Puma White Hunter knife

I don't hunt, but admired those knives for years. I came across one at a gunshow some years ago and bought it. Haven't used it for anything, but like some other stuff, just enjoy owning it.

Seem to remember that the White Hunter as I remember seeing them had a straight solid back instead of the sharpened one in the OP's first post. Back about 1967 after I got out of the navy I bought what at the time was called the Hunters Pal or Hunters buddy. Believe it or not you can look up the model and serial number and find the year your knife was made. Walked a lot of miles through Pennsylvania woods with that knife. Frank

My first and second both have the sharpened back.
For chopping, I seem to remember.

Dennis said:

My first and second both have the sharpened back.
For chopping, I seem to remember.

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The upper blade grind is to allow rough cutting or hacking, saving the finer main edge below.

The wooden handle version has been sold as the Auto Messer (car knife) and was included in some survival kits sold by Puma.

I have a White Hunter, but can't say I use it much. The Puma models I like better are the Outdoor, the Model 3589, and the little Hunter's Pal. And they make good lockblade folders, too.

Puma advertise that their knives are as sharp as a razor and as strong as an axe. I was astonished by Iggy's post about one
"shattering" as he dressed an elk with it. I'd like full details on that and think that if the knife was a genuine White Hunter, and was not being really abused, that Puma will replace it.

Was the knife being pounded through the pelvis, or what? People abuse knives that way, for duties properly assigned to an axe or saw.


I have seen a couple of Buck blades with half nickel- like gaps where the blade broke out when hammering the blade against bone. That's a major no-no, and I think would break other brands, too.

I've had no problems with either Puma or with Buck, but I don't treat knives badly.

I've never heard of ANY knife "shattering." Maybe we don't understand that word in the same way. ??

If a Puma knife failed, that batch of blades probably got faulty heat treatment and Puma will make good on it. They 're a reputable firm, with roots back to 1769!

phonejack said:

I have a hunters friend. As you can see, mine has seen some use.

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What's that tape (?) on the sheath for?

Iggy said:

I got one of those as a bonus for a gun mag subscription. Cool looking but the blade shattered when I was using it dressing out an elk.

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I don't think that genuine Puma White Hunter knives were ever given out for subscribing to a magazine. The knife would be worth more than the cost of a subscription!


I'd like details of the magazine involved, pics of the knife, and a detailed description of just what you were doing with this knife when it "shattered."

Something is funny here. I basically believe you, but if the knife was a genuine Puma, something is very "off." Maybe a batch of blades got faulty heat treatment?

Did you contact Puma Werke or the US importer? I'd think you'd get a new knife if theirs was that faulty!

For a knife designed by a committee (of East African professional hunters), the White Hunter is a pretty good knife.

Puma Knife fan for 40 years.
Just picked up a vintage Puma Emperor
70's vintage w/great stags.
I punched that model in on ebay for grins....
Crazy prices.

old bear said:

Capt. I think it's great that your years of restraint finally paid off, and you now have a way cool toy. May you have years of enjoyment owning that.

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It'll never get used for the intended purpose. Much the same as my shootin' irons. Appreciate it as art and those who spent years interning to learn the trade. But it sure looks impressive hanging off my hip!

Texas Star said:

I don't think that genuine Puma White Hunter knives were ever given out for subscribing to a magazine. The knife would be worth more than the cost of a subscription!


I'd like details of the magazine involved, pics of the knife, and a detailed description of just what you were doing with this knife when it "shattered."

Something is funny here. I basically believe you, but if the knife was a genuine Puma, something is very "off." Maybe a batch of blades got faulty heat treatment?

Did you contact Puma Werke or the US importer? I'd think you'd get a new knife if theirs was that faulty!

For a knife designed by a committee (of East African professional hunters), the White Hunter is a pretty good knife.

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Is that how it got the name?



I

mauser9 said:

You bet pal. Have seen the older ones from 60s and early 70s goin for $300 on E-Bay. Check the hilt for the code denoting year of manufacture. Easily checked on Puma chart.

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There's no code on it. I see on the web site they didn't do that until 1964. Conceivably mine was made before 1964, and sat in a store. I don't recall where I bought it. Probably a local sporting goods store, since Al Gore hadn't invented the internet then. This thread has inspired me to clean and polish mine, and use some leather cleaner on the sheath. Both knife and sheath look terrible.

For anyone looking for a user, Mike Stewart at Bark River Knives is planning on doing his take on one in the near future. His distributors are bought in on the idea.

I too always wanted a Puma White Hunter, but my more practical side ended up with the Hunter's Friend....



