BlackJack Woodsman Knife and Sheath

Description

3/2/26- For sale is a nearly mint BlackJack Woodsman knife with original sheath. The original owner has provided the following description:

ERA: (1991–1997) features the "BlackJack-tm" logo without the playing card graphic, use the following indicators: (PRE-BARK RIVER!)

Era Identification: Any Blackjack knife marked Effingham, IL was produced between October 1991 and August 1997.
Logo Evolution: The earliest Effingham knives often lacked the "playing cards" graphic (ace and jack). This minimalist "BlackJack-tm" or "Blackjack Classic Blades" text logo typically signifies the first half of the Effingham production run, roughly 1991 to 1994.

The Woodsman Model Specifics

· Steel Type: Early Woodsman models from Effingham were primarily made from 52-100 high carbon steel. Later versions or different Classic Blades models sometimes transitioned to A2 tool steel.

· Blade Grind: Look for a convex grind. This was a signature of Mike Stewart’s production during the Effingham years and remains a key differentiator from later outsourced versions.

· Handle Materials: Early Woodsman knives typically featured stacked leather or cocobolo wood handles with brass guards.

Key Dating Markers

· 1991–1993: Transition period. Some knives may have been marked Effingham but used parts or patterns brought over from previous years. Logos were often simple text-1994–1997: The brand expanded (acquiring Cripple Creek and John Ek knives). During this later period, the "playing cards" logo became more prevalent in marketing and on certain blade series.

Post-1997: The original Effingham factory closed in August 1997. Any "Woodsman" produced after this (often by Bark River Knives for Blue Ridge Knives) will not feature the Effingham, IL stamp.
For further verification of your specific model, you can consult collector resources such as the Bark River Knives History (founded by the original Blackjack president) or Arizona Custom Knives for archive listings of Effingham-era blades.

· Logo Evolution: The earliest Effingham knives often lacked the "playing cards" graphic (ace and jack). This minimalist "BlackJack-tm" or "Blackjack Classic Blades" text logo typically signifies the first half of the Effingham production run, roughly 1991 to 1994. The minimalist text logo signifies the earliest era of the Effingham factory (1991–1994), making it a highly desirable piece for collectors specializing in the "Mike Stewart era" of Blackjack production.

Collectability Factors

· Logo Evolution: The minimalist "BlackJack-tm" or "Blackjack Classic Blades”

Knife is in overall excellent condition.