I collect S&W revolvers and know very little about knives. I recently saw a S&W knife kit. It had a numbered blade and everything to complete the assembly. Are these common? What's a fair price?

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Dick

Dick, They are not real common, but I don't think they will bring a high price. I have a fairly good file of S&W knife catalogs and brochures and do not find any reference to the factory offering a kit to make your own knife in those catalogs. I remember seeing those kits in the 80s 90s but I think they were probably offered by after market vendors who purchased the surplus parts from the factory when S&W went out of the factory made knife business. Just my guess. Ed. (PS: There's some info on P.376 of the SCSW, 3rd edit.)

A local gun shop has one but hasn't priced it yet. I was in a S&W box and not just loose parts. Never seen one before but I though they might be common since I'm not into knives.

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Dick

Does the blue S&W box have a lable on it with the Model number, or skue numbers? Ed

Ed - I'll have to see about the label.
Jim - That's a lot more than I expected. I'll find out what they want for it.

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Dick

FYI - one just sold on Ebay this past week for $125 and it was NIB, unbuilt.

Here's the one I spoke of - it's number 399. Maybe this will help for reference purposes.

Smith & Wesson S&W Kit Bowie Knife RARE | eBay

For what it's worth, here's a pic of mine #518 finished, a copy of page 376 of the 3rd ed. Std. Cat. of S&W and a close up of the stated value.

Beautiful knife, built my #1781 in 1976. Carried rest of Army career on LBE. This knife was stolen by a moving crew in 1986 as I was making retirement move to Colorado. Had silver inserts next to butt and guard. If seen, please note this is a stolen item. I'd pay to get it back, no questions. Thanks

Smith and Wesson did in fact make Kit Knives. They were well written up and documented in the vol one no three issue of American Blade Mag. They were all bought by Blackie Collins and sold through Carolina Knife exchange. The American Blade says"The new Smith and Wesson knife kit should be one of the most interesting items on the knife market.... Each kit comes packaged in the traditional blue and silver box. The blades are serial numbered from 1 to 2000 and thats all the folks in springfield are making.Each modified 440 series stainless blade is forged in the Smith and Wesson plant ... you can bet these knives will be as good as they look." They sold for $37.50 in 1973.If you have any more questions, ask I might know. Mac Lyle

I am a new member to this forum and I have a S&W kit knife #51 (Christmas gift from my parents in 1973).

My question is - did these knives come with a sheath? If it did, I have lost mine. I do have the original box with all of the wax paper, but no sheath.

Who made the blades and what is the provenance of the steel? Pretty chinese knives don't interest me but if these were U.S. made of good steel they'll go on my watch list.

You weren't listening. They were made by Smith & Wesson. Don't put them on your watch list, put them on your knife list.

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Don Mundell

Mine (unassembled) is labeled K1033 on the box end. Steve

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Steve Sprague
SWCA 1400

Did it come with a sheath?

No sheath in box with mine.

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Steve Sprague
SWCA 1400

Most did not come with sheaths. Blackie, who owned at that time owned Burns Martin Co. supplied black sheaths for a few kits (25?) but generally no sheath was supplied. Thanks Mac Lyle

Has anyone else seen any of these for sale lately?
The ebay link above is 5 years old now and should I assume the price of a kit would be a bit higher now almost 5 years later?
I have two unassembled kits, sequentially serial numbered and think I'm going to sell them.
Should I try ebay or another site?
Sell as a pair or individually?

To be honest I have not had good luck selling knives on ebay, I have a Kuzan Oda Tanto that simply will not sell and the "best offers" I get are pitiful.
I tried Bladeplay but I cannot post a WTS as I don't have enough posts, and just typing out garbage posts to bring up my post count is not something I am going to do.

Advice from the S&W collectors community?

It looks like thread wants to stay.
I worked at S&W in the late seventies. I have ALL the Blackie Collins knives from back then (which are HTF lately) . All of them are are high end knives and very collectible. I did acquire a kit knife about 5 yrs ago..(no sheath) already built and absolutely beautiful !! I believe they are very rare now and would grab one if you ever get a chance. (don't remember what I paid..I'm sure less than $200)
Back then S&W had their own leather shop in Springfield for making belts, holsters, and sheaths . I would guess if they didn't make the sheath for the knife it wouldn't be included. S&W made shotguns as well. I have few of their quality guns (model 41 is a timeless beauty)...in 40+ yrs of knife collecting..I can easily say their Blackie Collins knives can stand up to most any high end knife. Their 6060 folder is a pleasure to carry and use. I love to buy USA. Just wanted to add my pennies !! Peace.

This from memory and I am not sure just when but believe it's from the 70's or 80's. Back when S&W had retail stores located in various high travel places I had the opportunity to stop in a Retail Store on the way from Georgia where my daughter lived. I remember purchasing a belt buckle and I think the Kit Knife there, sorry, don't remember the price but I do still have them and yes, I put the knife together, it remains in the S&W box .

I seem to also recall that there were handguns for sale within these stores (Presentation Boxed ?) but they only sold S&W products if memory serves me correctly!

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Sam
S&WHF 333 S&WCA 2198

Is it true that S&W completed some of the kits and sold them that way? Did Collins complete any kits and sell them as completed knives? I have one that looks very professionally assembled. Ron

I've never read or heard of any pre-assembled by Blackie or anyone at S&W prior to sale.
I was surprised when I ran into the kit knife....I didn't know they existed....and a high quality piece too.
The one I acquired also looks professionally done....and came in original box !! Must be some very patient and talented people out there with the quality work put in on the build.
I'm always looking for those rare and beautiful Blackie Collins knives. Grabbed some very unique ones....let a few sadly slip away.
Knife fever is so hard to control

Hello I have a Smith & Wesson Blackie Collins kit knife but the person I bought it from has the handguard on the the wrong way. It's backwards. How do you get the pommel off to take the wooden handle off and handguard to switch it around the right way?? Thank you for your answer