I also have a Hunter's Pal, which has a slightly smaller 4" blade:



Any of the Pumas (at least the old "Pumaster" steel) were quality products, and designed for a lifetime of use.

Congratulations to the OP, that knife, in that condition, with the sticker still on the blade and all the papers and sheath and box is easily worth three times what you gave for it. The early date adds considerable value.

Best Regards, Les

Like several here, I think the knife I got was a cheap imitation, not a real Puma. I left it with the gut pile.

"And they make good lockblade folders, too."

I have two. Back in the '70s, a department store in Opelika, Alabama was selling out their Puma knives. I bought two 2 bladed Puma folders. I kept the one with the saw blade and gave the other one to my dad for Christmas. His had two knife blades-a clip point and a skinner. When my daddy died, I got the second one back.

Back in the old country in the 20th century (boy, phrasing it this way makes me feel really old), Puma knives were THE knife for the hunter. My family hunted with nothing else for generations. I've got fixed-blades and a folder; no idea what these models were called here, these are German-bought 1960s or '70s vintage.

They've worked on countless birds, hares, European roebuck, wild boar, one huge red stag (my dad's, not mine), and later several Oregon blacktail.

But one shouldn't over-romanticize them. Knife-steel is one area where the good old days were definitely not better, and compared to what's available today, the Puma steels are at best adequate and the beautiful stag handles rather uncomfortable after a while.

About 15 years ago I gently suggested to the old man (now passed for some years) that a new knife might make a nice Christmas present. He consulted with a friend who owned a hunting store, and I ended up with a superb Linder-Solingen ATS-34 Super Edge 2. I don't have a photo, and that's just as well since it looks really ugly with its kraton handle next to the classy Pumas. But it works so much better, and the Pumas have been honorably retired to a spot on the shelf.

My Mom gave me a Puma Skinner as a graduation present in 1967. I still have the knife, but sadly, the sheath is long gone. I search the net daily for a sheath. So far no luck.

hyena said:

There's no code on it. I see on the web site they didn't do that until 1964. Conceivably mine was made before 1964, and sat in a store. I don't recall where I bought it. Probably a local sporting goods store, since Al Gore hadn't invented the internet then. This thread has inspired me to clean and polish mine, and use some leather cleaner on the sheath. Both knife and sheath look terrible.

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Correct hyena. Should have included that info in my post. I would think being made prior to 64 would give your knife value a premium. Sure would cost a lot of cash if made the same way with that Pumaster carbon steel.

3S16 said:

My Mom gave me a Puma Skinner as a graduation present in 1967. I still have the knife, but sadly, the sheath is long gone. I search the net daily for a sheath. So far no luck.

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You might try here for a sheath:
VINTAGE COLLECTIBLE PUMA KNIVES

These guys might be a possibility as well:
Classic Puma Knives | A Community Resource for Puma Knife Collectors

Got mine at the Rod and Gun club in Vicenza Italy, 1970. It was a door prize for the thursday night pinnocle bash. they sold for $35.00.

I love mine. the stag is outstanding.

charlie

Absalom-

In Post No. 35, your excellent knives are Model 3589 and the folder is Model 959, as the blade shows. It was the most complex of the Puma folders and the most expensive.

I have a couple of Model 3589's and a Model 943, obtained via the US importer at the time. I'd seen the 3589, which is a sort of fancier version of the Hunter's Friend or Outdoor in an export catalog and wanted one. The firm with the catalog was Waffen Frankonia. I don't think M -3589 has ever been routinely imported to the USA. The Model 959 certainly was. The thinner folders were harder to find here. Not all Model 3589's have the saw teeth. I think the cost became too great and the teeth were eliminated. Their purpose was to start cuts in slippery, tough items, like sausage.

Recent Online pics suggest that the blade shape for the 959 is now used on all of the traditional German folders. Formerly, Models like 941 and 943 had a slimmer blade.

Some Puma knives are now made in Spain and I think, in China. One must be sure what he's ordering to get a genuine Solingen product. I think the Spanish ones are probably pretty good. The Chinese, I'd trust less. Some Spanish companies like Aitor and Muela make good knives. I don't know who makes the Spanish ones for Puma.

The Lauterjung family sold Puma back in the 1990's and I think it's had 2-3 owners since. Baron von Frankenberg und Ludwigsdorf is deceased. His wife was a Lauterjung. I met the Baron a few times at the SHOT show and he was a nice fellow. Admitted that he'd been wounded by Americans during the war. Didn't pretend he'd been fighting Russians. I respected his candor.

I've often noted your excellent English, better than that of many who were born here. Congrtulations.