Roll stamped tweeners

[DunkEm]

Over in another thread about a BK17 Guyon said this and got me to wondering.

Not an ordinary 17. That's a roll stamped and un-engraved (un-signed) version. Those are relatively rare. Congrats.

How many of the engraved/signed did they make and how many did they make unengraved/unsigned?

Which are the truly rare ones?

 

[Guyon]

If you're going to call me Gunyon, you have to shave it into your chest hair and post a pic.

 

[DunkEm]

My apologies Guyon. Too much fog in the brain today. And trust me - no one wants to see that. Correcting now.

 

[Guyon]

And trust me - no one wants to see that.

My sentiments exactly. Unfortunately, it HAS been done. And I was just messing with you because of that unfortunate incident.

Only Ka-Bar would be likely to know numbers, but most of the original batch of Tweeners, the roll stamped ones, were sold as a lot to SMKW.
SMKW then proceeded to engrave them with Ethan's signature. A relatively low number lack the signature.

I heard someone call them "sterile Tweeners" at this last Gathering.
However, I tend to think of "sterile" as no markings whatsoever. For example, I have a sterile BK-4 prototype.

Nonetheless, a smaller number of the roll stamped Tweeners lack the signature. Most were engraved by SMKW.

 

[DunkEm]

Wow. I didn't realize it was an aftermarket thing. Amazing that the unengraved ones would be more rare. I guess that's the risk of non-manufacturer attempts to create scarcity. But I'm guessing it worked just fine for SMKW and probably sold out quickly - unless folks knew the next generation wouldn't be roll stamped.