Vintage Puma 3588 Waidblatt

[kwakster]

My latest acquisition, a Vintage Puma 3588 Waidblatt made in 1982 (serial number: 27282) in unused mint condition.
Complete with wooden box & original booklets, even the Rockwell sticker is still on the blade.












Specs:

Overall length: 13.1 inch (33,2 cm)
Blade length: 8.5 inch (21,7 cm)
Blade thickness: 0.3 inch (7,5 mm)
Steel: Carbon steel
Handle material: Sambar Stag with inlayed real silver monogramshield
Handle length including nickelsilver guard & pommel: 4.5 inch (11,5 cm)
Weight without sheath: 582 grams
Sheath: Leather

[Zed]

one of my all time favourite knives,    you have some cool knives kwakster   

[Grant Lamontagne]

Nice knife!

I have a pre-1964 model of the same knife, which was back then called the White Hunter.



I know it's a pre-64 model since they started putting serial numbers on them in 1964.



Plus, my father bought it before 1964!



The handle has seen better days though.



One of the many reasons I don't like stag.



Def

[kwakster]

Hi Grant,

The White Hunter you have is and has always been a separate model next to the Waidblatt, and is also much smaller.
Pre-64 Puma models though are always a bit more special than later models, but they are really very difficult to obtain in pristine condition.
It is also still missing from my collection 

One of the members of the Dutch knife forum is Ralf, a native German who owns the largest collection of mint or near mint Puma models in the western hemisphere, probably even in the world.
He also maintains an extremely informative website about Puma knives: www.pumahunter.de

[Zed]

I have pumas new catalog here with some lovely knives in, one day ill treat my self to there game warden in stag  this is a cool concept on the white hunter 

[kwakster]

Better not buy any newly made Puma models; the quality is not comparable to the older ones.

[Zed]

Better not buy any newly made Puma models; the quality is not comparable to the older ones.

isnt that only on there chinese made stuff 

[Jmora]

that's an amazing blade. Are there any companies around today making knives that look like the classic pumas (e.g. white hunter, game warden, buck 110 style folder) that are of the same standard?

[kwakster]

Better not buy any newly made Puma models; the quality is not comparable to the older ones.

isnt that only on there chinese made stuff 

Sadly not, as otherwise i would own a lot more Puma knives than i do now.

The great craftsmen of yesteryear who took pride in their work and who made this Waidblatt as well as all others before roughly 1985 (my personal watershed) have largely been replaced by lower skilled (and lower paid) factory workers and machines in Southern European countries.
You will immediately notice the difference in fit & finish when you get the chance to personally compare old & new production.
It just doesn't show up in pictures on the internet or brochures, but all older stuff, although also made in a factory , is basically custom work.

[Zed]

that's an amazing blade. Are there any companies around today making knives that look like the classic pumas (e.g. white hunter, game warden, buck 110 style folder) that are of the same standard?

a company called linder make some nice knives that look like classic pumas


page 2 
http://www.heinnie.com/Knives/Linder-Knives/c-1-92-164/

[Grant Lamontagne]

Hi Grant,

The White Hunter you have is and has always been a separate model next to the Waidblatt, and is also much smaller.
Pre-64 Puma models though are always a bit more special than later models, but they are really very difficult to obtain in pristine condition.
It is also still missing from my collection 

One of the members of the Dutch knife forum is Ralf, a native German who owns the largest collection of mint or near mint Puma models in the western hemisphere, probably even in the world.
He also maintains an extremely informative website about Puma knives: www.pumahunter.de

Thanks for the info- I don't know much about Pumas! 

Def

[Jmora]

that's an amazing blade. Are there any companies around today making knives that look like the classic pumas (e.g. white hunter, game warden, buck 110 style folder) that are of the same standard?

a company called linder make some nice knives that look like classic pumas


page 2 
http://www.heinnie.com/Knives/Linder-Knives/c-1-92-164/

thanks Zed  I didn't know about that Solingen company, I'll check the german messerforum. Up till now I've heard good things about Robert Klaas, Diefenthal and Olbertz (Carl Schlieper is part of this)