This is a scarce vintage find made in Seki, Japan by Tak Fukuta in the 1970s for Valor. It is based on the original Bowen belt buckle knife, but has a striking resemblance to the original Collins Brothers belt buckle knife. Unlike our other similar items, this one is etched Valor with the model number 1387. Acquired direct from the Fukuta warehouse in Seki, Japan.

This is a sturdy integral knife made of hefty 1/4" thick 1095 High Carbon steel. It measures 5 5/8" long overall and the sharpened section of the blade measures 2 5/8" long (if you desire to make it 2 1/2" or slightly less, you could simply scallop more and remove some of the sharpened section at the base of blade like ). Buckle doubles as a bottle opener as well. It should fit a Bowen belt, but we have not tested it (belt not included).

Tak Fukuta was the first Japanese member of the American Knife Maker's Guild, and apprentice to Bob Loveless. He hand crafted fine quality knives that impressed his mentor. Over the years, his factory in Seki, Japan also produced knives for Parker, Valor, Gutmann, Explorer, Frost, and Browning among others. After his passing, several vintage old stock models were found at his warehouse. This is one of these rare finds.