Schrade Walden BB 166

Copper Rick · Jan 19, 2013

Hello Guys,
I am new to this forum and am starting to collect also. I recently happened upon one of the Shrade Walden, WF Cody "Buffalo Bill" Bowie knives at a recent show and had to have it. Unfortunately it is without original box and sheath. It resides in an old Western sheath now. I have seen older posts about these knives on this forum. The knife is in great condition and has a very low serial #stamped on the brass guard. [00082] no BB 166 anywhere. Is this knife a collector or should I use it as a camper/ hunter. Codger 64 has excellent info on an old thread. I'm thinking from that posting that this knife could be one that he refers to in the bunch that went to the Cody Museum. Any ideas?

ea42 · Jan 19, 2013

Welcome Rick! Would you happen to have any pictures of the knife? It's possible that it is a museum knife, althougfh I thought they had a letter prefix as well as the number. I'll have to look it up, can't quite remember.

Eric

Codger_64 · Jan 20, 2013

Eric, please do look it up. My memory is hazy, but it seems there were two releases in limited numbers for museum fund raisers and presentations. I don't remember the details though.

Copper Rick · Jan 20, 2013

Thanks Eric... no pics as of now. Serial #00082 no letters. WF Cody "Buffalo Bill" etched in script right side of the blade.Below the brass guard on the blade is Schrade Walden Made in USA. There is no BB 166 Or #i66 on the knife It also has a bout a dime sized coined, stamped profile of Buffalo Bill in right side of the handle this is also between the brass attachments [2] . The handle is wood maybe walnut, not sure. The knife is overall about 12 inches long with about 7 inches in the blade. Does this help?

thawk · Jan 20, 2013

I'm thinking Copper Rick has one of these?

This is a picture and link to Larry303's collection. Note the BB 166 written on the paperwork.

And a link to one Roland Procter had at one time.

"dime sized coined, stamped profile of Buffalo Bill in right side of the handle this is also between the brass attachments" would be the coin shield between the brass rivits... the serial number on these was stamped into the brass guard

Adding one more picture link from Larry's collection showing both stampings.

ea42 · Jan 20, 2013

Codger_64 said:
Eric, please do look it up. My memory is hazy, but it seems there were two releases in limited numbers for museum fund raisers and presentations. I don't remember the details though.

Will do, from what I can recall offhand I think the first 25 went to some club and the remaining up to 100 went to the museum as a set with the sheath knife (125?). I think the lack of the 166 on the tang had more to do with the production runs, the first run didn't have that number on the tang, while the rest did.

Eric

Copper Rick · Jan 20, 2013

Yes, the bottom picture posted by THawk shows the correct markings on My knife. It is the one on the left side of the pic. The serial # is on the underside of the of the guard right hand side,Towards the blade. I guess what I am wondering from those who know is should I keep this as is [ collector] or should I use it as I would any Bowie knife I await your recommendations. Thanks for all the helpful info for the newbie and your advice in advance.

Rick

Codger_64 · Jan 20, 2013

In 1967, Schrade Walden produced a 12" Bowie style knife and that year 1,572 of them were shipped to Sears Roebuck & Co. as their #21627. From what I have seen, these first knives would have been too early to have been the Delrin handled American Eagle version.