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- Aug 4, 2013
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I've seen these vintage S&W Bowie knives being sold online in the past, but I never bothered looking into them... Well, that is, until now.
I placed an order for one yesterday after having learned a little bit about them.
This is what I've learned thus far...
During the early 1970's, S&W was looking at possibly getting into the knife business.
They hired Blackie Collins to help them with designing knives.
They used what they called a modified 440 stainless steel for blade material. Some say it's 440A, others say 440C... I dunno
The 6010 model had a forged steel blade.
The handle material that they called "Wessonwood", was basically a laminated wood like Buck used for so long on their Buck 110. In other words, something like Diamondwood.
The pommel and guard are brass.
Blade stock was about 1/4" thick, and stick tang was made wide.
Blade length was about 6".
The 6010 Bowie knives were made in house, not farmed out to an outside source.
The hand fitted guards were finished by having a bead of solder placed at the base of the blade's ricasso to guard connection, (like what one sees on Randall Made Knives).
About 15,000 model 6010 Bowies were made during the early to late 1970's... Or did they go into the 1980's?
Okay, that is what I have learned thus far.
I noticed some of the 6010 Bowie knives had their year of production stamped in to the blade as part of the stamped in S&W logo.
But, the specimen I ordered, based on the online photo of it, does not have this date stamped in to it. Would this mean it was an earlier piece that maybe predates them having the date stamp, or is it a later model that maybe they started dropping the date stamps on?
What year were they discontinued?
What is the definitive on the steel used... 440 modified being 440A or 440C?
I'm basically interested in learning any tidbits of information anyone here can share with me pertaining to these knives.
They surely look 1970'ish in style, but all the sudden I found them interesting enough to want one, and hence my placing an order yesterday for my incoming specimen.
I want to give my thanks in advance for any info about this product and it's history that you can share with me
It would have been nice if the vendor was listing the knife with original factory box and paperwork, but it was sadly not part of the deal. Here are a couple pics that were on the vendor's website of my incoming S&W Bowie knife...
I see that the leather sheath has some tarnish on it's brass components, I will not leave that be. It will get cleaned off and then receive some TLC'ing by my applying a coat of Renaissance Wax to the brass and leather
I placed an order for one yesterday after having learned a little bit about them.
This is what I've learned thus far...
During the early 1970's, S&W was looking at possibly getting into the knife business.
They hired Blackie Collins to help them with designing knives.
They used what they called a modified 440 stainless steel for blade material. Some say it's 440A, others say 440C... I dunno
The 6010 model had a forged steel blade.
The handle material that they called "Wessonwood", was basically a laminated wood like Buck used for so long on their Buck 110. In other words, something like Diamondwood.
The pommel and guard are brass.
Blade stock was about 1/4" thick, and stick tang was made wide.
Blade length was about 6".
The 6010 Bowie knives were made in house, not farmed out to an outside source.
The hand fitted guards were finished by having a bead of solder placed at the base of the blade's ricasso to guard connection, (like what one sees on Randall Made Knives).
About 15,000 model 6010 Bowies were made during the early to late 1970's... Or did they go into the 1980's?
Okay, that is what I have learned thus far.
I noticed some of the 6010 Bowie knives had their year of production stamped in to the blade as part of the stamped in S&W logo.
But, the specimen I ordered, based on the online photo of it, does not have this date stamped in to it. Would this mean it was an earlier piece that maybe predates them having the date stamp, or is it a later model that maybe they started dropping the date stamps on?
What year were they discontinued?
What is the definitive on the steel used... 440 modified being 440A or 440C?
I'm basically interested in learning any tidbits of information anyone here can share with me pertaining to these knives.
They surely look 1970'ish in style, but all the sudden I found them interesting enough to want one, and hence my placing an order yesterday for my incoming specimen.
I want to give my thanks in advance for any info about this product and it's history that you can share with me
It would have been nice if the vendor was listing the knife with original factory box and paperwork, but it was sadly not part of the deal. Here are a couple pics that were on the vendor's website of my incoming S&W Bowie knife...
I see that the leather sheath has some tarnish on it's brass components, I will not leave that be. It will get cleaned off and then receive some TLC'ing by my applying a coat of Renaissance Wax to the brass and leather
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