Newer Bulldog Knives

[Luckypaul777]

The 2004 anniversary Bulldog knives; are said to be of good quality. How do the 2007 and 2008; rate as far as, becoming a collectible knife? Buzz Parker has some; nice looking Sunfish on his site.


Luckypaul777

[Hukk]

I have maybe 40 2004 (25th anniversary) prototypes and they are indeed of excellent quality. I have some 2005 and the quality seems to drop off BUT the Baby Bullet Trapper was excellent, IMO, except the backspring stength is way harder than it needs to be (should really downgrade on that, but it is IMO the best knife they made in 2005) and the 3 3/8 stockman was OK, but these were all prototypes. I do have a 2005 Bulldog Saddlehorn with waterfall celluloid that had outgassed and discolored the pins, shield, and the Bolsters. Those handles are now gone in order to keep the metal from corroding. I think I have some swing guards from 2005 or 2006, nothing to write home about. As for 2007 the only one I have is the Queen made Gunstock and it's a very nice knife. (Queen also made knives for Bulldog in 1995 and 1996). I don't have any 2008 knives. I do have some Barlows, the single blade that are from 2006 or 2007 and it is real hard to make this a bad knife. I took one apart and the bolsters are spot welded on to the liners and there are a grand total of 4 pins including the pivot pin. I think it's a good knife, there as so few parts that it's hard to make it bad. It does not even begin to compare with the First Generation Barlows that feel wonderful in the hand, a feel that the current Barlow does not have.

Someone else will have to let you know about the sunfish, they do look good, but 2005 OVERALL the quality seems to drop a bit and then the 2006 and 2007 seems to drop a bit more. Quality seems to be dropping but that's the situation with Case. I did a comparison with Saddlehorns from Bulldog, Case, Rough Rider, and Steel Warrior. Case came in DEAD LAST because mainly there was absolutely no backspring strength. I think it went Steel Warrior (hate the front bolster design and to small for my hand), Bulldog, Rough Rider, and in last was Case. One note however is that those Chinese knives are creeping up in price, watch those as they are getting near the price of the Bulldog Brand. I hear folks calling them cheap but with the USA economy the way it is, the dollar won't buy much from another country. Watch out, I have seen Rough Riders sell for over $20.00 on eBay.

[Hukk]

Let me add to this about quality. Here is a Bulldog sunfish with my favorite handle material, but it looks like a mess to me, I wouldn't buy it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=024

You can look at the rough edges, low end piece. Look at the big pictures.

Here is one a friend of mine rehandled, it is a nice piece, no pitting (sometimes how you work it will make pitting - this knife was covered in Cyanoacrylate prior to buffing. Use the cheap walmart stuff and it will buff off - best if you use a buffing clean wheel.

Corals are pourous and will pick up all kinds of stuff if you aren't careful.

I do want to add that the sellers of this knife are EXCELLENT, I've done business a few times with them-ALWAYS satisfied 100%. This is not a reflection on them at all nor is it on the makers, sometimes you have to either take or leave what the market has to offer.

Click on this site, http://www.knifehandles.com which is now Culpepper & Co, I've done business at least 3 or 4 years and they do have some excellent products - that's why they've grown and why they had to move to much larger buildings.

Anyway, go to the site and click on coral and stone, $65.00 is what I paid, 1/8 inch to short for the $45.00 set. I let him keep it, I think I saw it on another knife.

[Luckypaul777]

Thanks Hukk; I guess that is (getting it from the horses mouth), as they say. I don't have enough experience to see the small details. But I can see; that the Lewis & Clark, has better looking coral and a nicer finish. Guess that I will stick with the older Bulldogs.


Luckypaul777

[Hukk]

Bulldog didn't make that one. It's customized and as far as I know the only ONE. I also had one done in a nice Apple Coral Also a custom, Bulldog did not make it - I don't think they even use that anymore, though I could be wrong. The swing guard is a favorite to customize.
I noticed that they had Apple Coral prototypes in 2004, but I don't recall seeing them in 2005. They did not have sheephorn in 2005 that I can remember, but they do now. Sheep horn is relatively cheap, I think I have 4 or 5 top grade sets of scales (merino sheep) that I got on sale for under $100 for all of them.

[johnnierotten]

Wow,Hukk!!..Those are some great looking swing guards!!

[Hukk]

Thank You, one of my favorite knives to customize. The Black Lip Pearl was the last Jeff and Mike did for me, then I was going to do them. BUT, I made knives for my brothers, haven't touched one of mine in ages due to orders.

[Bulldog-Arne]

Great knives, and awsome pictures.You are really a very good photographer Hukk, to say the least.

[Hukk]

Great knives, and awsome pictures.You are really a very good photographer Hukk, to say the least.

Thanks, I assure you it's pure luck. That and I found a place to take pictures at the same time every day.

[jfarmer]

I have sold a few of the new Bulldog Sunfish. The customers have been very happy with them.

James