Blake was born and raised in a farming town within the New California Republic's territory called Oak Creek. By the time of his adulthood, control of it effectively belonged to powerful ranchers in the area; unwilling to spend the rest of his life tending to brahmin herds, Blake left, eventually gaining employment with the Crimson Caravan Company. He later accepted the assignment as a supply manager for their branch near New Vegas in the frontier around the turn of the 2280s.[1][Non-game 1]
At some point during his work in New Vegas, Blake became acquainted with Sergeant Daniel Contreras, the supply officer for the Army headquarters at Camp McCarran, and unknowingly became his supplier for medical material that Contreras could then sell to his shadier connections, implicitly for making chems;[2][3] Blake himself seemingly never put it together that the supplies he was selling were being used for drug-making and was only concerned with being properly paid.[2][4]
Blake's inventory rotation seemingly always carries 40 caps worth of Caravan playing cards.
It is possible for Blake's inventory to spawn with a high amount of caps, sometimes exceeding 12,000 as well as stocking a few rarer weapons such as the ballistic fist and thermic lance. This may happen when returning to the Mojave from the Sierra Madre in Dead Money or resetting the game's cache.
When the player character first meets Blake, his inventory typically consists of low-level weapons such as silenced .22 pistols or recharger rifles. It is possible, after completing the objective in You Can Depend on Me to steal the Gun Runners schematics, for his next inventory reset to include more powerful weapons such as a Fat Man, missile launchers, and miniguns.
PCPlaystation 3Xbox 360 Blake normally stands in front of his "store," however he has been known to disappear (or not appear at all). If a careful search of all three outbuildings produces no Blake, try visiting the caravaneer's building (first on the right as the player enters the Crimson Caravan map from fast travel). There may be a crowd of caravaners standing close together (stuck). The player's entrance should cause them to start moving on their pre-programmed paths again. After the crowd disperses, Blake should be back in his normal position (and the town should appear much more lively). [verified]
PCXbox 360 It is possible for certain sections of his inventory to apparently not restock throughout the entire game, such as the aid section. On the PC, you can use console commands to make him restock. Bring up the console, then click on Blake to select him. Type "kill" and he will drop dead when you close the console. Bring up the console again, click on him again, and type "resurrect". When you close the console he will come back to life and have a restocked inventory. [verified]
In addition, Blake's caps may never replenish as with his entire inventory. [verified]
PCXbox 360 When dismembering Blake's head, two may appear. [verified]
Playstation 3Xbox 360 There is a bug whereby items purchased from Blake in poor condition will be fully repaired in the player character's inventory. There is also a bug whereby if two of the same item are in Blake's inventory in different condition, and the player purchases the poor condition item, it will be the good condition item in the players inventory. The amount of caps removed will be that of the poor condition item. The latter glitch can be used to make unlimited caps. [verified]
PCPlaystation 3Xbox 360 When buying playing cards from Blake, the game may crash.[verified]
Purchasing no more than two cards at a time may prevent this.
References[]
↑The Courier: "Where are you from?" Blake: "A little place in the NCR called Oak Creek. Used to be a farming town until it got taken over by ranchers. I didn't want to herd Brahmin for a living, so I signed on with the Crimson Caravan and headed east. Not much to tell, really." (Blake's dialogue)
↑ 2.02.1The Courier: "Is there something special about these supplies?" Blake: "Well, pain-killers are easy to come by, but it isn't easy finding iodine, allergy meds, and a few of these other items. Why do you ask?" The Courier: "Some of those could be combined with other chemicals to make drugs..." Blake: "Really? Huh, never thought of that. The Crimson Caravan isn't really in the drug business." (Blake's dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Hey, these medical supplies look like chem ingredients." Sgt. Contreras: "Really? I never noticed that. I'm just following orders here, moving supplies as needed." The Courier: "Bullshit. If you're moving drugs, I'm going to have to report you." Sgt. Contreras: "Whoa there, kiddo. No need to blow things out of proportion. I'm just selling certain ingredients on the side, not chems. Besides, it's not like drugs are a big deal. Alcohol is just as bad yet it is perfectly legal in the NCR. I'm just a businessman doing business." (Sergeant Contreras' dialogue)
↑The Courier: "Contreras sent me for some medical supplies." Blake: "Here you go. Let him know he needs to make another payment if he wants more of this stuff." (Blake's dialogue)
Non-game
↑Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide Collector's Edition p. 306: "Blake's Wares" "Blake is an honest, if a little cocksure Trader who offers some fine items for sale. You can ask more questions about Caravaneering, before buying something. Note the two non-skill books are bought for Lieutenant Markland."
1500-12000
