How About Making an AFFORDABLE Fred Bear Knife and File Set Reproduction?

[TonyW]

Dean-
That sounds like a great visit! I really like the human side of this, the memories that live in relics made of wood, leather, and bone.
Guess what sacred Fred Bear items Marylanders have to visit?  Not what you experienced, only a gawk at some of the pillaged spoils of the Fred Bear Museum draped around merchandise in the local mega-mall Bass Pro Shop.

[ckruse]

Very interesting. I started working on the same concept a couple of years ago. Right now the components are just standing by. I have a friend that is a good leathersmith. I'm going to let him examine my new (mid 60's) set to build the sheath from. Mine will be with the Western 648, Norton stone, and Bear file. If I can get something going on it soon I will post to this too, if thats ok. I've got a dandy collector's set new in the box. That is how it will stay!  The components I've got would be neat to build a set to carry. Thats been my thinking for several years, just haven't got to it! CKruse

[tonto]

I hope here is a photo of mine.

 

not perfect but I only had photos to go by.
Dean

[TonyW]

Dean-
Not perfect, but pretty damned close! Your 648 model looks exactly like Frank Scott's, and the Puma version only needs the P-38 pocket piggybacked on the Puma and a 7" pencil-sized hone pocket stitched right beside the file. Fred Bear would be proud!

CKruse-
Have your leathersmith examine page 16 and 17 of Moose's  http://www.mooseran.com.  If you posted photos of your collector's sheath, empty and loaded, it would also help with the cause.

[ckruse]

Will do... a little later. Thanks, CKruse

[TonyW]

Visited the local Tandy Leather Shop today in Essex. The owner, Pat Guercio, was very helpful when I called. "You will need a belly piece," she said. "That's what most people use for sheaths."
When I visited this afternoon, she looked at Dean's pictures,traced my Puma's sheath, and quickly drew a freehand design of the file. "I would do this with one piece of leather. Sew on the pockets for the Norton stone and can opener, fold it over, sew the hone pocket, then the file pocket, and then the knife pocket."
She was interested in the idea, and invited me to come back next Saturday at 10AM and join a free class that would provide all the tools needed to make the sheath. She said to e-mail any pictures I have and she would draw a template this week.
I felt guilty about taking up her time without buying anything, and noticed a scrap pile of  spotted cowhide. I picked up several pieces, enough to make rests for a dozen bows, and asked for a price.
"Oh, a buck fifty."
I will try to take some pictures next Saturday and show the process. If anyone has good photos of the original Fred Bear set and the new collector version, please email me at [email protected] or post them here. If anybody knows the time of hone Fred Bear used, that is the only piece of the puzzle I am still working on. Based on Moose's photo, it take up the space of a 6" round bastard file.

[TonyW]

CORRECTION TO MYSELF
The "type" of hone dummy. What is the "time of hone?"

[ckruse]

Here we go, hope these help... CKruse

 
 

[ckruse]

Two more... CKruse
 

 

[ckruse]

Another pair...CKruse
 
 

[ckruse]

And the components...CKruse
 

[ckruse]

The sheath is 9.75" inches from the square corner of the bottom to the top of the belt loop fold. It is 1.875" wide at the belt loop. These pictures are not the best, but I didn't get to them before dark. I wanted to take them outside, they would have been clearer.

The Norton pocket stone is 4" L x .075 W x .025 T. I hope this helps a little. CKruse

[TonyW]

Thanks CKruse - this helps a lot. It would be nice to make one that could be used. I am still having trouble tracking down a source for a Norton stone with your specs. I will design the sheath based on these measurements if anyone can confirm that they are still available. So far the best one I found was an inch shorter, a bit wider, and much thicker. Do they still make these 4 x.75 x 0.25 inch orange Nortons?

I am trying to make this set so it can be maintained with modern equivalents as well as New Old Stock. I think Bear added a ceramic or diamond hone to his personal set, and I think I found a modern equivalent. The old Bear files are hard to come by, but I think I can fashion a similar handle from wood to fit to a new file.

[ckruse]

I believe Norton makes some stones of that dimension. They are probaly for a specific application, and may not be listed as a general use "pocket stone".  You may check with them or one of the big tool suppply outfits like Fastenal or Grainger etc. I have two new extras that appear nearly exact to the originals, but are about 1/16" wider. They were ones that were made up for different companies as advertising, with the company logos on the little plastic slip cover. I need to get off my butt and get with my guy to try and make a couple up. This is a very worthy project, in my estimation. Let me know if I can help you out more. CKruse

[TonyW]

Using your measurements, I just found the modern equivalent that is easy to buy online from Midwest Knifemakers Supply, LLC :

Pocket stone FINE INDIA 1/4"x 3/4" x 4"
Norton pocket stone. Our smallest, lightest stone. Includes pouch. Use this where size and weight matter $4.77

 http://s190.photobucket.com/albums/z117/katswal/?action=view¤t=nortonstone.jpg

[ckruse]

Tony, good find on the stones. The files you want will be a 6" single cut mill bastard. They will be just under 8" OAL with the tang. I have a handfull I picked up cheap at the flea markets. They include Nicholson, Disston, Atkins, and Bluegrass. I hope to make some osage and other handles for them. The Grobet has the best reputation, but these seem very serviceable and were cheap!

[TonyW]

Thanks for the tip. I could never have come up with the right search criteria for the file until you posted. Based on what I read on their website, I think that Midwest Knife just started to carry them this year.
Thanks for your advice on the file. I looked over the 6 and 8 inchers, and even though an 8 inch file could pair up with the knife, you would have to grind or hacksaw the file handle, and then fit the stub into a wood handle to match the knife. I am a complete novice on the art of file sharpening, but from what I read I also think that the 6" file would get the job done in the field. Please correct this info if I am wrong. It looks like Fred Bear added a pencil sized knife sharpener hone, and I will post pictures when I find a likely one.
What has turned out nice about this project is finding items that everybody can get for a few bucks - that was the original idea a few decades ago! It also can be easily customized to fit the personality and needs of the user.

[Takedown]

Here is a "Fred Bear" like set I made a couple of years ago:



I used a EZ Lap Diamond Stick type hone rather than a hone stone. This works great on knives and broadheads.

Took a bit of trial and error to get the whole kit to go together, but it has been a very useful bit of gear!
Harry

[Takedown]

I'll try to get the other photo to come up!

 

Hope this works!
Harry

[Archer 1]

I just ordered the Puma Hunters Pal. Where I got it, the total cost with shipping was $48.96. I've been wanting to make a set for years, and when I seen the Puma for that price, I jumped on it. I already have all the other components.