German Bulldog knives

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Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

Targetman wrote: Sun Apr 07, 2019 3:55 am Hi Quick Steel, I started on my Bulldog Brand quest when I was 40 years old and am now age 64. Twenty four years of absolute enjoyment have passed but I still get the same thrill,now as back then, when I add a new piece to my collection. Yes, I have given some thought about what may happen to my collection at some future date. I likely will not have an heir to leave the knives to that will appreciate what I have enjoyed doing all these years. My grandson is only 21 months old and I can only hope to spark some future interest in knife collecting. Time will tell.
You mention a museum....I sadly see what has happened to the National Knife Collectors Museum. It used to be located in the upper level of the Smoky Mountain Knife Works in Tennessee. Beautiful examples of custom and factory knives on display...some one of a kind masterpieces. Now all gone, shut down, knives sold and auctioned off to pay for expenses, donated knives many years ago now lost for the public to see....now in private collections. This greatly saddens me as I visited this museum many times for several years.
I will probably get to some future point in time and reluctantly start selling off my collection piece by piece. But I will have the satisfaction knowing that each piece will go to some knife collector trying to build up a collection he or she can be proud of...one piece at a time.
::not_worthy::
Awestruck
::handshake::

I'd be ever grateful if you would consider my home for some of your Bulldogs too. Thank you for sharing the tedious work you have done collecting such beautiful knives, I appreciate it. ::tu::
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Quick Steel
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Quick Steel »

I look at your beautiful BDs, and at mine, and at Targetman's, and I marvel that more knifers are not in pursuit of these marvelous knives.
Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

Quick Steel wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2020 11:26 pm I look at your beautiful BDs, and at mine, and at Targetman's, and I marvel that more knifers are not in pursuit of these marvelous knives.
More for us! ::sotb::

I don't buy other vintage knives because I haven't taken the time to learn and know enough about them. If I did, maybe I'd feel comfortable buying some.
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Targetman »

Quick Steel, your comment about not many people collecting Bulldog Brand knives rings true with me also. I surmise that only the generations that actively saw Bulldogs being produced and crafted can appreciate what collections they have.
Jim Parker made so few limited runs of his patterns and handle materials that if you weren't there to purchase them when they arrived from Germany....well you were just out of luck! Knife runs of 24, 36, 50, 100 pieces just don't go very far to knife collectors worldwide.
With Bulldog being a private brand knife you don't get the exposure as you do with companies like Case or Buck knives who make their knife patterns by the thousands in each handle material. If it wasn't for Jim Parker promoting his brand like he did and his son "Buzz" Parker with American made Bulldogs, I don't think you would see Bulldogs being collected as much as they are now. From 1978 to 2010 isn't many years to get an established collector base that spans many generations and creates demand for knife variations.
I think what demand there is for Bulldog Brand comes mainly from collectors that were established during the years Jim Parker actively made and promoted his brand. EBay still has strong sales with values remaining high for Bulldogs because for #1- excellent quality product, and #2- collectors that missed out getting pieces from Jim before they were all sold, now have to buy from knife shows, auctions, and forum stores and they are only available a piece or two at a time. Even with only a few thousand Bulldog collectors around it makes for an interesting bidding situation when a desirable piece comes up for bid on EBay. Only now are collectors from that 32 year time period beginning to turn loose of their knives because of economic turmoil, estate sales, or disinterest in their hobby. I see more and more early production years up for bid now on EBay...some quite rare...many unique...and they don't last long if there is a somewhat reasonable buy it now price.
Yes, Loose Arrow, there are more knives for us if there isn't much demand for what knives are out there, but there is a down side to that too....Bulldog Brand can fade away from memory to younger generations who will keep this hobby alive and demand for this nitch brand of knife. I am now seeing more and more new collector friends that haven't heard of Bulldog Brand before and that is sad to me. I could see Jim Parkers legacy knife brand fade away in a few more decades.
I still collect Bulldog Knives with a passion and am now into my 25th year with them. They have given me much joy in their pursuit of patterns and exotic handles. May a knife be in your pocket at all times...good day to everyone on this forum...you are all my collecting family!
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Quick Steel
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Quick Steel »

Nicely stated Targetman and your analysis is spot on. I feel very fortunate in that I only discovered BDs about 4 years ago. I picked one up, did not recognize the brand, and committed to give it to someone. Before letting it go I looked it over very carefully and was impressed. One more purchase and I was hooked. Still another and I was convinced I had discovered something quite special in the world of pocket knives.

