Show Your Vintage Knife

[Private Lugnutz]

...the Carl Russell book is a fascinating read,

Yes, it is. I love the approach. No photographs. Every trap, rifle, knife, and axe in a figure that he refers to in the text, all in the hands of public or private collections, is hand drawn.

Chapter IV, Knives of the Frontiersmen, was helpful. While I didn't find anything definitive, bits and pieces provided me enough to carry on.

At the coarsest level, Russell devotes much attention to what he simply refers to as "big knives", and a few examples (see below) would literally and figuratively befit the sheath. In the subparagraph focused exclusively on The Bowie Knife, in which he describes the early patterns as "heavy enough to cleave a human skull, and rugged enough to disarticulate the joints of a bull elk—or dig the grave of a fallen comrade," he notes what he calls "the preponderance" of clip-points, agreeing with Peterson's description of them (in American Knives) as the "classical form", but describes a "goodly number of double-edged, spear-pointed, dagger-like bowies." And one of the figures below (pg 193) identifies the same single-edged spear-point blade as a bowie exemplified by the Civil War era D-guard bowies as I showed above.

While I would not deign to identify my sheath as military, I am also liking the look of the Ames Rifleman's Knife of 1849 (p.197) with its foot-long blade, and the description of its sheath as a "leather scabbard having a brass tip and a brass throat." I can see an enterprising contemporary making a rawhide one around a frame of the same "iron wire" he later describes being used as bindings to secure wooden sheaths in the same time period. Per Russell, "iron wire appears quite frequently on fur trader's lists" (p.373).

The only points I gleaned from the subparagraph on sheaths was some confirmation of some kind of provision, usually a hole, at the tip, for a leg-tie. I keep thinking the nub, knob, or button on mine, while binding the rawhide at the tip there, would also be perfect for passing a loop over and around the leg and cinching. As for wearing, he talked about traders and scouts and soldiers wearing them at the small of the back, but also "in a sheath attached to the strap that supported his rifleman's pouch" (p.210).

I talked to a friend of a friend who is going to try to put me in touch with a history prof that I am hoping to send some photos to. More to follow in good time.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I should've posted this for the best context earlier.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I went through my 1st Ed. Peterson ( ). I did enjoy seeing the length (14-1/2"!) of the double-edged spearpoint bowie in Pic 1 and the shape of the Hospital Corps knife and sheath in Pic 2, and I could be convinced that the sheath for the 18th century knife in Pic 3 is rawhide with an upturned collar. It easily has the most coarse, roughest appearance of all sheaths in the book. But learned nothing new or definitive.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I went through my 1st Ed. Peterson ( ). I did enjoy seeing the length (14-1/2"!) of the double-edged spearpoint bowie in Pic 1 and the shape of the Hospital Corps knife and sheath in Pic 2, and I could be convinced that the sheath for the 18th century knife in Pic 3 is rawhide with an upturned collar. It easily has the most coarse, roughest appearance of all sheaths in the book. But learned nothing new or definitive.

Have you recognized the button yet? It may have some significance. Have you messed with your Commando handle also?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Have you recognized the button yet? It may have some significance.

No. I keep hoping to find a reference to a sheath made like this, around a wire frame, including the so-called button, but have not.

Have you messed with your Commando handle also?

I don't know what this is in reference to.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

No. I keep hoping to find a reference to a sheath made like this, around a wire frame, including the so-called button, but have not.

I don't know what this is in reference to.

Did you ever restack the leather on your WWII knife? Or was that not you?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Did you ever restack the leather on your WWII knife? Or was that not you?

Ohhhh, that "Commando"! Lol. The Cattaraugus 225Q "Theater Knife" project. Funny you should ask. It's been sitting at my brother's house collecting dust. He got interested in helping me, but is just as bad as me about finishing what he starts. We are meeting at a third brother's house on Saturday to discuss some family matters concerning our mom (97 years old) and I told him to bring it with him. I am going to try to make a little more headway. I tried to stick to the original plan (of using only period correct salvaged WWII materials), but it proved challenging. I still plan to do the European Theater medal pattern but may have to use other material.

 

[Provincial]

In the book "The Jungle Skippers" as WWII C-47 pilot tells of getting a knife handle made in New Guinea from salvaged materials. The name of the book reflects the nickname of the transports, described by a war correspondent as "skipping over the jungle" at low level to avoid Japanese fighter planes.

The same pilot also describes the popularity of having new grips made for their issue M1911 pistols from Plexiglass salvaged from wrecked aircraft.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

In the book "The Jungle Skippers" as WWII C-47 pilot tells of getting a knife handle made in New Guinea from salvaged materials...[ ]...The same pilot also describes the popularity of having new grips made for their issue M1911 pistols from Plexiglass salvaged from wrecked aircraft.

Thanks, Jock. Good to know. I seem to recall you chiming in on the original thread (linked in my reply to Mike above), but if you don't remember me discussing it at length there, yes, it was a fairly common practice. Aluminum and steel for spacers, too.

 

[Provincial]

Yes, just adding confirmation to your research.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And much appreciated. I did not know that book.

 

[Beerhippie]

A new one today:

As found:





Camillus # 3, with original belt sheath. The sheath is much rarer than the knife.

If anyone can suss out the blade engraving, let me know. All the examples I've found online have a crossed-swords and Sword Brand Hand Made blade engraving.

Purtied up some:









If the 9768 on the bolster is a date of manufacture, it would make sense. This model first appeared in the catalog in '70.

