Trad Gang
Main Boards => Trad History/Collecting => Topic started by: wingnut on November 03, 2008, 08:31:00 AM
-
I've been trying to find a pic of one of these since a friend told me about it a month ago. Does anyone have one? OR a pic? They were in the Bear catalog from about '56 to the 70s and included a knife, file, and stone along with a leather sheath.
Thanks,
Mike
-
3Rivers used to carry a replica set based on Freds combo. I've seen them on the auction site and they bring a premium price. There was one on here a while ago, heres the link.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=62;t=000729
fleabay auction with close up pics. Wouldn't let me cut the pics to post here so heres the link.
http://cgi.eb*y.com/VINTAGE-FRED-BEAR-ARCHERY-KNIFE-SET-w-sheath-file-stone_W0QQitemZ250301478091QQcategoryZ158960QQcmdZViewItem
-
Good morning Mike,I do not have an original Bear Archery bowhunter kit in stock right now.However I do have one type to show you.I have several pictures of the actul Bear Archey bowhunter kit somewhere around here and will look for them asap.But here's the one I carry.A very good reproduction.This is not the 3 rivers kit but very near the same(made by the same person long ago)....bowdoc (http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/bhk001.jpg)
-
very cool Don!
-
That is cool!! Hmmmm. . .might have to come up with something like that in the future.
Mike
-
that's a sweet kit bowdoc!
-
I have one of the knives in the leather case, without the stone and file. It was also sold in the catalog. It is a "Western" brand kniife.
-
OK OK yes sometimes I do have to much time on my hands,and some old Bear decals and maybe a broken Polar or two.....the back view showing Schrade sharpening flat steel in pocket.That knife is my personal and is actually a Marbles leather stacked handle.The bowhunter kit knife was a Western jigged bone handle 648 and then replaced later with the delrin plastic handled 648-A.That 648-A bowhunter kit was generally made of vynel or what Bear called Bear Hyde rather then real leather like the earlier kits were.Great item for the bowhunter.Some also have the P-38 can opener in them,but I really don't carry alot of canned food along while I'am in the field(12 cans of soup is kind of heavy at my age).So I carry a Bear broadhead bleeder blade slot cleaning tool.Which for me,I need sometimes far more then some can opener I'll never use.bowdoc (http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/bhk1001.jpg)
-
My Western knife is the bone handle...or maybe plastic and I just think it is bone...I will have to check.
-
The sheath in the last picture doesn't appear to be segmented for the knife and file.
Mike
-
Mike, that's the backside of the sheath - it has another pocket there.
-
My dad has three of them, brand new and still in the original box, left over from his Archery shop days. Plans on passing them out one day.
-
I have one like that, also an old beat up one! CKruse
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b120/cdkruse/100_1333.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b120/cdkruse/100_1334.jpg)
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b120/cdkruse/100_1339.jpg)
-
Rats.....Kam that one would look so sweet hanging off my belt opening dry of elk season man I would look so good.I love those things.I've pimped off 7 different sets in verying condition over the years never a new one all used(can you say stupid little man).bd
-
Oh My Cam, That's very nice, Maybe you should find a new home for the old beat up one. I'm thinking a little north and a little east.
:bigsmyl:
Trap
-
I need to get off my dead ass and have a local guy work on a copy of the sheath. I've got proper components to make up 2 or 3 of these with a replica sheath. Just hard to get around to it! Thanks for the complimnents on my mint set. Back a few years ago one like it sold on the Bay for MEGABUCKS! I fear those times are gone at least for a while. CKruse
-
Hi Guys,
Here is my intertipation of the Fred Bear Bowhunters Belt-Knife Kit. I used an old WestCut knife, homemade deer antlered BH File and a Diamond lap hone. Has served me well for many years, gutted and skinned about 8 or 9 deer, and sharpened many broadheads and knives over the years as well.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/takedown/hunting05030.jpg)
-
!!! schweeeeet set there takedown !!!!
-
Perfect setup CKruse! One to use and a brand new one for back-up. greg
-
I have a nimrod quiver that the knife and file would look good in :bigsmyl:
-
As far as fucsionable.I have never found any peace or is it piece of archery tackle that has served me as long or as well as my bowhunter kit.I love em...8 plus 8 plus 13 plus 21 total = 50 bears skinned with my bowhunter kit.I could not even tell ya how elk nd deer she helped skin.....they are a great item....Thanks Frank Scott...............bowdoc
-
You can alway's tell a real hunter by his gear....awesome doc!
