Help Identify S&W 357 & 44 Magnum Knives

[Beltay]

I have a set (2) of S&W (Bullet Trapper Pattern) knives released in 1995 by Taylor Cutlery Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the 357 Magnum and the 40th of the 44 Magnum. There were 3000 sets released to the general public as well as 1500 sets numbered 1 thru 1500 on the front bolster. In addition there was 10 "Limited Edition" sets.
This is where I need HELP!!!! I have a set which is inscribed "Limited Edition, #2 of 10" on the front bolster. I can not find any info on them. There has to be a reason why they were produced and whom they were given/sold to. Can anyone out there HELP identify them????????

 

[ko41]

I have set number 680. Does your Limited Edition look any different other than the inscription? I don't recall seeing anything about them in any of the literature I have from Taylor Cutlery.

KO

 

[Beltay]

KO
Your knives are exactly like mine except for the inscription. What you have is a set of the 1500 which I mentioned. Your number of 0680 runs long ways on the front bolster. My inscription of "Limited Edition" with "#2of 10" inscribed directly below/under is running crossways (from backspring side to blade side) on the same front bolster(same location as yours).
I have talked with Morgan Taylor (Taylor Cutlery) who in turn spoke to his father. Dad can't remember to much about the release of the knives. Unfortunetly they don't and haven't kept any records except for tax reasons of which they discard every 7 years.
I contacted Smith & Wesson and they kind of gave me the brush-off and acted dumb.
That's why I'm here. Lost!!!!!
Thanks for responding
Taylor

 

[Beltay]

WELL, WELL, WELL, I'm not surprised.
This is where I usually end up. I give out more information than I recieve. It seems everyone has an answer until they find out their in over their heads. In stead of saying something simple like "I don't Know, but I'll contact you after a little research" or something that is at least simi intelligent. They drop you like a hot potato, never to be heard from again. I fully realize this is not an eazy knife to identify, but someone somewhere has the answers. My gut feeling tells me it's going to be found at S&W themselves. Someone there, most likely an old timer like me, has some valuable info. he will share IF someone would ask. Someone at S&W has the answers.
Still discussed.
Taylor

 

[bk43]

WELL, WELL, WELL, I'm not surprised.
This is where I usually end up. I give out more information than I recieve. It seems everyone has an answer until they find out their in over their heads.

I notice you've posted essentially the same stuff on Levine's forum and have gotten nothing there either. You've tried S&W and Taylor also and nothing. Seeing a trend yet?

Let me help you out. You are correct that your knives are a trapper and frankly they're a nice looking knife. They are not made in the USA regardless of what you think or the blade says. "Limited edition", "first production run", #2 of xyz", etc. mean nothing on a Taylor knife. They had as many built as they could sell, to anyone who would buy them, regardless of what's on the blade or somebody on the internet tells you.

Taylor didn't keep track of knives they had made because they just are not interested in anything but selling knives. S&W could care less as they are only interested in their licensing fees. There is no interest in the collecting community in S&W knives so no information there either. At some point you're going to have to face the reality that there's nothing out there in the way of information because nobody cares. This should also give you a clue as to value.

You have a nice looking pair of knives that would make great users or look good with your appropriate S&W guns when taking pics.

Bob

 

[Beltay]

Limited Edition S&W Knives

Bob
Thanks for your responce and input. For the most part I agree with you. I've been collecting knives (mostly Case, Bulldog and Fight'n Rooster) since I was 13 years old and now retired and on Social Security. As you can tell, this is not my first rodeo. I could really care less about a couple of $20.00 S&W knives that are valued less now than they were new in 1995. I'm more interested in the over all CHASE, rather than the CAPTURE. The capture is the easy part. I've found through the years if you rattle enough cages and ruffle a few feathers, you're going to at some point, get a tread of info. and eventually the treads will turn into a rope. In this case it appears I was right in that more than a few got their feathers ruffled. MORE TO FOLLOW-CONTINUED

 

[Beltay]

Limited Edition S&W Knives

Bob CONTINUED

In this case I was right. I recieved a E-Mail from a gentleman who has a set of the Limited Edition Knives. His were accompanied with a Special Order .357 Magnum and a .44 Magnum revolver. He was a second owner who bought the set at an estate sale and had limited information. He did know that the sets were a Special Order and were to be given as gifts. To whom he didn't know. The value being in the guns and not the knives, but more valuable as a complete set. My research has now turned to the guns as they are much easier to research, I think. So, as you can see there is information out there, you just have to keep looking, pushing buttons, rattling cages and even tick a few people off sometimes. It seems the ones you tick off, are the ones who think they know everything, don't know squat, and afraid to admit it. THANKS
Taylor

One last thing. How do you suppose Voyles, Parker, Stewart, Sargent and many others got their material for their books? I'd say doing the very same thing I'm doing. There again, I might be wrong.

 

[Beltay]

Limited Edition S&W Knives

Bob CONTINUED

In this case I was right. I recieved a E-Mail from a gentleman who has a set of the Limited Edition Knives. His were accompanied with a Special Order .357 Magnum and a .44 Magnum revolver. He was a second owner who bought the set at an estate sale and had limited information. He did know that the sets were a Special Order and were to be given as gifts. To whom he didn't know. The value being in the guns and not the knives, but more valuable as a complete set. My research has now turned to the guns as they are much easier to research, I think. So, as you can see there is information out there, you just have to keep looking, pushing buttons, rattling cages and even tick a few people off sometimes. It seems the ones you tick off, are the ones who think they know everything, don't know squat, and afraid to admit it. THANKS
Taylor

One last thing. How do you suppose Voyles, Parker, Stewart, Sargent and many others got their material for their books? I'd say doing the very same thing I'm doing. There again, I might be wrong.

 

[bk43]

I recieved a E-Mail from a gentleman who has a set of the Limited Edition Knives. His were accompanied with a Special Order .357 Magnum and a .44 Magnum revolver. He was a second owner who bought the set at an estate sale and had limited information. He did know that the sets were a Special Order and were to be given as gifts. To whom he didn't know.

Buy the gun and/or knife, not the story, or you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Post your question on the guns on the S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present forum. The guys that know that era hang out there.

Bob

 

[Beltay]

S&W Knives

Bob
Thanks for your reply and I totally agree with you. It's only a lead to pursue, not a fact. I will try your sugjestion though. These two knives have been more of a pain in the ASS, than anything else. I'm not a fan of Taylor knives nor am I attached to these knives in any way. I would sell them at the "drop of a hat" if I could determine whether or not they are fake. I would rather distroy them than have them on the open market if they're fake. Bob, thanks again for your time and info.
Thanx
Taylor

 

[westkybanded]

Why would somebody go to the trouble to make a $20.00 knife into a fake $20.00 knife?

 

[bk43]

I don't think the knife is fake. I'm just thinking it may have been given iffy provinance to inflate the value. The OP is doing the right think to track it down.

Bob