Lon,
We need to clarify your above post, specifically the text which reads…
"Here are 3 of Fred's favorites:"
This text was not part of my original post from 5 years ago, Jan 2010....
The text I wrote immediately above the list of 3 knives was...
"The three knives shown here are not Fred Bear's personal knives but rather knives that I have used of the same brand as knives used by Fred Bear."
Although much indisputable evidence exists that Fred used Marbles knives well before his 1957 catalog introduction of the Bowhunter’s Kit, there is no evidence that I am aware of that Fred used the Stag Handle Woodcraft model, which I listed and showed in the photograph. Nor is there any evidence that I am aware of that Fred ever used any Model of Marbles Knives that had a Stag Handle. (However, much later, Fred did use a knife with a Stag Handle, the Puma Hunter’s Pal.
The Stag Handle Woodcraft PAT PEND is simply one of my personal favorite vintage collectible Marbles and one that I have used to gut, skin and butcher many animals over the course of many years.
This is an exact copy of the text I posted in Jan 2010...
"by Wade Phillips
Every bowman has favorite vintage hunting knife. Sometimes he has many favorites. Often this favorite changes as time passes.
Fred Bear was no different than other bowmen as the knife he carried changed over time. Before Bear's well known Bowhunter's Kit, first appeared in the Bear Catalog in 1957, with its Western 648, Fred used other brands of knives. Fred's earlier knives included the famous Marbles knives which were made in Michigan since the late 1800s. Even after introduction of the Bowhutner's Kit, it is well documented that Fred replaced the Western 648 in his Bowhunter's Kit sheath with a Puma Hunter's Pal, which he used during the last several years of his hunting days.
The three knives shown here are not Fred Bear's personal knives but rather knives that I have used of the same brand as knives used by Fred Bear.
1) - Marbles Woodcraft, PAT PEND, stag handle, 1914-1915
2) - Puma Hunter's Pal, stag handle
3) - Western 648 - bone handle
My favorite of the three is the 1914-5 Marbles Woodcraft, at the top of the image. Holds an edge and is easily sharpened. On several occasions after killing a deer or antelope, I have gutted the animal, skinned it and butchered it with this knife without sharpening it at all. After each of these occasions, sharpening took only 3 to 6 strokes on each side using a diamond hone. If I could only own one knife to use for everything, gutting, skinning, butchering, this would be the one.
Next favorite is the Puma Hunter's Pal, in the center. Holds a great edge but is a little harder to sharpen than the Marbles. The rougher stag handle provides a better grip for bloody hands. Have also used this knife on a few occasions to gut, skin and butcher an animal without sharpening it. With the blade sharpened down like this one, it fits in the sheath of a 1957 Bowhunter's Kit. You may have to bend the aluminum scabbard inside, a little to get the blade to fit easily.
Not a favorite at all, is the Western 648, at the bottom of the image. The standard knife in the 1957 Bowhunter's Kit. Although I've found it works well for notching a paper tag after the kill, the softer steel quickly provides a disappointingly dull cutting edge."
Topic: The EARLIEST Bear Bowhunters Kits?? (Read 3242 times)
