Puma "Plainsman" info.

P

Prof. Ed

Joined
Jan 17, 2003
Messages
144
Hi all,
I have a Puma "Plainsman" lockback hunter in new condition.Never cut anything with it. I bought it in 1966 or 1967. It has a 4" blade. I have done some research and have never found this model. All kinds of other models with wood and brass, even 4" blades, but never the "Plainsman"!
Does anyone know about this knife? Also, It came with a suede leather case with a rawhide cord attached at the top. There is a rivet at the bottom and a small tab of suede leather. Between the suede leather tab there is a piece of metal that is somewhat sharpened on one side. It is probaly one half the size of a dime. The other side has the Puma trademark and the letters "DSGM". What is the purpose of this metal piece?
Lots of questions to challenge you. This has bothered me since my first year of college. Now, I've already taught "31" years. Time for an answer!!!LOL
Thanks,
Prof. Ed (retired at the moment)
 
The Puma Plainsman was first made in 1965 and Changed the name in late 1969. Puma changed the name to "Game Warden" with the same model number, 970. It was also made in a two bladed version with the second being a saw. No one I know is sure why they changed from Plainsmans to Game Warden. They are both identical in metal and blade length of 3 3/4" and model number.
If you look at the small rivet on the bottom of the suede pouch it probably has a small Puma head on it. The small piece of steel is there to help those wearing gloves and still want to open the knife.
The pouch of the late 60's were lighter in color than today and usually made out of deer suede.
If you want the exact date of manufacture, go to my website and on the top left is a dating chart link. www.pumaonly.com
If you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask.

Ken
 
Great info, Ken.
Thank you so much.
Do these have any value? I threw the original green box out, because it fell apart.
Thanks,
Prof. Ed:)
 
They seem to worth about 10% less than a Game Warden. "Slightly" used somewhere around $50-$75. New (yes there still a some that are new) $125.
 
Thanks. I was hoping for more value. My wife won't let me sell it because I had it since I was 18. Now I'm 54! I don't feel attached to it, but my kids will get all my junk someday and they can remember dad and grandpa! LOL As they sell my things at a garage sale!!!LOL
 
Ken, I own a Puma Trail Master. Unfortunately, I've been told that the knife is crap and therefore been using it extensively. It was NIB when I bought it (1995). You don't happen to know what steel the blade is made of and what year it was made? The model # is 116382.

Then there is another one. A Puma Cub, model # 960. Same question; what blade steel, and year? Is it any good? How rare is it?

Thx in advance,
~Paul~
 
The knife you have is a trail guide model 6382. Does it have stag? the 11 usually designate stag. There may be a five digit number on the knife reverse the third and fourth digit and thats the year of manufacture.
Puma made some very good trail guides from left over blades thru 1994. It should say "high carbon" steel on the blade if this is one of them.
The Cub really isn't that desirable. same here with the year,look on the blade release.
 
Thanks for the info Ken. Yes, it does have stag and yes it says "High Carbon Steel" on the blade (it also says Germany and "Handmade"). The five digit number is 42682.

If I understand this correctly, the knife was made in February of 1986, right?

Thanks again,
~Paul~
 
The warranty number means your trail guide was made in the second half of 1986. It should also be serrated. Does it have a sheath and a foam insert in the box?

Ken
 
There is a tan sheath with a leather lanyard and a plastic green/yellow box with foam insert. The knife has a small serrated portion.
 
Hang onto that high carbon steel Puma. They are terrific at holding an edge. I wish Puma still used that high carbon steel; as good as their stainless is, the carbon steel is even better. If you look at the stainless steel they are using (closer to 440A than anything else) you wouldn't think it would hold a really good edge. But the hot rolling of the steel, drop forging of the blades, and their heat treat make it perform better than many of the much more vaunted alloys being used today (I have knives with ATS-34 and VG-10 blades that don't hold an edge as well). This is only true for the better, forged blades. But the older carbon steel blades are much better.
 
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