Dogs Head tang and bolster stamps

[Crappieho]

Thank you so much for the encouraging words and the warm welcome. I read the forums all the time, can’t get enough of all the knowledge and experience. What a resource to have at our fingertips. Thanks again!

[Crappieho]

I don’t worry much about this one.

Very nice!

[Madmarco]

That's an impressive grouping of your current accumulation, C-ho,, some lovely knives in there! I applaud your focus on certain knives and/or styles, mine, although organized somewhat is a potpourri of brands, styles, and colors, with the only thing in common being their blades, single spear-points, regarding that I'm adamant. My true passion is with automatics, always loved them always will!

Because you post like a veteran you seem far more advanced than a newbie, but I'm gonna you to AAPK just the same!

[Crappieho]

Thanks for the compliments Madmarco. It’s really encouraging to get positive feedback when you are new at something. I’m almost relying on crossed fingers when I purchase a Dos Head but I’m getting better at it.

[Madmarco]

I'd like to suggest that you take your time and do the necessary research prior to buying your knives, C-H, and I say this because that's what was suggested to me when I landed at AAPK. IMHO, you've made an excellent start with what you've acquired so far, and although I am far from being a KA-BAR expert, they all appear to be genuine from what I can see in your pictures.
I have some KA-BAR's in my accumulation but know little about them, and once I reorganize and go through my accumulation to find them I'll post pictures, currently they're buried in the pile.
As for what your grandkids will say and think, and even more importantly what will their friends say and think, if you gift them your knives they all couldn't help but say and think, "What a cool gramma"!
I'm wondering if you are one of those "Pink" fanatics like a friend of mine who helps me in my old age is?
With this gal it's pink clothes, pink scooter, pink cat accessories, pink food of all things, everything is pink, pink, pink! I'm simply curious because of your avatar, in no way am I dissing it, you like pink, go pink!

[Crappieho]

Madmarco you totally nailed it lol, all about the pink. And yes I’m in my 50’s with this hair. It was my superhero power while fighting cancer! It worked

[Madmarco]

And we're all glad it worked, girl!

[Crappieho]

Mad Marco I take care of disabled veterans that come and live with me in my home. I’ve been a caregiver for over 30 years! My veteran heroes love my collections of pocket knives, antique tools and oil cans

[Madmarco]

God bless you, Pink, I hear folks like you go to heaven. It beaks my heart when I see how some US vets are treated when they get home, it's absolutely shameful. When I watch, "Born on the Fourth of July" with Tom Cruise, and they have him strapped into that filthy bed in that filthy room I get up to get a snack so I don't have to watch it. Same deal when those Humane Society money drive commercials come on. I don't get how anyone could mistreat or neglect someone/thing like that. After I get past the initial disgust my blood starts to boil. Good for you, girl, it's really nice meeting someone who lives in the complete opposite direction of those cruel fools!
Is it alright if I address you as "Pink", cuz I feel really stupid calling you "Crap/Crappie" or, you could tell me your first name if that's cool? I could address you as "ho", but that could stir up trouble!
Seeing as you started this thread, I don't need to apologize for hijacking it with cross-talk, yay!

[Crappieho]

You may certainly call me Pink or my name is Tammy. Thanks for the kind words. This is my way to serve. I’ve been a caregiver for aver 30 years now. I’ve been blessed to serve some true heroes I agree with you that some veterans are terribly treated or outright neglected. Some days are not easy but it’s always worth it. And Crappieho is my fishing team nickname, lol because my friends say I will do anything to go crappie fishing they are just barely wrong!

[Madmarco]

Good for you, girl!
I learned through a different avenue that giving is always better than taking by 10X, and it sure works for me when I can get my ego outta the way.
As I was trying to figure out how you came up with "Crappieho" as your handle, it crossed my mind it had something to do with the fish, and it appears I was right. Now, what about the "ho" part? You seem far to nice to be what I'm thinking, but.....? You're turning out to be a guy's dream girl, Tammy, you like knives, you like fishing, you're the perfect guy's best friend! We're glad to have you here under any circumstances, Pink!
Enough mush, show us your knives!

[Crappieho]

Madmarco what do you think about this dogs head I picked up recently? This is the information I have on it:

I thought it was kinda neat although I am not familiar with Mr Stidham or the Randall Knife Society. Please share if you know anything about them.

[Madmarco]

I'm sorry, Pink, I don't know anything about your knife, other than I think you made a great find! Background information isn't my forte, although, I am picking up more and more every day just by being here. I am certain though that others will view this thread and have all the information you want, so be patient. I'm a 1 blade kindda guy, so I'd prefer your knife didn't have the pen blades, but other than that, wow! Actually, I'm wondering if your knife didn't have the pen blades would it still be classified as a "Whittler"?
Regarding Stidham and Randall, I have just heard the name Stidham tossed around in knife conversations a few times, and the only Randall involved with knives that I'm aware of is the one that produces the expensive bowies.
Wish I could have helped you more, girl!

