Unusual Stamp on a Case Trapper

[Paladin]

Guys,
I just picked up a Case 1991 Trapper and the pattern number is one I haver not run into before. It is B'D 254SS. I have no clue about the B'D part of the number so was on chat with W. R. Case and they closed out by saying they would have to check with another department and will contact me by email.
Now I suspect that used to mean that they would contact Jim Sargent or Tony Foster but I don't know who their 'go to' might be these days.
Does this ring a bell with anyone out there?

Ray

[QTCut5]

Ray, I believe B'D stands for Bois d'Arc which is the type of wood used for the handle. It's also called Bowdark, which may also be the intended meaning of B'D.

At one time, a Plains Indian brave would gladly trade a horse and blanket for a bow made of the wood. The reputation of such bows spread widely from the land of their makers-the Osage Indians of Arkansas and Missouri. Bows of this hard, strong wood even were found by explorers in use as far north as Montana. That's why in many parts of the nation the wood carries the name bois d'arc, French for wood of the bow. Americanized, the term becomes bowdark.

[Paladin]

Ray, I believe B'D stands for Bois d'Arc which is the type of wood used for the handle. It's also called Bowdark, which may also be the intended meaning of B'D.

At one time, a Plains Indian brave would gladly trade a horse and blanket for a bow made of the wood. The reputation of such bows spread widely from the land of their makers-the Osage Indians of Arkansas and Missouri. Bows of this hard, strong wood even were found by explorers in use as far north as Montana. That's why in many parts of the nation the wood carries the name bois d'arc, French for wood of the bow. Americanized, the term becomes bowdark.

Thank you sir! I don't know why that never occurred to me as we have a few of the trees around West Texas where I grew up. They were prime wood for house piers and such. We always called them horse apples when I was young.

Thanks again,
Ray

[ea42]

Also known as Osage Orange.

Eric

[knifeaholic]

I have never seen them use that handle code, but that is the only thing that makes sense. These days, Case does not try to differentiate too much in the bone types or wood types when they stamp the pattern numbers, but back then they did.

[Paladin]

Thanks again to all of you for all the help on this.

Ray

[1967redrider]

Also known as Osage Orange.

Eric

That wood is very rot resistant, like old American Chestnut. Thanks, Eric!

[miked32]

I don’t think I ever seen one. Thanks for sharing.