Somewhere along the way I've ended up with an extra Texas Rangers commemorative knife and sheath. No box or papers or anything else just the knife and sheath. It's in excellent condition and shows no signs of any use. What's the current thinking on the value of the knife & sheath? I already have another one in my complete NIB set so I'm thinking of selling it if it has any significant value or using it to cut bait on my fishing boat if not...... (Just kidding - would make a dandy camp knife though.)

Photos?
I might be interested in purchasing it.
Thanks, JeepRacer

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SWCA #2967
S&WHF #454

Here are some photos. It looks to me as though this knife has never seen any use. No evidence of having been sharpened and the edge is clean and sharp. Sheath is very nice. No box. I have no idea if this was separated from the gun set or if this was one that was sold separately. It's a nice knife but I'm not really a knife guy so after sitting in my sock drawer for a few years I think I should do something with it. Either sell it or throw it into my hunting pack and put it to use.

Still hoping someone has a handle on values for this knife. I know they are not particularly rare or uncommon but it's a nice knife now 42 years old (gosh - hard to believe 1973 was 42 years ago. Sigh.)

The reason it has no box is it should be in a case with the revolver. Value is somewhere between $100.00 and $150.00.

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Don Mundell

Did only the knives that were sold with the gun have the serial number? This one has the TR serial number on the top and it does fall within the range of the 10,000 TR guns. If so that's kinda a shame.....makes you wonder what happened to the gun and how they got separated.

Thanks for your help!

I have a knife in an S and W marked wooden box. It has the ranger seal and has Texas Ranger Commemorative Commission embelished on the top. Knife number is TR 16311. That is all I know.

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J. Mark McCarver

Looks like they made a few more knives that sold separately by the serial number on mine.

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J. Mark McCarver

I'm beginning to agree with you. If the first 10,000 knife serial numbers matched up to gun serial numbers then perhaps the knife numbers above 10K were sold separately. That would make sense but may or may not be correct.

The more I handle this knife the more I like it and I'm starting to see me wearing it in deer camp come November....

In fact a number of knives were sold seperately.

If you decide you might want to sell, I am still a player. On another note, I would not blame you for holding on to it and using it either.
Let me know if you decide. I am always looking for a good S&W knife.

Thanks, JeepRacer

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SWCA #2967
S&WHF #454

Actually only 8,000 of the 10,000 Texas Ranger Sesquicentennial revolvers were shipped with matching serial numbered knives. 2,000 of the revolvers were sold without knives.



I have no idea what the total count of knives that were sold separately was.

Great stuff colt_saa! Thanks for sharing!

A little more info I ran across,

Production plans called for the manufacture of
10,000 knives cased with a Smith & Wesson model 19. In addition, 10,000
individual knives in their own presentation case were offered.
The Texas Ranger knife, identical to all the early Smith & Wesson knives, was
produced from a forged 440 series stainless steel and handcrafted in a series of
47 different manufacturing operations. Each knife was serial numbered on the top
of the blade beginning at serial number TR1 through TR20,000. The Texas Ranger
Bowie knife was the only one marketed by Smith & Wesson in 1973.
Plans were made, however, to announce Smith & Wessons entry into the
knife business.

Great looking knife.
I too would be interested if you decide to move it on.
Thanks
Bob

That's great info - thanks! So with 20,000 made they're certainly not rare! Ha! But they're a well made knife just the same and it sounds like it was the first knife S&W offered? I wonder - did S&W actually make these knives themselves or did they outsource production to a knife maker? I would assume they outsourced it but I really don't know.

Gosh - I'm startin' to really feel the love for this old knife.... If they're only worth $100 - $150 then I'm inclined even more to hang onto it. I actually have two but the other one rests with my NIB TR set. Maybe that ones for show and this one is my "BBQ knife" (is there such a thing as a BBQ knife?)

Supposedly S&W was just thinking of getting into the knife business and had been talking with Blackie Collins about designs when the Texas Ranger Commision came to them about the TR revolver. The TRC was also wanting to have a commemorative bowie knife made as well so one of Blackies' designs was modified to what the TRC wanted and it was packaged as a set.
As far as I know the early fixed blade knives were made in house but S&W wasn't able to make folding knives so the early ones were contracted out.
The TR bowie was the first S&W knife as far as I know.

I have a new in the box, with leather sheath, S&W Texas Rangers commemorative 17" coffin handle Bowie knife. It was designed by Stewart Taylor.
Would anyone happen to know the value of this? It was given to me as a gift a few years ago.

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I reckon so

I collect bowie knives, and this is a nice one, but all of mine are larger. Still I might buy it if the price was right.

Here is the Texas Rangers 17" coffin handle Bowie that I have.

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I reckon so

That's a nice lookin' knife RSBH44 - and a big one too! I have no idea on value - I don't even know what mine is worth. But all the discussion has made me want to hang onto mine. I'm not a "knife guy" but I like the few I have even if none are really the best quality steel made by famous makers, custom, etc. I wasn't even aware of how much S&W got into the knife business. Interesting stuff.

I know, ain't it a beauty!!?? I'm kind of partial to big Bowie knives. I have a couple, including one that a good knife maker friend of mine made for me. I know these probably aren't worth a whole hell of a lot since other gun manufacturers were also commissioning Texas Rangers commemorative knives at the time. Colt is definitely one that I know of because I've seen a few. I don't have any intention of getting rid of this one. I was just wondering if anyone knew what it's value may be. By the way, that's a fine looking commemorative that you've got there. I really like it. You should definitely hang on to it.

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I reckon so

Wow! Those are some fantastic knives fellas. I may have to find one to pick up myself. Thanks for sharing!