Winchester #2991 "Bull-Head" Pattern

Blues

Blues

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There's something about the equal-end cattle pattern frame.
It's easy on the hand and the pocket and the symmetry is pleasing.

According to Levine's Guide (IV), the two bladed double-end, equal-end jack is also known as a bull-head. (A derivative of the aforementioned cattle pattern.)

I got this (Blue Grass Cutlery/Queen manufactured) Winchester #2991 (built in 1988) a few years ago. These knives are said to feature some old "Utica Cutlery" bone scales and this one has a "Rogers" style jig according to the ad copy.

At 3 5/8" closed and 3 1/8 ounces, it is an optimal size. With a spear and clip blade tandem, there isn't much this knife wouldn't be capable of...

...well, that is if the blades had been ground with any semblance of care.

The one I received literally had no edge bevel on it. (Somebody must have had a hot date that night and been in a rush to get out the door. ;))

Well, rather than try to regrind the knife by hand, I called Tom Krein and he told me to send it on out to him, which I did. A few weeks later I got back a knife truly worthy of the Winchester name and the 1095 steel it was built with.

Here's a stock image of the pattern followed by some images of my knife after the regrind by Tom Krein.

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I had put the knife away for a while and kind of forgot about it until I decided to throw it in my pocket this afternoon. Gotta say, Tom sure did a nice job of regrinding the blades and putting a nice thin edge bevel on her. It's going to have to find its way into the current rotation.

These "Black Box" Winchesters are still available on the net via a few vendors.
I've given most of the ones I had away but still have this and one other.
They are worth owning if you find the patterns appealing.
 
I have carried & tried out quite a few of these "black box" Win's & that one there was hands down ,one of the best "all arounders",IMO
Nice one Elliott :thumbup:
-Vince
 
I've got a couple of these....I like them. I must say though...I like the way yours looks now that it has been Krein'd. :)
 
It's my favorite of the ones I had, Vince, though I only had a handful of patterns.
 
Thats a beauty E. I've had a few Black box versions, and they really are a nice knife. It would have been nice if they finished the edge on yours though :D

The ones I had came with decent edges on them, but I'm sure the new edge yours has, is much better.

If it didn't have a date on it, one would think it was from an era long since past
 
Blues said:
It's my favorite of the ones I had, Vince, though I only had a handful of patterns.
Click to expand...

Most all the other double enders were either monsterous in size or the bolsters like hammerheads. This one,size & frame shape is just right.Great carry & now that its "tuned up" by Tom,well,very nice knife.

There is a pattern that's a jack,the rear bolster (cap) is like a candle tip shape.I've heard of one that was modded round,making it for another good one.
-Vince
 
That is beautiful! And also made the year I was born. My dream is to find a slippie that was made in 1988 the year I was born. :thumbup:
 
i had a black box 88 moose that came with the same edges that blues discussed. about as sharp as a cold chisel but i resharpened it & it took a lazer edge. my knife was about 4 1/4 in total length with identical bone to blues.
dennis
 
DennisStrickland said:
i had a black box 88 moose that came with the same edges that blues discussed. about as sharp as a cold chisel but i resharpened it & it took a lazer edge. my knife was about 4 1/4 in total length with identical bone to blues.
dennis
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Dennis, I've got the other "Bull-Head" (2880 1/2) in the same bone from the same year. While it didn't come with great edges, at least it actually had an edge bevel. :p

This is the stock photo of the 2880 1/2 (Bull-Head) model:

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A good thread on the "Black Box" Winchesters can be viewed here for those wishing to discuss or post models other than the "bull-head" currently under discussion.
 
That Krein'd Winny looks great, Elliott; very business-like and capable. :thumbup:
 
Rick said:
That Krein'd Winny looks great, Elliott; very business-like and capable. :thumbup:
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Thanks, Rick. High praise coming from someone with your sense of symmetry and proportion. :thumbup::cool:
 
What is the difference between a Bullhead and a Moose? The bolster shape or overall length?

Thanks
 
tomcrx said:
What is the difference between a Bullhead and a Moose? The bolster shape or overall length?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Tom, according to Levine's definition, a "Moose" or "Texas Jack" is based upon the premium stockman (or sowbelly) frame and the master blade is always a heavy or wide clip.

EDITED TO ADD:

The "Bull-Head" is based upon the (equal-end) cattle pattern.
 
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I like the "Black Box" series too. There are patterns in the series that you won't find anywhere else. The bone and steel are great. Nice finish on the blades. I was just going to pick up one or two of them but that didn't seem to work out too well. Had to get all of the Utica Bone ones. Well, almost all of them. I am stil missing one. I had seen them around over the years but never paid much mind to them until a got a few. Once I saw how well made they are I decided to start huntin' 'em down. They are affordable and there seems to be plenty of them around at a very reasonable cost. Collect 'em or use 'em. Ya done good there Mr. Blues. I went back thru the "Black Box" thread from 2008 that you provided a link to in Post #9. Brings back good thoughts.

Greg
 
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Very nice pattern, and interesting history on the scales.

morrowj_98 said:
I've got a couple of these....I like them. I must say though...I like the way yours looks now that it has been Krein'd. :)
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Same here - kind of reminds me of the Case "As Ground" blades we see on the G10 series. When the symmetry is right, the look and feel are very appealing. (To me, anyway.) Krien has a special talent, that's for sure.

~Chris
 
Soon after seeing this beauty, I had to do a little searchin :D

I stumbled onto what would be a nice companion to yours. Same shield, very similar coloring, and was born in 1989, but its a Moose. Not quite as cool as yours, but still a very nice lookin knife
 
What a great user now that it's been reprofiled. I have a Cripple Creek moose that looks a lot like your bullhead.
 
338375 said:
Soon after seeing this beauty, I had to do a little searchin :D

I stumbled onto what would be a nice companion to yours. Same shield, very similar coloring, and was born in 1989, but its a Moose. Not quite as cool as yours, but still a very nice lookin knife
Click to expand...

Mike, I have a "moose" like that (in stag) that was built by Queen (like the Winchester's) under the Case Classic mark. That was the reason I didn't pursue that one at the time. Plus I like the smaller size of the bull-head for most EDC. Good eye, though! :thumbup:

Thanks to all for the comments and impressions. :cool:
 
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