Schrade Texas Style Bowies

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Sat May 19, 2007 6:02 pm

The texas style bowie was and is a very popular knife pattern first used around 1972 for the ALAMO special custom issue. I do not have one of these and usually when you can find them they command premium prices. They were exquisitly engraved by Ayrum ( which as as close as I remember the name ). If memory serves the NRA had something to do with the issue. Ah this is beginning to be among the worst postings I ever made. Getting away from that particular issue and back to the knife pattern. This knife was never in the Schrade regular line but was sold by them right till the end for special purpose limited edition custom issues. In 1976 ( again memory ) Colt had a issue of at least 1000 made ( have included a pic ) notice that Colt chose not to have the knife tang stamped instead they went with a Colt emblem on the handle and the distinctive full blade etch. Also in 1976 The Cody museum put out a similar issue of 500 pieces in rememberance of 100 year anniversary of Custers last stand. Also with no tang stamp but with a full blade etch. These knives were all made with no tang stamp. This was an option that whoever was contracting the knife could have done according to there own specifications. They could also specify what other extras they wanted. These later went on to include black Chromed blades 14K gold etchs and stag ( white or brown) handles versus the original wood. I have included from my collection a 14K running stag with regular blade, stag handles and Schrade tang marking ( done in photo electric etch ). I am not sure who this rather rare version was made for ( NRA??) it came out of the custom shop as most of these special orders did. In 1992 a black Chromed 14K stag model was used for the 50th anniversary of WWII center piece special issue set . This was issued with the option of white or brown stag handles. The pic is of jap zeros and there cowardly attack on the USS Arizona on Dec 7. (If they would have asked me I would have suggested a mushroom cloud etch). Whoops there I go again. I have included pics of both versions of handles. There were several other issues of this style knife some as small as just one knife specially done to commerate a retirement or special event. As I said they could be ordered and customed to the buyers needs in any quantity. Often the blank ( untanged pieces ) show up ( many sold with a basket weave sheath. Schrade also although it is little known would sell them that way as well and after the closing some like that did go to Smoky and blue ridge. When I was affialiated with Schrade I bought a dozen the only work I had done was the photo tang etch since I felt that the plain models with an etch would become quite a rarity. In fact They had to check there files to see if they still had the etch on file. I have also included a pic of one of those as well. I am sure some of you have seen or have some other examples of this pattern . I personally would appreciate any information any one might have to fill in some of the holes regarding them or any special issues of this pattern you might know of. LT

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Sat May 19, 2007 6:04 pm

Here are the last two pics I could only post 10 at a time.

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Sun May 20, 2007 11:18 pm

LT, those are nice. I will keep an eye out as you ask for other factory jobs on this bowie.

I think I have shown this one here at the forum, but here it is again. I bought a plain unmarked one and had one of our members here do some engraving on the brass. I also had a beautiful custom sheath made for it. Final step was what the factory didnt do and that was to have the Schrade name engraved on it, along with made in the USA.

The knife is a gift for my 1 year eight month old grand nephew. He can have it in a few more years, and what kid wouldn't like a bowie like this one.

I have one more, I have to do something with that one sometime.

Phil

Also, LT.. The local knife shop recently found for me a nice heavy, locked down lid, velvet lined display box for a few LB7 knives surrounding one of these bowies. Immaculate condition. Is that the display for the WW2 issue you mention?

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Sun May 20, 2007 11:37 pm

Those Bowies are awe inspiring!
I was going to answer your post yesterday, but I

on my key board & shorted it out!

