Wanna Talk Westerns?

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

Oh man, I love Westerns for the same reason I love Monsters - they validate and remind me of my happy childhood. We played "Cowboys and Indians" as much as we played "Army" (can you say violence? no wonder I love Monsters!) However - as a child I was mainly exposed to TV westerns: Sugarfoot, Johnny Yuma, Paladin, Bat Masterson, Maverick, The Rifleman. Not a huge Bonanza fan but Gunsmoke all the way. 
I love all the movies mentioned previously and I'll add: Old Yeller and Savage Sam.
I also love The Alamo and along those lines the battles at Islanwana and Rourkes Drift. Highly recommended: Zulu and Zulu Dawn.
Now - knives. I haven't set out to collect knives but somehow I ended up with a cabinet full. My favorite type being two old school US Navy flight/survival knives with the floating handles, gray steel blades. They belonged to my Dad (ret.LCDR/fighter pilot, 86) I'll be happy to post a pic if you like.
Great topic!

I would be interested in seeing the military knives....I also collect knives,daggers,swords.

[Wolf Man]

Those sound like cool knives Packy.  I have an extensive collection of WWI and WWII combat knives.  I don't much care for the bayonets and only have a few but I gravitate heavy toward combat knives.  I also have a number of survival knives including an original Vietnam issue pilot's survival.  I don't have any though with floating handles. 

At Old West reenactments we often have a "Quick and the Dead Contest" as in fast draw.  We have had not only some fun moments with that but also some of the most hilarious.  One of my oldest friends tried to cheat and have his colt cocked in the holster to gain a second.  When he reached for it he blew a hole in his brand new gunfighter holster rig.  We laughed so hard we almost peed ourselves. 

Being a reenactor and a firm believer in authenticity I tend to gravitate toward newer westerns since more care is given to the authenticity. 

Whenever I watch some of the older films I just cringe at how cartoonish and circus like some of those westerns are. 

It is ironic that since they were so much closer to the actual western days in the early days of film making you would think they would have accidentally been more authentic.  I can't even watch old episodes anymore of Gunsmoke, Bonanza or Big Valley and the like.  Those were the days when they thought if you had on a westernish shirt, a hat, a gun belt and some sort of pointy toed cowboy boots you were a cowboy.  By the way, pointy toed cowboy boots are a modern invention.  The closest they came was around 1882 round toed boots came on the scene.  Prior to that almost all boots were squared toed. 

My Uncle was a Comanchero reenactor when I was just a spud.  However, back in those earlier days of reenacting they weren't as authentic either.  I remember his large bowie was just a store bought Western (name of the company and they still exist).  My current Old West kit runs circles around his garb from back then.  But, we do advance and evolve which is why I favor more recent westerns. 

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

Wolf man- would love to see yer collection of WW I & II knives...

I collect WWII Memorablia as well....I have a WWII Japanese type 38 rifle, some Nazi coins, a German rifle cleaning kit,an Italian Bayonet,
two british helmets, Korean british helmet, American Vietnam helmet, an Iraqi helmet, and a Nazi Paratrooper helmet.
Also, my Grandfather's Purple Heart.

[Wolf Man]

I am still in Kuwait but once I return home I can photograph my collection and post them.  When we moved to our new house I placed my WWII collection in numerous totes seperating my British, American and German stuff.  My knives are in a seperate tote.  I also have a lot of original British Commando Daggers plus a wide array of WWII firearms.  I am returning home this summer to organize all my stuff and then I can take pictures.  I also plan to hit a few good reenactments as well.  I am thinking about getting a new tent.  I am a tent dealer and have several tents already but am getting in the mood for something new.  Come to think of it, I could be considered a tent collector too.  I have a German Zeltbahn tent, US pup tent, Civil War Officers Wall tent with fly, a Civil War "A" tent and two Viking tents.  Wow, never thought of it before.  I have a few tents!  I was fortunate to purchase a lot of my stuff many years ago when they were cheaper.  For the prices things go today I doubt I would buy as much.  It helps to be a dealer for many different areas.  Keep that in mind if any of you are ever looking to pick up new things or if you ever want to join the ranks of the reenactors. 

Here is a pic of one tough Texas Ranger: (Its me)

[Street Worm]

Don't watch a lot of 'em, but I do love the 'Bs'!

I could watch Tim Holt - Richard Martin flicks all day-

(in fact, I think I will) 

[avenger]

True Grit
The Sons of Katie Elder
The Searchers
Big Jake
The Shootist
Quigley Down Under
Two Mules For Sister Sara
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Blazing Saddles
Evil Roy Slade
and many others too numerous to mention

[packy120353]

Sorry this took so long - slices roast beef so thin your in-laws will never come back...

[avenger]

Packy,
    The knife like the one on the right I have had for about thirty five years.
My Dad gave it to me when I used to spend a lot of spare time in the woods.
He bought it at the Army Navy surplus store. Since my Dad has been gone for over thirty years
and it was one of the last things he gave me ,it is one of my prized possessions.

[packy120353]

Cool Avenger! My Dad also gave those to me. He flew Hellcats and Corsairs off the USS Cabot (Wake Island)  in WWII and Helos in Korea. He's 87 and is one of the increasingly few attendees at his tailhookers reunions every year. Still kicks ass. Here he is last month with me and some of my  brothers on our Bahamas cruise. He made the ship's Officers salute him. Chick magnet. Got me into monsters. Say no more.

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

Sorry this took so long - slices roast beef so thin your in-laws will never come back...

Nice Packy...like 'em alot.

[Wolf Man]

Nice Packy,
I have both of those in my collection along with the Vietnam version which is longer but looks the same.  Are those Ontario Knife comany or Camillus?  Do you know the makers, should be written on the pommel nut. 

[Wolf Man]

Here is just a fraction of my collection.  

These are my own designs, limited editions based on historical bowies:






Next is an original amputation knife AKA the type that "Jack the Ripper" supposedly used


Here are just a few of my Damascus Knives: Camel Bone Handles




Here are a few miscellaneous knives I have:




My Safari Knife:


My new John Wayne Alamo Bowie carried by Richard Widmark as James Bowie: this is an ad shot


This one is a copy of the Alamo knife used in the recent movie carried by Jason Patrick as James Bowie, this is made by the same guy who made it for the film: Although my design of this knife above is more historicaly accurate to the original knife.  Note the subtle differences


These are some of my original vintage bowies:

[ICEMANN333]

GLENN FORD...... THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE...OH YES ALSO....  THE GOOD .THE BAD.  THE RECASTER'S .   HA HA ICEMAN ........

[Unknown Primate]

Those knives are really sharp  .

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

Wolf man...nice  collection.....excuse me as I whipe the drool from my mouth...