Rocky,

It may be August but it appears that the Bear's are coming out of hibernation. I remember seeing this knife before but do not recall all the details. Unusual hilt configuration for sure, but overall an exceptional 12-8 specimen. Thanks again for posting your knife.

Very cool hilt. I don't know what Randall calls it but it looks kind of like a combination of a lugged hilt and a forward curved double hilt. It's also reminiscent of a martial arts weapon called a sai. It's a true fighting knife hilt.

Harry,
It's in Gaddis's book, page 213.
It was called the "sun Valley Patrol"
I understand that there is one like it on display at Randall(so I've heard).
:-)Rocky

That's a unique beauty Rocky. A great 12-8.
Thanks for taking the time to post on The Knife Of The Week.

Kevin

So...I bought a Smithsonian several years ago for a very good price even though it had a walnut handle which was not exactly what I was after. I knew that sooner or later I would ask the shop to rehandle it but never got around to it. When I finally decided what I wanted on it the shop was no longer accepting orders for changing handles except when warranty issues required it. So...there I was with an OK Walnut handled Smithsonian but not really what I was after. What to do? I talked with an old friend of mine who is a master ivory carver and asked him if he would carve a Native American out of a block of ivory for me. He said that he would so I called David Warther, got a big ass block of ivory, took off the walnut handle, cut down the tang, put on the block of ivory and sent it to my pal for him to do his creative thing. I Received the knife yesterday, and to say that I am ecstatic over the results would be understatement. The image is intended to represent a "generic" Western Plains Native American of no specific tribe.















The sculptor's name is Dennis Holland. Dennis enjoys a worldwide reputation for his detailed ivory carvings for individual gun and knife collectors, custom gun and knife makers, and some commercial enterprises as well which he has allowed to machine duplicate some of his carvings in less expensive handgun grip material.

Regards,
Doug

Doug,

That is a great knife with fantastic carving of the handle. Beautiful.

This knife...and the Bowles you have (had?) with all the "goodies" on it (including a killer sheath) are, in my mind, the best of your "stash"! Outstanding job. Dennis has done 2 sets of ivory grips for me and 1 Randall in the past. Unfortunately, they were for customers and I do not own them. Thanks for sharing this killer Bowie!
Best, Capt. Chris

Doug,thanks for sharing that outstanding piece of art.It is wonderful.Tom #3081

Doug
Very impressive knife and carving. I have never seen a knife done up like that before. I would think a nice display is on order.
Thanks for sharing.

Peter

Thanks for the compliments guys. Dennis does killer checkering as well so a few of my plain ivory knives are headed his way. Which Bowles signed scrimshawed knife are you referring to Skip?

Regards,
Doug