Beautiful knives & great history.
Thanks for posting,
Dale

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Mon May 21, 2007 12:16 am

My keyboard will do that but only when I spill a drink on it. Yes that is the display case that was used for the WWII issue. It was quite an endeaver it came with a video tape and a letter from Gen Eisenhower ( the son ) he explained why he picked the scenes which are etched on the knives The LB 7 knives represent each of the service branchs ( by handle shields ) and battles that each particular branch played a major part in. I am including a few factory color promo photos. I also put in a picture of my complete set. I have told this story before but my set is quite unique. When this issue came out the customer had the option of brown or white stag handles. One knife set marked 000 was made with brown handles on one side and white on the other this was so that both options could be shown in several of the magazine ads in which this set was advertised. Several sets were made with 000 because that usually was a display or salesmans set. The 000 sets are even more sought than the regularly numbered ones. However only one ( to my knowledge ) set was ever done Brown and White. After the magazine photo shoot this set was placed in the back room in the Schrade collection and marked with a sign as the set used in the ads. Not long after this The Ireland factory contacted Ellenville and said that there was european interest and could they send a sample set to them for sale on the continent. Schrade decided that if they sent the double colored one they would not have to send two sets. The sent the original set and replaced it in the collection with another 000 however completely brown. Many years went by and when the end was near the Listow plant sent back a large group of samples they had stored. I was called and asked if I had an interest in any of this stuff. I ended up buying quite a bit of it . In one box was this original set. You would have thought that someone would have scoffed it up an executive or someone. What happened was a shield ( the army one ) had come out of the knife and the set had been stored until someone sould put a drop of glue on it and make it perfect again. Apparently no one ever did at least until I bought it took about 30 seconds. Now here is the funny part of the story Smokey in there infinite wisdom when they were scoffing up everything in sight saw the set on display with the sign not knowing the set was not original they sold it on ebay oh yes with a certificate stating that it was the original set used in the ads. Amazing. Oh well. Looks like even Smokey and there oriental friends can't win them all. Or perhapes it was just the guy who bought the set that did not win . By the way I have a few of the empty display cases however a friend recently called me and said that Blue Ridge had been selling the last of them so I do not know when you got it but it might have come from that lot. They are a furniture grade beautiful case. If you take the center out of it they make a great display box for high end pistols ect. I am attaching a pic of one I did like that. This same display case was used for several issues by Schrade the Columbus ect however the inserts were made for whatever knives were being used for that project. I have I believe all of the various styles. They also sold the WWII bowie alone in a single case ( see pic. ). LT PS Nice Bowie Phil want to be my uncle.

Gunsmoke47 · Post by **Gunsmoke47** » Mon May 21, 2007 12:19 am

I love fixed blades and those are a joy to look at. Thank you lt. Kelley

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Mon May 21, 2007 12:40 am

lt, is that stag on the .45 mag floorplates?

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Mon May 21, 2007 1:10 am

But of course only a pimp would use plastic. The open mag holders are Texas Saddlery out of El Paso . It is quite a wait but nice stuff reasonable. I had a friend cut and mount the stag on the mags. Those are a Schrade PH-1 and PH-2 in stag. Which only goes to prove you can never have enough toys. LT

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Mon May 21, 2007 2:28 am

that's cool. i have a paddle holster and some mag holders for my combat comander from there as well. great leather and great knives lt. thanks

W5RWU · Post by **W5RWU** » Mon May 21, 2007 2:50 am

Here is my Texas bowies ! Thanks to seeing LT's ww2 display on a early post
i copy the idea . I would like get some engraving on the brass ! Paul long did
my sheaths , one left handed and right handed . keep the pic coming

see ya Randy

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Mon May 21, 2007 3:21 am

very classy, randy!

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Mon May 21, 2007 3:44 am

Nice toys guys!

Rusty1 · Post by **Rusty1** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:11 pm

These are two styles I have seen out and about on the web.
first, the Shot Show 2004 Bowie, which sold on e-bay some while ago.
second, Popular Mechanics Magazine had a model made for them also.

Rusty1

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Sun May 27, 2007 12:12 am

thanks LT for the information. It is a very, very high quality display case and I got an excellent price on it.

Great brace of knives shown by W5RU! Oh man, have Paul make you a belt and wear the both of them... excellent set there.

And a link to the Popular Mechanics Schrade Bowie page. \

http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoor ... 78071.html

W5RWU · Post by **W5RWU** » Sun May 27, 2007 4:03 am

Thanks phil , I may do that , I need a matching holster for my hog pistol.
Good to see you here dont be a stranger
see ya Randy

Timstools · Post by **Timstools** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:02 pm

Here in first pics is the Smith & Wesson bowie. I have just been informed by a reliable source that some of these were were made by Schrade and Camillus (definitely some!!! perhaps all ???). The time periods involved I am uncertain of but the Smith & Wesson bowies go back to the early 70s as LT has already mentioned.

In the 4th and 5th pic down it shows a Schrade Bowie that Ive been working on polishing with super fine jewelry grade cutting material. It is not a normal plain Schrade bowie it came with a high gloss finish originally which meant it took approx 1 quarter of the time to polish the blade as it already had a smooth finish not the semi gloss brushed metal finish on most knife blades and on most of the plain Schrade bowies I have seen. Ive been looking for one of these for some time. Its stamped 000 on the other side.

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:45 pm

In 1973 Schrade produced on contract to Smith and Wesson a new pattern wooden handled bowie knife to commemorate 150 years of the Texas rangers. This bowie style was used for many years however in the later years it was produced with numerous variations and was made with a stag handle. The stag came in white and burnt brown as in the( WWII set variation with black chromed blade and 14 K etch. ) There were numerous limited editions as well as special individual awards knives ect. I have posted various examples of the WWII issue as well as other variations in the past.