-
In a conversation a couple weeks ago with Grant, I mentioned the two tones of leather used some of the Fred Bear Bowhunter's Kit. Grant asked to see a photograph. Just this morning I finally found the one I have been using with the Puma Hunter's Pal. Looked forever for the darn thing. It was where I put it at the end of the season last year, in the knife drawer !!!! Which, just happened to the last place I looked rather then the first place !!!!!
Thought I'd dig up this thread and post the photograph here...
Grant - As you can see the two-tone kits with the running bear logo have reversed light/dark leather. Both have the aluminum inner sheath to prevent the knife blade from going through the leather. They are pretty much the same sheath as far as the cut of the leather and stitching. The leather is much lighter on these two then the newer model at the far left, which is stamped with the script BEAR and has only the stone pouch make of lighter leather.
The sheath in the center with the lighter body and darker accents is the most appealing to my eye.
Hopefully, this comparison is more useful than my explanation.
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/BH-KITS.jpg)
-
Love the one still in the box. Really cool looking packaging. Thanks for sharing!!
All very nice sets. I saw one at a shoot for $400....too much for me. Does anyone make something similiar now?
-
Since this thread came back around I thought I would post some pics of a couple of my stone,knife & file sets(Bowhunters Kits). I think these two are neat for several reasons.One is of course the fact that they are brand new,un-used,still in the box.Second is that they are both the older version with the nicer two-tone leather,metal knife guard,and stag handle Western knife.Third,like Wade's sets,the two-tone contrasting leather is opposite on each one.I like the same leather configuration as Wade also,just looks a little nicer to me.The last thing that I found interesting about one of these sets is that it doesn't have any Bear logo on it at all.Most all I have seen have the small running bear logo on the belt loop portion of the sheath.I don't know if it's visible in the pics but the set with the darker leather on the belt loop portion has no logo whatsoever.I've always wondered if this was a screw up at the factory or some other reason.Any ideas?
I love these knife sets as much as any Bear collectible I have ever had and the packaging is darn near as cool as the knife set itself.Just thought I would share these great Bear Archery items with y'all.
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/detroitdeerslyer/skfbothfront.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/detroitdeerslyer/skfbothback.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/detroitdeerslyer/skfbothinboxes.jpg)
-
http://www.hidehandler.com/Archery_accessories.htm
Someone posted this link on Pow Wow a while back...
-
wow thanks Kevin thats a cool sight.I'am gonna save that one.bd
-
A couple more to l (http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv166/renos53/000_0251.jpg)ook at.
-
John - Cool set of matching opposite color Bowhunter's Kits - Wow new, unused in the box. That red bone 648 is super cool.
They look much better out of the boxes. You should display them like that...
You can send the boxes to me for safe keeping. ;)
-
Wade- Thanks.The sets are absolutely flawless.The knife with the darker stag handle still has some sort of thin clear coating on the blade to protect it from rusting I imagine.Some has flaked off but you can still see it on there.Never saw that on a knife before.
If I do decide to display them I will send you the boxes.Maybe you would trade me that old knife set you showed me with the Marbles knife in it.The one with the Bakelite pommel.Let me know. :biglaugh:
-
Rick - Does the sheath at the far right have a running Bear brand on it? Does it have an aluminum innersheath like yours on the far left
John - That old knife set wouldn't fit in at all with your unused, dead mint new sets. You sure don't want an old used thing like that detracting from your display.
-
Wade- I think it would fit in perfectly with the newer knife sets.It would show how well a knife set can survive many years of use if cared for properly.I could display the new sets(without the boxes as you would have them)and the older used set(you traded me).I think it would really show that these knife sets were made to be used.
You've got my address.I'll get those boxes packaged up.
You asked about Rick's knife set having a running brand on it and wanted to show this knife set.Don't remember if you saw it at Compton or not.It's a newer style set but it has the running bear logo on the sheath instead of the scripted BEAR.Wonder if it's sort of a transition set between the two.Only one I've seen like it so far.It's faint but it's there.What are your thoughts.
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/detroitdeerslyer/newerknifesetlogo.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/detroitdeerslyer/newerknifesetall.jpg)
-
I going to ask Terry to pull this thread.Sorry about that guy's.I just can not set here and keep looking at bowhunter kits when I do not have one of my own.That just pisses me off because I was a more-on and sold both of the ones I had what and idiot.Damn it sometimes you think your doing the right thing at the time and it comes back to bite you in the butt.One of these days I'll have the dough when one comes up in my price range.you guy's suck bd
-
Bowdoc- Again,thanks for all the kind words.First calling out my stupidity on almost taking my eye out and now this.I want my compass back!!!
