Western Bowie knife issued in SF?
 

An older gentleman is trying to sell this knife. It belonged to his brother and I think his brother must have retired early to late 70's or so. I just talked to the owner of it on the phone and he's retired Army and his brother was SF who served in 7th and I don't know what other Group or Groups. He's trying to get an idea of value and maybe sell it. They seem to think it's made in the early 60's (this seems to be true from my research). It's made by Western out in Boulder, Colorado. I've seen one's just like it on Ebay for about $150 Buy-it-now's. I asked the owner of it what he's trying to get for it and he said $950. That blow me away as I don't think it's worth more than $100 or so without the guys DD-214 etched into it. But I said I'd see if I could find a story behind it for him. The brother said he seems to think it was an issued knife and I explained to him that it probably wasn't but maybe it was a going-away gift.

Have any of one seen one in the SF? Thanks.

And yes, I searched and came up with squat! What do you guys think?

http://forums.gunboards.com/attachme...7&d=1315771415

http://forums.gunboards.com/attachme...8&d=1315771415

http://forums.gunboards.com/attachme...9&d=1315771415

http://forums.gunboards.com/attachme...0&d=1315771415

The web address for the auction is only for those that are registered users of that site.

Grab a copy of the picture or look on Google images for the knife.

Without a picture??? :boohoo

In the mean time,, Here are some examples of Western knives in the service:

http://www.militaryfightingknives.co...n.html#Western

:munchin

Opps about the pictures. Here they are. I uploaded them to my photobucket account.

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...orf/BOWIE1.jpg

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...orf/BOWIE2.jpg

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...orf/Bowie3.jpg

http://i441.photobucket.com/albums/q...orf/Bowie4.jpg

That's an awesome link you posted, JJ_BPK. I'm going to spend a lot of time there. Unfortunately, this knife isn't there.

I'm gonna have to say that is not an issued knife. It very well could be that it was a going away gift and or a small group buy at the time by a bunch of interested guys, hence the etching of the SF crest. Personally, I think $100.00 would be on the high side unless there is some sort of providence associated with the knife that makes it more valuable.

The SF Crest etching looks pretty fresh considering the "age"of the knife.

I'm pretty sure it was etched years ago( mid-60's or so). If you follow the link below, you will see something else that old-timer sold off a a month ago through a family friend. It looks like he has some pretty legit stuff. Awesome helmet in link.

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthre...egt-Pathfinder

I'm in full agreement. I'm just looking for the same and/or different opinions. Thanks!

What you have is a "Hail and Farewell" Bowie Knife.

I don't know if active duty units still have what we used to call the "Cup and Flower Fund" run by the S1. Every officer was docked about $10 - $15 per month in "dues" and the fund bought preapproved gifts under defined situations:

Baby = Silver Plated Cup, engraved with the baby's name.
Death in the immediate family = A wreath of flowers from the Battalion.

Hence the name "Cup and Flower Fund."

PCS = A Bowie knife like the one shown. It comes with a belt sheath that hangs down to about my knees, and a wooden display plaque for hanging in the den. Mine hangs in my office. To be blunt, it's physically unremarkable and you could buy one a a pawn shop for about $25.00.

Looks something like this:

http://www.knivesplus.com/case-knife-plaque-ca-317.html

I never saw nor ever heard of an issued Bowie - in my experience, it's either a farewell presentation gift from an ODA/B/C or something he bought for himself and had the engraving done as some form of memento or gift.

I purchased a folding Buck for my Dad at the old wooden IMA bookstore across Reilly from Center in '72 and had the following engraving added before giving it to him - name on one side of the blade and the SF SSI, parachutist badge, medical caduceus, and beret w/dagger on each of the four brass end pieces.

That fighting knife link is an outstanding resource, JJ.

Richard :munchin

Value
 

As CSB as said it is probably worth about $25 on the open market. Even if the engraving is old it is/was not an issue item. The knife in like new condition would have greater value without the crest than with it. If there is some sort of proof showing this knife was actually used in the field vs being some sort of memento it could make a difference but still the knife is not likely to bring more than $50. Documented presentation knives are not bringing much more then their new cost and are rarely purchased by true collectors.

MVP

Bull Simons' Bowie used to be on display by the entrance to the SF Museum, along with his powder horn.

IIRC, he used to give the Western Bowies away as going away gifts.

Now if he can prove that COL Simons presented it, it might have some more value.

As it is, it isn't worth much, and it looks like a fake to me.

TR

Western Bowie Knife
 

In '68 after being assigned to the 7th Group, my Father presented me with one and I carried it throughout my Army career. I didn't have the SF crest but it made a great substitute for a machete, was great for butchering wild game and the top fore blade was kept sharp enough to shave the hair on your arm. When my son enlisted in 1998, I passed it on to him and he carried it to Baghdad. I think in the '60s, the knife could be purchased for about $40-$50 dollars. There was no SF knife issued and most of the guys purchased the Gerber commando style knives. Hope this helps a little.

Re: Cup and Flower Fund
 

I don't know if active duty units still have what we used to call the "Cup and Flower Fund" run by the S1. Every officer was docked about $10 - $15 per month in "dues" and the fund bought preapproved gifts under defined situations:

Baby = Silver Plated Cup, engraved with the baby's name.
Death in the immediate family = A wreath of flowers from the Battalion.

Hence the name "Cup and Flower Fund."

PCS = A Bowie knife like the one shown. It comes with a belt sheath that hangs down to about my knees, and a wooden display plaque for hanging in the den. Mine hangs in my office. To be blunt, it's physically unremarkable and you could buy one a a pawn shop for about $25.00.

Looks something like this:

I got a 3rd Group GB statue and later a 6th Group GB statue out of the fund in late 67 and again in late 69 or early 70. I think those statues ended before 75? I did not pay into the fund. I think it was just the married officers who paid in.

http://www.knivesplus.com/case-knife-plaque-ca-317.html[/QUOTE]

Just an update. I just got off the phone with the owner of the knife. I told him the info I've received and the value of it.. "Fuck that!" "Fuck this shit!" "I know a gotta pile of gold" "I wouldn't take less than a $1,000 for it.". "Those guys don't know shit." I'm really qouting him here.

What a guy. I asked him to look this thread up and he flatly refused and said he's old school and doesn't want to look it up. I didn't even offer anything him for it.

Oh, well. Thanks for the insight, guys.

Oh I dunno, I remember lots of guys carrying swords in combat because our loads were so light....