A few good dogs

[69gto]

Hi all,
Here are a couple of bulldogs I acquired in a recently purchased collection. Any idea on the value or collectibility of these?
Thanks!

[Hukk]

Both are third generation knives, 1993 to 1995. The Gold Dust Toothpick is from 1993 (1993 was the first year the toothpick was in the Bulldog line up) and it's the first year that Jim Parker ordered the knives from Friedrich Olbertz. 1993 is also the first year that Bulldog used surgical instrument steel for their knives. (Charlie Dorton had one stainless model in the first generation - the Cowboy's Pet series of 4 inch stockman).The Gold Dust Toothpick is BKC 1104. It is 1 of 100 and books for about $70 - maybe $40 on eBay.

The 4 inch stockman (1995 is series 2) with abalone celluloid is 1 of 120 is BKC 966. It books for $55.

[69gto]

Thanks much, Hukk. I'm new to collecting, learning a lot, and really enjoying it. It's great to have these forums and receive feedback from the experts! Could you explain BKC and the number after those letters?
Thanks again.

[Hukk]

BKC stands for Bulldog Knife Club and the numbers were assigned to the knives to identify them. The use of the BKC numbers ended at about the transition period between the 3rd and 4th generations. The fourth generation was badly documented. There are some transition knives that have BKC numbers - some of the transition knives have a tang stamps with a single standing dog 1996 and another tang stamp with the fighting dogs 1995.

The Bulldog Brand was started by Charlie Dorton and ____ Scott (I forget his first name), where we get the S&D cut. co. tang stamp on some first generation knives.

Bulldog dates the knives into generations. The first generation was 1978 to 1987 (fighting dogs tang stamp), second generation 1991 & 1992 (fighting dogs tang stamp), Third generation 1993 - 1995 (fighting dogs tang stamp), fourth generation 1996 to mid 2000 (standing dog tang stamp), and fifth generation mid 2000 to current. The fifth generation started in mid 2000 with the double dog head tang stamp. The double head tang stamp lasted through 2003. In 2004 the fighting dogs tang stamp came into use again - which makes a case for a sixth generation starting in 2004, but that has not happened - yet.

[elwood]

Does anyone know if there is a way to date the Bulldog folding hunter knives? I know Parker's book talks about the length of the nail pull, but sometimes that difference seems less than obvious. I believe some of the early ones do have 1983 stamped in the tang. I have quite a few of these and have tried to figure out which generation they are and what dates they correspond to. Any help would be appreciated. There clearly is some knowledge on this forum that has been studying this longer than I have.

[elwood]

I am sure somebody knows more about these than I do. Maybe more pictures will help.

[Hukk]

I am sure somebody knows more about these than I do. Maybe more pictures will help.

My understanding on the 4 7/8 folding hunters is that the long pulls are 2nd generation. In the books the first and second generation knives are listed together. The second generation knives are built in quantities of 36 and have a -A as part of the BKC number. The rest are first generation. Nice group of knives!