-
you can forget about that compass now.I actually was not laughing really hard not like a belly laugh just a little snicker about your eye.I bet that hurt like a SOB too huh ? most likly for several days ? so its not like I was just busten up about that.
However all the bowhunter kit pics did it for me.I said to myself John and the boy's are just punishing me right now and all I got is an old ass 3rivers after market bowhunter kit for show and tell today ??? bd
-
Wade,The sheith at far right has the script Bear...Not sure about the knife.Is it common to see this knife in a newer set.
-
Rick- The knife in your set on the right looks like the knife in my last knife set with the running bear logo.It's the knife that came in the set when I got it.
-
Don....I'd love to see a pic of your 3 Rivers kit.....there....does that make you feel better... :^)
Tom I.
-
But the knife on the right in my picture is script,Not running Bear.
-
Rick- I saw that your sheath is a Scripted BEAR logo but I'm saying that your sheath and knife are similar to my sheath and knife except mine has the running bear logo on it.Most of the sets with the running bear logo are like the earlier version with the aluminum insert for the knife.Both our sets appear to be later versions made the same except for the logo's but the knives are the same.Just thinking it was the next generation of stone,knife & file sets to be made after the sets with the aluminum insert.For some reason mine has the running bear logo on it but it's not made like the earlier two-tone,aluminum insert knife sets that we are used to seeing.
-
Doc - Like Tom, I would like to see your after market set too. I don't have one of those. Would be a nice comparison.
Rick - Thanks for the information. Don't forget that knives got lost and replaced. Knives got used and upgraded to a better one. Wouldn't even doubt it if a dealer changed out a knife or two in these sets. Especially if one like John's red bone was in a single knife sheath and caught someone's eye and they had a dealer exchange one in a kit to make the sale. I know lots of knives that have been ungraded in sets over the past 10 years. Also know of empty sheaths that have been filled.
Rick - If you can see the leather was formed tightly about the handle and/or blade, it would be pretty hard speculate that the knife was not original to the sheath.
John - Yes, I am sure there was a transition that took place during some time frame when the 648 changed, the sheath changed, and the running bear became the script bear. Anyone who believes all of those things were changed overnight on the same day and there were no transition sets, probably needs only to look at a few dozen more sets to make the discovery for themselves.
John - Nice try. You can unpack those boxes. That old knife set will probably stay right here until I croak.
-
Thanks Tom I feel lots better now.Soon as I come out of my shell I post a few pics.bd
-
Thanks John & Wade.I can see why the running Bear sets are the prefered.But I think there all pretty special.
-
Wow, I have been reading this thread with lust in my heart too Bowdoc! But hey, Look Bowdoc...against my better judgement I'll send you $25.00 for that old Three Rivers aftermarket Piece of "Bullshrimp" Bowhunters Kit so you can get a fund started to buy one of the Really good Origional "by God" Bear Bowhunters Kit's
Look, dont bother to clean the Bear or Elk blood off of the blade, or polish up the ratty old leather sheath. I'll take it "as is", just dont try to stick me with any addtional shipping charges! LOL
I'll need your address right away!
Your Friend,
Harry. LOL
-
Soon as I get back from hunting my mission will be to aquire another original Bear Archery bowhunter kit.For now I just gotta settle for the after market one I have.I'll get a couple pics up asap of my 3river.bd
-
this is a bowdocs bowhunter kit.bd (http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/2001.jpg)
-
the sharpening stone and p-38 are not removable there held in place with double sided tape so you kind of have to use as is it works ok.bd (http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/bhk1002.jpg)
-
:biglaugh:
-
Ugh....Doc, Maybe I really should offer what it appears to be worth....$5.75 (including shipping), I cant go no higher!!! LOL, You got me on that one Bowdoc, hehehe! You rascal!
Harry
-
Bowdoc, I've said it before and I'll say it again......You cant Bullshrimp a Bullshrimper!!!
Harry.
-
OK for real doo....now this is a bowdoc kit complete with a brand new file handle I made this week from the sight rail of a broken 1969 Super Kodiak.bd (http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/bhk4001.jpg) (http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/bhk4005.jpg) (http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii175/bowdocsarchery/bhk4002.jpg)
-
BD, That just may be the coolest file handle in existence!!!
-
Rick-I agree,all the knife sets are pretty special.
Wade- How did I know you would say that.Oh well,I tried.
-
I like the knife kit, but would find it hard to part 3G's to buy one online. I think Bowdoc has the right idea, at least until one turns up at a sale.
-
Doc - Nice new file handle you made up....
Hey, if you are selling that SPECIAL DELUXE MAGNUM file handle - I WANT TO BUY IT !!!
