Original U.S. Cold War Era Prototype Serial Number 1 Survival Bowie Sawtooth Knife Handmade by World-Famous Knifemaker Ken Steigerwalt - Dated 1984 - From Collection of American Edged Weapon Museum

Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. “Ever since he was a kid, if Ken needed a knife, he just made one. His first one was built from a saw blade at the kitchen table using a vise, files, and sandpaper. Needless to say, he’s gone on to create more highly designed knives that have won him 11 Blade Show awards in seven consecutive years, including two Best Folders awards and one Best Folder of the Year.”

This example came to us from the Larry Thomas American Edged Weapon Museum in Intercourse, Pennsylvania, further cementing its authenticity and prestige.

This is an outstanding one-of-a-kind survival fighting knife made by now-World Famous knifemaker Ken Steigerwalt in 1984, when he was only 18 years old! The knife features a 440C thick Bowie-style blade with a very large sawback, with an aluminum hilt featuring an unscrewable compass in the pommel! The ricasso is etched very crudely:

440-C
NO.
1
MAY 1984

This denotes the martensitic 400 series stainless steel 440C as the material used, with the Serial Number, 1, and the date of manufacture, May 1984, when Steigerwalt was only 18 years old. The reverse is marked with his logo, KAS in a circle. 

The 9” blade is in outstanding condition without any edge nicks or other flaws. The blade is nearly ¼” thick, and the sawtooth is truly a thing of beauty.

The crossguard has holes on both ends with an attractive pattern on its edge. The overall length of the knife is 14 ⅜”.

The knife comes in its original scabbard which is locked into place by a tension-loaded piece of metal that locks onto the bottom of the crossguard. The scabbard has a very crude construction, and it’s clear this is the original scabbard. It measures 10 ⅝” including the end of the tension piece.

An outstanding Serial Number 1 fighting knife manufactured during the Cold War by the now-world-renowned knifemaker Ken Steigerwalt. Ready for further research and display!

Specifications:

Blade Length: 9"
Overall length: 14 3/8“
Scabbard Length: 10 5/8"