However the original early to mid seventys models of these knives had the wood handles. They could and were made to the requests of the contractor. The original S&W Texas Ranger was tanged in the steel on the blade with TEXAS RANGERS 1823 1973 it also had a shield on the handle and the S&W tang in the steel of the blade. A few of these were specially etched noted and given to dignatarys the Gov of Texas and I believe John Wayne probably others . These few specials were etched by a well known artisan named Aurum . Schrade and others liked his work so well that when Colt wanted a etched knife similar to the S&W he was called on to design a full blade etch for this issue. This trend continued for several years and Aurums was called on to do an issue for the NRA ( NOTE which was the only one to be etched on both sides of the blades. ) A Custer issue which was promoted and sold by the people who run the Custer little big horn Monument and memorial organization. There was also a Buffalo Bill issue and a Daniel Boone. The usual amount of issue was 500 to 1000 although it might have been more for the NRA, also it is unknown how many were actually sold or made. THe Daniel Boone and Buffalo Bill issues are really tough to find. I doubt many were sold most found are samples from old salesmens kits, that they used to show customers, what was available. The Daniel Boone and NRA versions are often used as examples of the engraver etchers art. The Daniel Boone is so precise that you can read a carving on a tree saying D Boon killa bar on this tree 1773. These are the six main versons of these wood handled that Schrade made. I believe that they did not sell as many as planned ( due to price ect ) often in todays market you will find plain Schrade versions un marked that was because they were awaiting the preferences of the contract buyers who never materialized. These again are not to be confused with the history of the later same pattern stag handled versions.

These knives all came in the own lined boxes some like the texas were a bit different and might have a logo or similar small difference. A while back I decided that to preserve this history I would try to find examples of each knife and display them together. It has taken a while one came from the Greg Martin auction another from the Cowan, ( Of course ebay ). I did I believe pretty good on most however being anxious I did go to heavy on one and sure enough another popped up on ebay a few days later such is life. In any event once I had them I called on my friend Dave Ruger ( DRUGER ) on the forum. I told him my idea was to gut a furniture grade Schrade display case ( as the one my WWII set is in ) and cut out a piece of 3/4 ply for an insert skeleton which could then be padded ect. Dave is a carpenter I am not so 25 minutes later the padding ect was up to me. I have included pics of the final display and the knives ect. I should have taken one of the insert skeleton neat cutouts one piece of wood. I believe this is the only single display of these 6 pieces together that I have seen of heard of. I would be interested in comment or questions. Oh yes Aurum did knives for many companies Buck ect however these are the only bowies for Schrade that I know of. The last I heard he had run into some difficultys due to certain supposidly unsafe environmental techniques or materials he used in this process. For all I know he could still be around. However for certain Back in the seventys when the golden age of commeratives began he sure did some nice work. I hope you enjoy the pics. LT

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:50 pm

Sorry the pics are not better. LT

W5RWU · Post by **W5RWU** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:22 am

The case come out real nice

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:33 am

Pics are fine, LT. And the knives look great. I think Buffalo Bill is my favorite.

These knives do lend themselves to some personalization, and I have shown this pic before of my own slightly enhanced, plain old Bowie. The Sheath is by Jack Mosher. The engraving of the brass was by our forum member Mike Pardue. A local engraver added what was mainly missing, the name Schrade and Made in USA.

Thanks again LT for showing us these bowies.

Phil

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:48 am

Amazing display Lt!

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Nice Bowie Phil!

Dale

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:58 am

I note there is one of these plain jane bowies on ebay right now.... with a 'Schrade LTD' tang stamp. Is that for real, LT?? As mine shows, a trip to the engraver's makes anything possible.

Still a few of these available from certain wholesalers.

Phil

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:19 am

I believe it is since I sold it to the dealer who is selling it. When I was with Schrade I had a dozen done with the photo electro etch which was used on at least on other ltd issue . it was used on the running deer stag handled gold etch 90tys NRA version . it was an option they had ordered. I had the photo electro etch dug out of mothballs and done on the 12 I bought. it was on the Wounded warrior knife I donated I have I believe also posted this story before. In the guys ad he refers to me a a past salesman for Schrade. It was I guess easier to just post it that way. LT.

Timstools · Post by **Timstools** » Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:26 am

LT
Well done, you deseve these, I looked at some of your earier posts on another forum and it seems that you have been waiting for these for about 6 or 7 years .
My interest has only grown recently and I really dont like the chances of me ever finding the two of those rarer ones mentioned although Im still after and dont have a Sam Colt Bowie it souldnt be to difficult as these are by far the most common of them all.
I doupt Ill find the Daniel Boone knife and the Buffallo Bill knife but that is OK. It nice to know someone has them all and is also willing to share them with us. Thanks for the photos. Look after them that set really is a treasure, my LB7s protos dont even come close. Beauty and rarity all rapped up in one package!!!
Regards Tim

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Schrade Texas Style Bowies

Schrade Texas Style Bowies

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