-
Of course, no Fred Bear Bowhunter’s Kit collection would be complete without a backup file in its factory Bear Archery File Case.
Bear introduced the File Case in the 1965 catalog, and carried that item for a good many years. The company also changed the style slightly over those years, as is evidenced by the two slightly different specimens below.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/TimberlineX/BearFileCase006.jpg)
In 1965, the year Fred killed a lion in Africa, the Bear Archery File Case sold for $1.25 and the complete Fred Bear Bowhunter’s Kit was priced at just $9.95. Something tells me we’ll never see those prices again!
-
Very true Bill. I could also see a double feature, hit the snack counter, and head over to the Five and Dime afterwards for a comic or model airplane if I had a buck fifty to spend, LOL. I have one of the old file and sheath sets that my son has in a display. Oh my, for today's paycheck and yesterday's prices. Grant
-
Bill - Thanks for posting the two variations in the file case. I was not aware of the different sizes. Are both marked with a large script BEAR on the belt loop and a smaller script BEAR below the opening?
The back of this File Case is ink stamped 3140, which is shown as the number in the 1968 Catalog. The 1967 Catalog shows the File Case number as K-252.
Bill - Are your File Cases ink stamped with a number on the back side?
Not sure of the year that the white handle replaced the brown handle.
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/FILE-SET.jpg)
-
Wade,
In yet another example of how Bear Archery subtly altered products over the years, all three of the Bear Archery File Cases I still have are slightly different. Two are of the wider style. One is of the narrow style. I have no idea how many other styles might exist.
None of the File Cases I own are marked, like yours, with a large Bear script on the front of the belt loop. Only the narrower model has the smaller Bear script impressed on the dark-colored leather of the front of the sheath.
Of the two wide models, one has no part number ink-stamped on the back. The other has a faint ink stamp on the back that appears to read 3135, which is the Bear number for the File itself. I have no idea why it’s stamped with that number.
The narrow model is ink-stamped 3140 on the back.
These sort of product variation are what drive us collectors nuts.
-
Bill,
It is almost unbelievable that the 4 File Cases we are talking about are all different variations. I would not be surprised to learn that other variations exist.
This is one of the simpler leather products that may have been put together by the lesser experienced personal and may have been made from leather remnants. Both could account for variations of the finished products.
Yes, these sort of product variations could drive a collector crazy... but then all collector are crazy already.
Just knowing there are several variations of File Cases educates us to expect to see the previously unseen.
-
The mail man delivered these two nice bows today, but the biggest surprise he left was Doc's "SPECIAL DELUXE MAGNUM" file handle from 2008.
Doc simply said "that's for your birthday enjoy." Can't thank you enough Doc.
This file handle is just too cool... I'll carry it in my Fred Bear Bowhunter's kit.
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/FILE-HAD.jpg)
-
I saw and held that file at the Québec Bear Quest III.
Cool file and a great collector item for sure.
Simon
-
Simon - Yes, great collector item.
Doc even signed the side of the handle "BowDoc 2008"...
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/DOC4.jpg)
-
sweet file, nice work Don. Wade, tell me about your new left handed bow there!
-
Wade glad you enjoied it hey that one actually has blood on it from the Que'bec bear hunt.I used it to sharpen my broadhead before arrowing my bear this spring so its seen some action.bd
-
Wade, great looking file and with built-in MOJO! Happy Birthday!!!
BD, another super cool looking file. NICE!!!!!
-
alaskabowhunter - Not sure what you want to know about LH 1959 Kodiak Buginga SW... Great wood, Roy did a super job of refinishing.
Now that Doc has invented the Chameleon Kodiak color design, I may re-camo the just the limbs on it.. :saywhat:
Doc - I could tell the handle had been used just a little but it's still almost like new. It is great looking and the name "Super Deluxe Magnum" is just too cool. Since I don't have a Crystalight Magnum, this file handle has to be the next best thing!!!
John - Thanks for the birthday wish. My birthday was actually 3 months ago, but don't mention that to Doc.
-
Jim, Is this enough detail of the original components out of the sheath? If not let me know what you want to see.
(http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo301/WadePhillips/BH-KIT.jpg)
-
There are some variations in the Western knife blade stamping and the handle material of the Bear sets I've owned.
This set is one of the 1957 Style sets. The Western knife is stamped 648 and it has a real bone handle. Some later knives had fake bone handles, and some were stamped 648A. A Western knife collector may be able to tell you about that transition and all the variations that may exist.
