A Question for Norsefan - Per Request

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:04 pm

Hello norsefan, I have a picture of this Bulldog knife. Please describe this knife and ONE important detail, what is unusual about this knife? There is ONE thing I'm looking for in particular.

norsefan12 · Post by **norsefan12** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:45 pm

I don't claim to be at all knowlegeable about the newer bulldog knives. I only collect 1st and second generation , but looking at the picture it seems that one complete piece of abalone wasn't used . It looks as if there are sections fused together.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:49 pm

There is a name for it, do you know what it is? Common to all knives.

ButchTN · Post by **ButchTN** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:49 pm

Beautiful knife Hukk

Butch

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:52 pm

I know what it is

ITS PERFACT

OK its time you all tell me where are you getting so many perfect looking knives from ????

Do you take them apart and work on them. Then put them back together? I buy production knives too but they all have flaws.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:16 pm

This was from a special factory order from Bulldog and I bought it at knife-auction.

norsefan12 · Post by **norsefan12** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:22 pm

well we called it laminated when I worked in plastics.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:47 pm

I never thought you would get this one so quickly. It is laminated heart abalone and the first one from Bulldog that I have seen. Click on the image and take a look at the abalone inside the red circle. The give away is the sudden break in the patterns in the shell. Since there is no more commercial abalone fishing in California due to overfishing, I expect to see more laminated products on knives in the future. California was the major source for the Red Abalone (haliotis rufescens) and Green Abalone (haliotis fulgrens). The Paua from new Zealand is much smaller and for a large knife they would need to use a laminated product. Some are quite good, others are quite lousy. The Green abalone was once known as the jewelry abalone, the Paua Abalone now takes that title.
I don't know if I can come up with a question to challenge you, I thought I did. I have a headache now (banging head on wall and falling off chair). Lets see what we can come up with. may have to consult with outside sources.
I think first, second, and third generations are quite interesting, but like them all. This has the double dog head on the tang and is a fifth generation Bulldog.

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:50 pm

Is it ok to ask what this mite cost me if you wanted to sell it? Or is this a bad thing to do in this site?

You do have to answer if this is some thing I should not know.

I have NOT yet seen any one placeing $$$$ on things they show.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 6:56 pm

It's OK with me. This is a prototype of a very lmited order, only 5 knives were made, 1 prototype and 4 production as this was a special factory order that a friend of mine placed through Jim Parker. On page 114 of Pocket Knife Trader's Price Guide by Jim Parker you will see this knife on the bottom of the page at $200.00. Since this is the prototype, add $25-$50, depending on your resource. This is a "book value" and it's very unlikely that it would sell for that. I've seen knives sell for more than book, especially Bulldog Barlows, I've seen those sell for 2.5 times book and not just once, a friend of mine got $270 for a greenbone Barlow that booked at $110.
I will say with knives becoming so available by eBay and the internet, they are easier to access. So, with that in mind the value of any knife is what a buyer is willing to pay and what the seller is willing to let it go for.
I have heard that Bulldog will no longer make runs this small, that may increase the "Book Value" of these small run special factory order knives.

9ball · Post by **9ball** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:19 pm

Hukk,

Looking where the laminate meets the shell;
Is there is a 'give away' to spot it, other than having it in your hand or asking the seller?

Thanks,
9ball

EDIT/UPDATE: I really cannot see it here, may be my eyes.......

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:01 pm

I know no other way than to look at pictures or ask the seller, better yet is to hold it and move it around in the light.
As a laminate, it is where 2 or more pieces of shell come together. The only way I know is to look at where there is a sudden difference in the pattern and it needs to be for an extended length. The laminate lines are usually very straight as there are naturally occurring pattern breaks. Natural pattern breaks are not straight for an extended length. I put a picture of a set of scales that are going to be put on a knife by Jeff. I made some red circles where pieces are laminated together. There is probably some that I can't see, this is Paua Abalone and the shells are small. They will look better on the finished knife and I will post a couple pictures.
As an abalone diver I've seen thousands of shells, so, certain things just stick out like a sore thumb for me.
Try going to this website and click on the Mosaic Abalone, check out the Mother of Pearl also. http://www.knifehandles.com It is my experience that if there is no picture of the Mosaic products, don't buy it. The Mosaic Abalone is a laminate. The Awabi Abalone is another small shell and I have some of that, I can't find the lines, I know that they are there because the shell is small and the scales I have are 3 1/2 inches long. Just has to be a laminate, but I can't see the lines.
I made the mistake of buying Black Lip Pearl, lines REALLY stand out in that. It can be really tough to tell!

EDIT: You could call the folks at knifehandles.com, the Mother of Pearl Company. I've talked with them a few times and they have always been very helpful.
Click on the pictures for the best view.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 11:06 pm

I have another similar knife made the same timeframe, likely witin a year. The back of this one has 1 of 12 and is a different configuration because of the shield. When I click on the picture and increase the size of the image, I can see that I left a little Ren-Wax on it, you can see it now on the tang. I cannot see any indication that this knife has lamiated scales, unlike the other I posted. Better clean it up a bit.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:39 pm

I hope these 2 pictures will help spot the long line that tells us that this is laminated abalone. The first picture has a yellow line where the 2 sections of abalone shell meet, where they are laminated together - side by side. I can see it quite well on the right with this shape __| and it just fades away as you go to the left until I can no longer see it. The second picture has the yellow line removed, hopefully it can be easier to see. It is easier to see on the right side and just dissapears as you look to the left.
Click on the images for a larger picture in order to see it better.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:09 pm

Hey Hukk,

Thanks for showing this "Tutorial."

Bill