1973 Smith & Wesson Kit knife #0999: completed

1973 Smith & Wesson Kit Knife #0999

n 1972 Smith & Wesson began to examine the knife market and President William Gunn of Smith & Wesson met with and discussed designs with Blackie Collins, a gifted maker and designer of knives. Blackie Collins than submitted several samples and drawings of various styles of fixed blade knives he felt would meet the need of the public.

Also, in 1972 S&W was approached by the Texas Ranger Commission to build a commemorative service knife. A pattern was presented to S&W and the Bowie Knife designed by Blackie Collins was modified slightly to the style presented to S&W proposed by John Wilson a member of the Texas Ranger Commission. Production began in 1973 limited to 20,000 sets.

In 1973 the S&W Blackie Collins kit knife was produced, a 4-piece kit that consisted of the Stainless-Steel blade with full tang, brass finger guard and pommel and a hardwood handle. Sheaths were not included. The S&W Kit Knife was never officially authorized for sale by S&W but included the same S&W logo used on the Texas Ranger knife and on its entire Survival Series Knives.

The S&W Kit Knife was produced around the same time as the Texas Ranger knife and before the Survival Series. Blackie Collins remembers the knives, a few done with stag handles but little else is recorded. 

This knife has been skillfully completed; everything is good, tight and well finished, Knife is used and comes with a quality leather sheath. Knifes numbered 0999.

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