Franklin Mint S&W Knives

dacoontz · #1 12-07-2010, 12:28 AM

I picked these three knives up off e-bay over the last few weeks. I paid about $50 total for all three of them. I searched the forum but nothing about these that I could find and I am not a knife collector. I just loved how these locked and unlocked with the hammer so I got one and had to find more.

Can anyone tell me about them. It looks like they retailed for around $60/each and I have read claims in other e-bay auctions that they have real gold and silver in them. I doubt they have enough precious metal to do anything with but I have no intention of melting them down anyway. I just like they way they look.

So what can you guys tell me about these. Are there other models or just these three? And did they make thousands or tens of thousands of these? Anyway, thanks for any info and enjoy the pics. I would say they have retained about 99% original finish

opoefc · #2 12-10-2010, 12:26 AM

Is there any reference to the name "Smith & Wesson" on these knives? S&W and Franklin Mint are not friends. At least they were not for some years, unless current S&W management has forgotten the beef with Franklin Mint. The bottom knife in your display has what appears to be a representation of Wyatt Earp's engraved American Model. Some years ago, Franklin Mint put out a series of replica Old West revolvers, including an engraved American Model. The replica was alledged to be a copy of Wyatt Earp's engraved American model which was claimed to have been used by him in the famous shoot out at the OK Corral. The original gun was displayed for years at the Wyatt Earp museum in Tombstone, AZ. as used by Earp in the shoot out. In 1972 I visited the Museum and examined the gun. I noticed the serial number , 29002, was shipped some time after the OK Corral gun fight, so I informed the owner that the gun was never at the OK Corral gun fight, regardless of who owned it. He was not happy, but did not cease his claim of the provenance. Later Franklin Mint made a deal with the owner to produce a replica for their series, with a booklet and affadavit claiming it's use by Earp at the OK Corral. When Franklin informed me of their plans, I told them the claim was spurious, etc. but they went ahead with the production. I informed S&W management of this and S&W sued Franklin Mint and made them take S&W's name off the barrel rib of the replica. That's not to say, current S&W management, which is licensing everything from fruits to nuts, to use the S&W logo and name, may not have now licensed Franklin to make these knives. Check out the new series of S&W belt buckles coming out from Bradford Exchange! Ed.

dacoontz · #3 12-10-2010, 01:08 AM

Ed,
All three have Smith & Wesson with the little copyright mark on the blades. I appreciate the background. I had never heard any of that and it is interesting that they would have chosen to do business again. I was beginning to think no one would respond to my thread. I am not sure how old these are but I don't think they were produced anymore than 10 years or so ago. I say that since the blades show that they were made in China. Once again, thanks for the reply.

opoefc · #4 12-10-2010, 04:37 PM

Dan, Are you sure these knives are from Franklin Mint and not from Taylor's S&W knife factory in China? Taylor made 1,00s of different designs of knives for S&W, under his license agreement with S&W. He would send large groups of knives to the factory and they would pick out which ones the factory decided to list in the S&W catalogs for sale. The ones they didn't pick, were returned to Taylor, who would blow them out to retailers & eBay types. That's why you see great amounts of S&W knives on the internet and at discount outlets and swap meets, etc. that were never authorized for sale by S&W. I know one collector who made a deal with Taylor to send him one of all the knives Taylor made, thinking they were S&W authorized knives. After receiving boxes and boxes of 100s of knives each month for sometime, he realized very few of these knives were adopted by the factory as officially authorized S&W knives. He now has thousands of "one of a kind" S&W knives that the factory passed on accepting that design for factory authorization. Ed.

dacoontz · #5 12-11-2010, 10:44 AM

Ed, here's some more pictures of the papers and box that came with a couple of them. They look to be authentic as far as I can tell with the markings of both franklin mint and smith & wesson on them. I could not find a date anywhere though.

opoefc · #6 12-12-2010, 06:24 PM

Dan, I have to agree - those are a Franklin Mint product. Maybe an inquery to Franklin Mint can get you info. on when they were offered. Ed.

dacoontz · #7 12-12-2010, 08:52 PM

I'll see if I can contact them and post whatever I find out. Ed, I have appreciated the information you've offered. Thanks again.

pmartin1664 · #8 05-19-2013, 04:56 AM

The S&W / Franklin Mint .44cal. knife and bag set, was offered in the year 2000. They were priced at $37.50 at offering. Their worth today at auction, range from $24-60, depending on buyer feeding needs. Sold on Ebay and the like, you can expect $35 - $75, again based on BFN's and if piece is in, as new condition.