Can anyone date this knife with the likeness of Fred Bear's signature imprinted into the wooden handle? I've seen a number of different knives made with a similar imprint. Guess I've seen everything from backpacks to tents bearing this likeness of Fred's signature. I don't collect this type of item, just happened to pick it up last year with a Bear Knife File & Stone Set.
It is stamped OLSEN KNIFE Co SOLINGEN GERMANY. It has an aluminum pommel & tang. The bright shinny blade has been sharpened. Back side of leather sheath is stamped MAKE IN GERMANY. Leather strap for tang is missing
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/0BEAR.jpg)
Wade,
I've got a couple of those myself.They are shown in a Bear catalog sometime in the later 1970's I believe.I would have to look my catalogs to be certain.
John - Let me know if you find it. I love looking through Bear Catalogs from the 1930s up to 1974. From 1975 on, just don't care to page through them and see those mechanical contraptions.
Wade - Solingen is a town in Germany famous for its knife and blade making industry that goes back as far as the late middle ages. Quite a number of companies still exist there, from high quality handmade custom forgers to market leaders in knifes and cutlery.
But afaik Olsen was a US company based in Howard City Michigan selling knifes of own and contracted production.
Probably they had a license from BEAR and then contracted some German company for the actual production. But that's just a guess, since I had never seen a FRED BEAR knife before.
On the other hand, I seem to remember seeing boots with the signture logo?!?!?
Wade,Advertised in 68-69...I just picked up the survival model the largest of the group.
Wade,I love these things.I only have one right know looking for more.Here is a pic. of the Survival knife.
(http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv166/renos53/000_0075.jpg)
(http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv166/renos53/000_0074.jpg)
Wade,
Rick is correct.I just looked in a 1868 Bear catalog I had nearby and they are in there advertised as "new" so I'm assuming that 1968 was the first year they were catalogued.
Rick and John, you guys are correct. I really screwed that up. Guess I am just getting lazy. I looked as far as page 29 which has the Fred Bear Bowhunter's Kit and never turned to the last inside page of the catalog. I made the mistake of assuming all the knives would have been with the Bowhunter's Kit. I may be too poor to pag attention anymore.
Wow - There are a bunch of those knives pictured. This one is #7793 and has 6 large notches on the back like it is pictured in the catalog.
Rick - I'll bring this one to Compton, is it worth anything ?
Jester - I knew of the fame of Solingen knife making from collecting WWII German Paratrooper Gravity Knives. There was even a broadhead with Solingen Germany stamped on the blade, the Arrowsmith.
Maybe we can deal at Compton.
I'll bring the knife. Anything else you are looking for that I might be able to bring?
Cant think of anything.I'll be there thursday morn. If you need any help setting up let me konw.
I always thought the knives packaged with the broadhead file and stone were made by Puma. ???
Tom I.
Tom,I believe the early sets were puma.Most of the later sets were Western 648s.We are talking about a differant Bear Knife.
Who ever made them, those are some Butt ugly knives.