As you point our, low production numbers inhibited widespread knowledge of the brand. A knowledgeable writer years ago maintained that for a brand to develop collector interest required production runs of around 4 to 5 hundred.

Prices have held up and for some of the more interesting patterns have gotten too high for me. In fact I recently saw one listed for near a thousand dollars. Rather overly ambitious pricing I think. I have the same model acquired at less than half that amount about 18 months ago.

I do speculate on the future of my collection. I want them to arrive safely into the hands of someone who will appreciate these little treasures of workmanship.
Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

Targetman wrote: Sat Aug 15, 2020 1:38 pm Quick Steel, your comment about not many people collecting Bulldog Brand knives rings true with me also. I surmise that only the generations that actively saw Bulldogs being produced and crafted can appreciate what collections they have...

....Yes, Loose Arrow, there are more knives for us if there isn't much demand for what knives are out there, but there is a down side to that too....Bulldog Brand can fade away from memory to younger generations. Who will keep this hobby alive and demand for this nitch brand of knife? I am now seeing more and more new collector friends that haven't heard of Bulldog Brand before and that is sad to me I could see Jim Parkers legacy knife brand fade away in a few more decades.
I still collect Bulldog Knives with a passion and am now into my 25th year with them. They have given me much joy in their pursuit of patterns and exotic handles. May a knife be in your pocket at all times...good day to everyone on this forum...you are all my collecting family!
::not_worthy::
25 years, wow! I was only 18 then and I only recently got bit... I can only hope to help keep it around just like a good dog should be kept, posterity thru preservation.
Thank you for your thoughts you've shared ::tu::
Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

Quick Steel wrote: Sat Aug 15, 2020 2:30 pm Nicely stated Targetman and your analysis is spot on. I feel very fortunate in that I only discovered BDs about 4 years ago. I picked one up, did not recognize the brand, and committed to give it to someone. Before letting it go I looked it over very carefully and was impressed. One more purchase and I was hooked. Still another and I was convinced I had discovered something quite special in the world of pocket knives.

As you point our, low production numbers inhibited widespread knowledge of the brand. A knowledgeable writer years ago maintained that for a brand to develop collector interest required production runs of around 4 to 5 hundred.

Prices have held up and for some of the more interesting patterns have gotten too high for me. In fact I recently saw one listed for near a thousand dollars. Rather overly ambitious pricing I think. I have the same model acquired at less than half that amount about 18 months ago.

I do speculate on the future of my collection. I want them to arrive safely into the hands of someone who will appreciate these little treasures of workmanship.
🤑🤑
Yup, crazy ambitious! Are you referring to the 5 blade anniversary trappers in MOP?
Appreciate you stopping by ::tu::
::nod::
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Quick Steel »

That's the one LA. Better hurry. Only about a week left to pick it up. :)
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Targetman »

Hi all, while I have a moment, thought I would post a picture of a German Bulldog I recently got in the early spring. It is a year 2000 single damascus blade lockback display knife that Jim Parker had made for the new Millenium. The blade is 330 layers of damascus steel in a pattern Jim called "wildfire". Fully open it is 12 inches in length and quite a handful to handle. I put a regular size Bulldog below it for comparison. Handle material is Stag and 50 of this handle material were made. I only had Rose damascus examples of this pattern and decided to get the Wildfire piece. Examples of Rose Damascus can be found on page 2 and 8 of this thread. I feel blessed to have this example....the seller had a buy it now price that was 40% less than what it sold for new in year 2000 so I took him up on the offer.
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Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

Targetman wrote: Sat Aug 15, 2020 5:24 pm Hi all, while I have a moment, thought I would post a picture of a German Bulldog I recently got in the early spring. It is a year 2000 single damascus blade lockback display knife that Jim Parker had made for the new Millenium. The blade is 330 layers of damascus steel in a pattern Jim called "wildfire". Fully open it is 12 inches in length and quite a handful to handle. I put a regular size Bulldog below it for comparison. Handle material is Stag and 50 of this handle material were made. I only had Rose damascus examples of this pattern and decided to get the Wildfire piece. Examples of Rose Damascus can be found on page 2 and 8 of this thread. I feel blessed to have this example....the seller had a buy it now price that was 40% less than what it sold for new in year 2000 so I took him up on the offer.
Awesome! I'm driving and I had to pull over just to look ::woot::
Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

Quick Steel wrote: Sat Aug 15, 2020 3:46 pm That's the one LA. Better hurry. Only about a week left to pick it up. :)
I got one already ::super_happy::
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Quick Steel »

LA, I know; just thought you would like another for your other pocket.