[doglegg]

Madmarco what do you think about this dogs head I picked up recently? This is the information I have on it:

IMG_5040.jpegIMG_5041.jpeg

I thought it was kinda neat although I am not familiar with Mr Stidham or the Randall Knife Society. Please share if you know anything about them.

It is a looker for sure. Great knife and tang stamp. Congrats.

[Crappieho]

Madmarco & doglegg I found this on another thread about the earliest dogs head shields. They don’t have shields but I found them extremely interesting as the first one, a folder, is thought to have also come from the Stidham collection. I didn’t know how to share from the other thread but here are the pictures from there.

[Madmarco]

Wow, very nice, Tammy, those are 2 really cool knives! It's fairly clear to me now why you are so enamored by the Dog's-Head shields, those 2 really make them stand-out.

[Gunsil]

Tammy, you've got a lot of knives shown. I only see one made by KA-BAR pre war which is an original KA-BAR the rest are modern dogs, many made for the KCC but not actually made by KA-BAR. The top knife in the second photo is a "real" one. There are folks who collect those KCC knives but they are a lot less expensive and easier to find than the originals. The funny one with the Stidham collection with the dog head bolster is a fake and the fixed blade with the dog head pommel is not a KA-BAR product. Good luck in your collecting endeavors!

[Crappieho]

Thanks for the info Mr Gunsil. Can you tell me what is the “thing” that makes the pre-war dog head jump out at you as original or is it simply your years of experience or because it has the hole in the end? I really want to be better at recognizing the age range but still often struggle with that skill. Also I realize that almost every knife I get is pretty clean and shiny. Unfortunately that is because I don’t know how to properly clean or restore knives yet. I have only taken baby steps in the full knife collecting experience so far but maybe one day I’ll get there lol. Of course some are quite obvious and I mostly buy some for trading for other things that I like but honestly I still feel like I’m crossing my fingers and hoping for the best I’m attaching a photo of my dog head purchases since my last post and as a bonus or just for fun a picture of the biggest and smallest of my recent purchases (not dog heads just pirate girl treasures)

[wlf]

My best day of crappie fishing was when I was on my chemo pump fishing with uncle.
We found a large group of 1 1/2 lb. schooled at the mouth of a large cove in almost the middle of the river. Every cast caught one. We caught all we wanted to keep and just quit.
It became a minor legend among the group of crappie fishermen.

[Crappieho]

That’s awesome Mr WLF. I actually got my first actual “fishing” boat after having cancer and surgery and still had a drain in my liver the first time I tried to launch it by myself. As it slid off the trailer into the water the rope broke as a barge passed by sucking it towards the main river. I had to jump in to catch the boat, swam around to the back to try and get in and immediately realized I had not put the plug in the boat I had to swim while pushing the sunk boat back to the boat ramp while my bag of minnows was floating around in the boat then winch it back onto the trailer While I am a terrible boat driver I am an absolute slab slayer on Crappie! My 2 personal bests were both over 3 lbs with a close 3rd over 2 1/2. The 3 pounder in top picture was caught the day after I got out of the hospital!

[wlf]

I've never caught any that big. My uncle caught one like the bottom one. My daughter caught one in a pond that weighed 2 1/2 lbs. It's mouth was hard like a bass, it must have been aged.

Crappies are about the best eating fish around here.

[Crappieho]

These were all caught on the Black Warrior River in West Central Alabama!

[Ripster]

These were all caught on the Black Warrior River in West Central Alabama!

That’s some serious Crappies Girl !! If you don’t mind would you share some of your fishing photos and experiences on the Outdoor thread here .
What do you use for the crappies ? Live bait ,jigs?
Take care .

[Crappieho]

Thanks ripster! I’m mostly old school and use minnows but of course I also have about a gazillion dollars worth of baits and tackle that I don’t use I love to kick butt with my pink Barbie tackle box, minnows and my crappie pole from the fast & easy gas station/bait store! I didn’t realize there was a separate forum for stuff like fishing but I sure will check it out and post up some pics and adventure tales!

[Gunsil]

Tammy, I recognize the original in your photo by the tang stamps and the "look". A shame someone heavily buffed th bottom bolster. Most collectors prefer original condition to buffed knives. The Stidham anglo saxon whittler you show was not even authorized by KA-BAR and KA-BAR never made a knife like that. Real dogs are expensive but they also appreciate in value while the KCC knives are very slow.