07-04-2010, 14:18
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#1
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: .
Posts: 114
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Dan Pitzer SERE prototype knife
this knife is comes with an interesting story. Its the prototype for the Dan Pitzer SERE knife. the Knife was designed and manufactured by Bill Manyard. Bill has been making knives in the Fort Bragg area for several years before an issued knife was any more than a dream. Although he is now in his late 70s, I believe he still takes orders. Among other things Bill is credited to be the founding member of the North Carolina custom Knife makers Guild.
The Dan Pitzer SERE knife was a project of his that Never reached its full potential. Origionally Bill planned on Making around 750 of these knives with etched SF crests, certificate of authenticity, and serial numbers. I am unsure at this time of the final number he finished , but it was no where near the projected number, maybe 100. Anyhow this one is the first.
The man the knife was designed for was CSM Dan Pitzer. As Bill states, "he was a friend many and was a good friend of his". Pitzer was a Vietnam POW captured along with Nick Rowe. More on the surrounding events can be found here:
http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/p/p109.htm
I have collected a couple old flyers Bill had printed up to promote the knife many years ago. the flyers have a short Bio listed for Dan Pitzer along with information about the knife. I also have a Photograph of Bill Maynard holding the knife along with a note he penned for me basically stating it is in fact the prototype. lastly, a scrap piece of 440C he practiced the SF etching on. I will include these items in the sale.
I believe it would make a nice addition to any knife collection. Or Frame up real nice in a shadow box. the Blade is 440C, hardened to 58/59 RC, bead blasted, and with black linen micarta handles. The sheath also complements the knife handcrafted and stiched by hand. the knife was also featured in the January '94 issue of Fighting Knives Magazine,
Asking $450
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orko is offline
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07-05-2010, 07:31
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#2
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 547
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I want to say that one of Manyard's knives is also hanging on the wall in a picture frame in the USASFC command conference room with a POW theme print above it. Can't recall if it's that exact same knife or not but it does look very similar.
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Papa Zero Three is offline
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07-05-2010, 09:46
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#3
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Wilson,NC
Posts: 1,506
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Nice looking knife. Two of my favorite possessions are my copy of Five Years to Freedom, signed by Col. Rowe; and my SERE graduation certificate, signed by Dan Pitzer. That knife would make an excellent addition.
__________________
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R.D. Winters
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rdret1 is offline
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07-22-2010, 22:28
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#4
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Quiet Professional
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Willing to do $400
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orko is offline
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07-30-2010, 19:33
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#5
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Tampa
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rdret1
Nice looking knife. Two of my favorite possessions are my copy of Five Years to Freedom, signed by Col. Rowe; and my SERE graduation certificate, signed by Dan Pitzer. That knife would make an excellent addition.
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Holy Smokes...what a treasure.
I ahd a letter of acceptance to 1st GP signed by him and SGM Joplin when he was scheduled to be the incoming Commander before his assassination. I donated it back to his estate on news of his death.
Very friggin cool.
Eagle
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"I have hung out in dangerous places a lot over the years, from combat zones to biker bars, and it is the weak, the unaware, or those looking for it, that usually find trouble.
Ain't no one getting out of this world alive. All you can do is try to have some choice in the way you go. Prepare yourself (and your affairs), and when your number is up, die on your feet fighting rather than on your knees. And make the SOBs pay dearly."
The Reaper-3 Sep 04
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Eagle5US is offline
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08-06-2010, 22:22
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#6
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Guest
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I still think it needs to be displayed  right next to the V-42
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08-06-2010, 22:45
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#7
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: .
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cszakolczai
I still think it needs to be displayed right next to the V-42 |
well if it doesnt sell mabe I'll send it your way for framing. I can see it now... nice shadow box, mabe some barbed wire in there?
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orko is offline
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08-18-2010, 12:26
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#8
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Guest
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Quote:
Originally Posted by orko
well if it doesnt sell mabe I'll send it your way for framing. I can see it now... nice shadow box, mabe some barbed wire in there?
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barbed wire would be cool 
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08-27-2010, 01:37
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#9
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: .
Posts: 114
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Sold pending funds to a relative of SGM Pitzer.
Also, a congratulations is due to the surviving Pitzer Family who just recieved notification that SGM Pitzer will be inducted in the Special Forces Hall of Fame next month.
Last edited by orko; 09-01-2010 at 12:40.
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orko is offline
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10-06-2010, 15:53
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#10
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: BFE PA
Posts: 449
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Did this sale go through?
My boss is Dan Pitzer's cousin and he just told me today he was looking for one of these knives to give to his son Danny (named after Pitzer).
Sadly he was unable to attend the ceremony but he was immensely proud to tell me everything Mr. Pitzer had told him about his experiences and how proud he was of Mr. Pitzer.
Does anyone have a line on another one of these if it was sold?
Thanks.
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fng13 is offline
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10-06-2010, 17:21
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#11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cszakolczai
barbed wire would be cool |
That would be very cool!!!!
I saw a plaque made for a retiring, (second retirement, age, contract civilian), SERE Instructor, who had lived 18 months under VC control.
Col (LTC) Rowe presented. It was a Army issue Jungle boot with a knife stabbed down straight thru the boot into the base, just below the laces, a top the foot. Around the knife handle and boot was barbed wire, (Vietnamese barbed wire, handmade), a pair of dog tags with name and retirement date stamp.
The plaque base was Thai teak wood, the entire boot painted flat black, the knife was parkerized flat black, the wire and DogTags, crome.
I say go with the wire, nice touch!
Wet Dog
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10-06-2010, 18:21
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#12
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland
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I was just in the Pitzer Conference Room today and saw one of the knives in a shadow box there. Very nice!
TR
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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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10-06-2010, 21:18
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#13
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 547
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reaper
I was just in the Pitzer Conference Room today and saw one of the knives in a shadow box there. Very nice!
TR
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Thats the knife I was referring to earlier in the thread. It is indeed a nice piece.
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Papa Zero Three is offline
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10-06-2010, 22:06
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#14
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Guerrilla
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Oregon
Posts: 153
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Is this the same Dan Pitzer that would have been a MSG at Ft Bragg in 1969 or 70? As I remember, when I met him, is was involved in club management. I recall hearing he was a POW. Sold him a .32 S&W wheel gun. Very nice individual.
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DinDinA-2 is offline
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10-07-2010, 07:04
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#15
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Guest
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wet dog
That would be very cool!!!!
I saw a plaque made for a retiring, (second retirement, age, contract civilian), SERE Instructor, who had lived 18 months under VC control.
Col (LTC) Rowe presented. It was a Army issue Jungle boot with a knife stabbed down straight thru the boot into the base, just below the laces, a top the foot. Around the knife handle and boot was barbed wire, (Vietnamese barbed wire, handmade), a pair of dog tags with name and retirement date stamp.
The plaque base was Thai teak wood, the entire boot painted flat black, the knife was parkerized flat black, the wire and DogTags, crome.
I say go with the wire, nice touch!
Wet Dog
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That is really really cool! Thanks for the idea, I might have to use some of those ideas when I look into displaying a couple of blades.
I really want to figure out a way to use some of those ideas (barbed wire) for my beret stands. I know when I made the beret stand for Mr. Falkel I used some pins of a silver star and a small engraving, but barbed wire would be really neat as well.
This is what I was referring to... I think barbed wire would add a cool touch to it.
Sorry to threadjack Orko. And to answer the persons question who asked, I think the transaction went through the last time I spoke with Orko.
Chris
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