. I like the vintage German made Pumas.

I have lusted for a Puma Bowie and still look at them on Ebay. The ones that are German made still command a strong price. I've almost pulled the trigger on one of the recently made ones as the price is usually reasonable. But I still want one made with the old German pride.

I just have to find the right one. Its rather funny as I don't have a problem pulling the trigger on a $300 Bark River.

Tom
 
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I will have to dig the one I have, that I talked my Dad out of a few years ago. In the meantime, here's a couple pre-64 White Hunters, one a user the other new.

IMG_5359_zpsbb367d85.jpg
 
Mink, Are those beauties stainless or Carbon? I recall drooling over those Pumas as a kid in the 60's reading the large gun and knife catalogs that started me on this long and expensive journey.

Joe
 
The Mastiff said:
Mink, Are those beauties stainless or Carbon? I recall drooling over those Pumas as a kid in the 60's reading the large gun and knife catalogs that started me on this long and expensive journey.

Joe
Click to expand...

The blades marked as 'GENUINE PUMASTER STEEL' were, as I understand it, a carbon steel (non-stainless) blade with a 'hard chromed' finish/plating. I don't know the details of the makeup of the carbon steel; that seems very hard to find. If not marked as above, I think all the others are some variation of stainless.


David
 
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The top two are made in Spain and the two on the bottom are made in Germany.,
 
That was one of the first "nice" knives I ever bought. Ended up passing it on because I found the handle to be too small. I still love the look of it.
 
Picked this one up at an auction in the mid '80s.

pumaskinner1.jpg
 
Thanks David. I recall Gerber chrome plating some M2 HSS knives back in the 70's. I wasn't aware Puma did it. I have passed on Pumas the last 10 years because I only found stainless models. Before that I couldn't afford expensive knives with a family to raise and lots of expenses. I recall the time when the Buck 110's were to pricey for me. It was Imperial and Schrade carbon steel blades.

Joe
 
The Mastiff said:
Thanks David. I recall Gerber chrome plating some M2 HSS knives back in the 70's. I wasn't aware Puma did it. I have passed on Pumas the last 10 years because I only found stainless models. Before that I couldn't afford expensive knives with a family to raise and lots of expenses. I recall the time when the Buck 110's were to pricey for me. It was Imperial and Schrade carbon steel blades.

Joe
Click to expand...

In looking around the web for info on the PUMASTER STEEL, I've noticed many posts (on a couple or three forums) by one of BF's members with an impressive collection of vintage PUMAs. He's repeatedly mentioned the PUMASTER STEEL as being 'hard-chromed' carbon steel at HRC 61, apparently as described by some PUMA sales literature he's collected over the years. I'm hoping he might chime in with some more details about that, if he can shed light on it. All the more reason to love those old PUMAs, if the hardness info on the steel is accurate. :)


David
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
He's repeatedly mentioned the PUMASTER STEEL as being 'hard-chromed' carbon steel at HRC 61, apparently as described by some PUMA sales literature he's collected over the years. I'm hoping he might chime in with some more details about that, if he can shed light on it. All the more reason to love those old PUMAs, if the hardness info on the steel is accurate.
Click to expand...

I would not be surprised if Pumaster is at 61 RC, after hand sharpening mine(1966 Original Bowie), I was guessing around 60 from the feedback on the stones.
 
I was another kid drooling over Puma's in the 60s. Here is the one my Dad gave me in 69. The Hunters Friend (A slight bit larger than a Hunters Pal ).
Sorry that i've posted pics of it before. Puma Luv



hUK7PkO.jpg
 
Old thread I started over a year ago. But I never get tired of seeing these Puma Knives. Hamsco that is one sweet knife. Made even more so by that fact that it was a gift from your dad.

Cool stuff all the way around!
 
LostViking said:
Old thread I started over a year ago. But I never get tired of seeing these Puma Knives. Hamsco that is one sweet knife. Made even more so by that fact that it was a gift from your dad.

Cool stuff all the way around!
Click to expand...

Thanks. That Puma will go to my son next.
 
Here is my Original Bowie from 1966, 64' was the first year

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hamsco said:
I was another kid drooling over Puma's in the 60s. Here is the one my Dad gave me in 69. The Hunters Friend (A slight bit larger than a Hunters Pal ).
Sorry that i've posted pics of it before. Puma Luv



hUK7PkO.jpg
Click to expand...

I had one of these and a Hunter's Pal. The larger one got broken and I don't know what happened to the remains. The smaller one got stolen from me by an thief that I was paying to work on my house. I didn't realize it was gone and I don't even know which one of the guys took it.

Very nice size knives and really good quality. The one I broke was being used very improperly. I've kicked myself for decades about it... Like now.

Ed J
 
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