The file is stamped Nicholson, Made in USA on one side and Mill Bastard on the other. It is a standard 6" Nicholson file with a .100" thick tang that is still available today. I bought 6 of them last week for less then $4 each. Going back a few years ago I bought some replacement Nicholson files that were thicker and would not fit in the file handles and were tight in the sheath. Thank God they went back to the .100" thick tangs so us crazy old farts still using these file handles and sheaths don't have to give them up because we can't find a file of the proper thickness !!!
The Stone just says Norton.
I've found all the plastic file handles to be "stuck" on the files. I have removed many with some mild persuasion or simply given up before damaging the plastic.
This knife is 8-1/8" long with 4-3/8" long blade that is .632" wide and .100" thick.
The knife and file are all off the shelf products, rather than special order for Bear.
I don't really know if the stone was off the shelf, but have owned several small Norton stones similar to this one that were in a little plastic Norton sheath. This indicates the stone was an off the shelf product too, but the precise size may not have been, I've never researched that.
Hope this is of some help.
-
Here's a picture of one I picked up at the 2011 Traditional Bowhunters of Washington "Rendezvous" this past summer.. It's defiantly been in the woods a time or two but everything is original and correct... I had only seen one other and it was under glass in Ted Fry's shop in Hood River OR.
I'm feeling pretty lucky to have found this, as I have been on the lookout for one for years.
Gene
(http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx177/BrokenArrow-03/FredBearBowhuntersknifekit001.jpg)
-
hey Gene you gonna bring it to the Moses Hole shoot next month ? I'll bring my original over and we can check em out ? maybe get Tom to bring his also bd
-
After viewing this neat thread for several days, I figured I better retrieve my Bowhunters Knife Kit from the garage and treat it with a whole lot more respect; especially, johnnyrazorhead noted that he loved the knife sets as much as any Bear collectible. It's now in a better place. I also have two of the individual files/cases and on the back of each of the cases is ink stamped 3125. While the files have the word Bear embedded in the handle on both sides, neither of the cases is stamped Bear. Both handles are white.
With respect to the Norton stones, I note that some of them are tan/dirty yellow colored [like mine] while others are orange. Which version is encountered most often and are there other color variations?
-
BD
Sure, I'll bring mine over... I get a kick out of Lon Scott as he had a chance at it and laid it back down on Steve Meyers table.. I saw it and immediately made a deal with Steve :thumbsup: ... I think Lon regrets laying it down :biglaugh:
Gene
-
the orange stone is a replacment and yes the original stones are dirty yellowishie looking.The yellowish stone is a bit thicker also...pics soon bd
-
BowDoc - thanks - good to know!
-
I just received another Bear knife and file set. The one I just just received I believe is made up of cordovan leather, and you can see where the bear stamp once was very lightly on the top. Time has made this stamp in the leather almost non exhistant. At least I know it's a real set. On the back of the new one is also a smaller pocket than on my other one. My other set has lighter leather, and a metal lining where the knife goes, and the new one doesn't. I am wondering which of these two sets is older. The new set does appear older, but I'm not an expert. Ohh and the one I just received has a nicholson file with osage handle. It would be my guess that the new one is older and maybe even one of the first to come out. The knife is well worn with a bit fatter handle, but still a Western 648. Any info would be appreciated. Shane
(http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad215/mrgq4126/101_2323.jpg)
(http://i937.photobucket.com/albums/ad215/mrgq4126/101_2324.jpg)
-
I know of at least eight different variations of these sets but I think the osage file is incorrect. Is it stamped Bear in any way?? Anyone else have ideas on this ??
Shane I have them written down somewhere if you would want them.
-
That would be great ty
-
Osage was never used on any file in the Bear kit..
No wood ever was.
The knife pouch never had a metal liner either that I've seen.
Sounds like a repro kit?
-
No not a repro. It has the Bear stamp. If you google image bear knife and file set it comes up with a few that have osage. I am not an expert on these. the one i think is newer has the metal i believe is aluminum in the sheath where knife goes. To bad some items don't have a lot of do umentation on them.
-
Ok,
I could be wrong but I never saw an original file with an Osage handle or Nicholson brand.
I've seen many repros made with Nicholson files and wood handles though.
Who knows?
-
I myself have never seen one with a Osage file.
-
Wade, I have my dads knife kit is from the 60's and after reading your post about the ID on the knife I checked and there are no model numbers on the knife blade. Do you know when the transition took place with knives or did they just put a Western knife in the kit at random.
Thanks for posting your info.
-
The 1957 catalog describes an aluminum liner for the sheath. It seems a variety of knives have been used-probably some as promotions.
-
Thank you for the info Bjorn!
-
My kit has a metal liner. I got the thumbs up by Bowdoc.