Targetman, talk about jaw dropping. My jaw hit my belt buckle.
Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

Quick Steel wrote: Sat Aug 15, 2020 6:00 pm LA, I know; just thought you would like another for your other pocket.
🤑🤑🤑 I'm already trapper rich🤑🤑🤑
😂😂😂
I currently own 7 of them, this MOP, a Brian Yellowhorse custom, two stags, two brown jigged bones and a smooth red bone.
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Hideaway Knives »

Love the designs great pics!
Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

Hideaway Knives wrote: Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:40 pm Love the designs great pics!
::tu::
Thanks! Feel free to stop by anytime ::handshake:: .
Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

Here's one of my unique 20ths that I own. ::nod::
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Quick Steel »

Very nice photos LA. It must take great skill to produce a knife like that without any blade rub. That was one of the things that impressed me when I started collecting BDs.
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Targetman »

Very good looking knife. Back in the day, there were several knife clubs scattered across the country that would have Jim Parker create annual Bulldog Brand knives for their club members. Old Dominion knife club was one of them. They ordered Bulldogs as a club knife for many years. They are located in Bedford, Virginia.
Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

Targetman wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 7:52 pm Very good looking knife. Back in the day, there were several knife clubs scattered across the country that would have Jim Parker create annual Bulldog Brand knives for their club members. Old Dominion knife club was one of them. They ordered Bulldogs as a club knife for many years. They are located in Bedford, Virginia.
Thanks! ::tu::
I have these other two too, the 20th's blades are plain except for the club etching and the gunstock is from '82.
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by carvin don »

::tu:: ::tu:: ... very nice!
Don
Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

carvin don wrote: Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:43 pm ::tu:: ::tu:: ... very nice!
Thanks! ::handshake::
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by JoKr »

Sowbelly Stockman
Bullddog Brand Sowbelly Cuttin Horse stag bone.jpg
_ ̡̡ ̡ ̡̡̡͡|̲̲̲͡͡͡ ̲▫̲͡ ̲̲̲͡͡π̲̲͡͡ ̲̲͡▫̲̲͡͡ ̲|̡̡̡ ̡ ̡ ̴̡̡ı̴̡̡-̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡ ̡̡͡ ̲̲͡ ̡ ̡ ̴̡ ̡ ̡ ⛵️̡ ̡ ̡ ̡̡ ̴̡ ̴̡ ̡ ̡-̲̲̲͡͡-̡̲̲͡-̲̲̲̲͡͡͡-̲-̡̲-̲̲̲͡͡-̡̡̡̡̲̲-̡-̴̡ı̴̡̡-̡_̴ı̴̴̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡*̡̡ı̴̴̡̡ ̡̡ ̡

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Loose Arrow

Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by Loose Arrow »

JoKr wrote: Sat Nov 13, 2021 12:43 pm Sowbelly Stockman

Bullddog Brand Sowbelly Cuttin Horse stag bone.jpg
Beautiful pair! ::tu::
Great photograph too, thanks for sharing. ::handshake::
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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by JoKr »

Loose Arrow wrote: Sat Nov 13, 2021 2:30 pm
JoKr wrote: Sat Nov 13, 2021 12:43 pm Sowbelly Stockman

Bullddog Brand Sowbelly Cuttin Horse stag bone.jpg
Beautiful pair! ::tu::
Great photograph too, thanks for sharing. ::handshake::
thnx, same to you ::tu::
_ ̡̡ ̡ ̡̡̡͡|̲̲̲͡͡͡ ̲▫̲͡ ̲̲̲͡͡π̲̲͡͡ ̲̲͡▫̲̲͡͡ ̲|̡̡̡ ̡ ̡ ̴̡̡ı̴̡̡-̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡ ̡̡͡ ̲̲͡ ̡ ̡ ̴̡ ̡ ̡ ⛵️̡ ̡ ̡ ̡̡ ̴̡ ̴̡ ̡ ̡-̲̲̲͡͡-̡̲̲͡-̲̲̲̲͡͡͡-̲-̡̲-̲̲̲͡͡-̡̡̡̡̲̲-̡-̴̡ı̴̡̡-̡_̴ı̴̴̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡*̡̡ı̴̴̡̡ ̡̡ ̡

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Re: German Bulldog knives

Post by GSPTOPDOG »

What happened to the collectors of Bulldog Brand Knives? ... this thread has really dropped off the face of the earth... :x
Please visit my AAPK store: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... er_id=2383

They say, “Hard work never hurt anyone”, but I'm still not willing to risk it.
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