Edit: The 9768 is a serial #, not DOM.

 

[30-30remchester]

Just recieved as a gift from a house guest. Vintage IKCO from the 1920's-1930's.

 

[Beerhippie]

Just recieved as a gift from a house guest. Vintage IKCO from the 1920's-1930's.

Cool! Groovy, even!

Well, that knife didn't stay in the collection long! A coworker has been asking me for a decent small hunting knife that he can afford. After cleaning and sharpening the Camillus, I sold it to him for $25. Five times what I paid for it and cheap enough for him.

Just for fun, I broke out my diamond and ceramic stones and free-hand sharped the Camillus. It's been a while, but I put a shaving-sharp edge on it in about five minutes--less time than it takes to set up and break down the Wicked Edge.

 

[rustyedge1]

Found this Case Brothers MOP sleeveboard in the wild at auction a few days ago. Been a good while since I’ve even seen one out. Had to pay up for it though. Well used but still operates good and tight.
Enjoy..

 

[30-30remchester]

Found this Case Brothers MOP sleeveboard in the wild at auction a few days ago. Been a good while since I’ve even seen one out. Had to pay up for it though. Well used but still operates good and tight.
Enjoy..

Made between 1900 and 1912.

 

[Macduf]

3 dollar find, a little worn and dirty. The only markings are abl and 300530. Any idea on how old it is?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

British style jackknife, but Belgian Army, 50s or 60s if I recall correctly. Armée Belgisch Leger.

 

[Beerhippie]

It's naval--I don't think armies had much use for a marlin spike.

The style is generally called a "rope knife" or "raft knife". Note the blade has no point, so it's harder to stick a hole in the liferaft--or another sailor.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's naval--I don't think armies had much use for a marlin spike.

I have a few Royal Navy examples, including this one linked here. But I have read (not sure where, though), that the "ABL" on these is Belgian Army, for whatever reason. Could be "Internet wrong".

 

[Beerhippie]

I have a few Royal Navy examples, including this one linked here. But I have read (not sure where, though), that the "ABL" on these is Belgian Army, for whatever reason. Could be "Internet wrong".

I'm sure Belgium must have had a navy at some point.

I have a Camillus WWII USCG "raft knife" that's almost identical, but no marlin spike.



It even seems to have the same "stagged" compressed wood grips.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I'm sure Belgium must have had a navy at some point.

But would its initials be "ABL"? The Navy is not alone in working with rope of all kinds. But if that standing for "Armee Belgisch Leger" is false info, I'd be more inclined to think it was just some British knockoff of the wartime jackknives, since it sure as heck looks exactly like mine, both made in Sheffield. I'll be in receive mode on this one. Too many other things cooking right now for me to track it down.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Further reading:

Resto shop
https://www.thesheffieldcutleryshop...riginally crafted by a company called Colasse

AAPK

A.B.L. Belgian Army 1951 "Rigging" Knife Resto - All About Pocket Knives

I picked up 2 of these quite a while back for a total of $9.50 and thought they would be an interesting restoration challenge someday, and just completed them. I have found that A.B.L.' is short for Armee Belgique, Belgisch Leger , which means B..

www.allaboutpocketknives.com

 

[Old Radar]

It may not be relevant, but the Belgian Navy was an on-again-off-again service from its inception after Belgium's 1830 independence through the build-up to WWII. In 2002 it ceased to exist as an independent arm and became simply the Naval Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. Absent further research, I would put forward the possibility, given the Navy's checkered history, that the Armée Belgisch Leger may have been tasked with some or all of the Navy's equipment procurement.

 

[555]

Armée Belgisch Leger is the formal name of the Belgium military. All branches of the Belgium military are included in the designation. When I was a much younger man I trained with Belgium Soldiers. Somewhere I have an Air Defense Artillery patch. It is a rubber rocket (not kidding) on a felt background.

 

[Modern Garage]

>>>Camillus # 3, with original belt sheath. The sheath is much rarer than the knife.

If anyone can suss out the blade engraving, let me know. All the examples I've found online have a crossed-swords and Sword Brand Hand Made blade engraving.<<<


"Jim Catfish Hunter" MLB pitcher in the sixties and seventies. I'm no baseball fan but that's a memorable name from my impressionable youth. I don't know why his name is on a knife. Good PR agent I guess.
Joe

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

>>>Camillus # 3, with original belt sheath. The sheath is much rarer than the knife.

If anyone can suss out the blade engraving, let me know. All the examples I've found online have a crossed-swords and Sword Brand Hand Made blade engraving.<<<


"Jim Catfish Hunter" MLB pitcher in the sixties and seventies. I'm no baseball fan but that's a memorable name from my impressionable youth. I don't know why his name is on a knife. Good PR agent I guess.
Joe

Good job. I remember him with the handlebar's mustache.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

@Modern Garage
Maybe @Mike'smeatshop has special lenses, or maybe he's just replying to the text in your post, but I don't see any photos.

 

[Beerhippie]

@Modern Garage
Maybe @Mike'smeatshop has special lenses, or maybe he's just replying to the text in your post, but I don't see any photos.

He's replying to a post about my post of my Camillus #3 somewhere above--with no citations.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Aha. Thanks.

 

[rustyedge1]

Here’s a homemade OSS type dagger from a file. Had it forever seems. Not gona cut much but will get the job done otherwise I’ll bet.

 

[Beerhippie]

Here’s a homemade OSS type dagger from a file. Had it forever seems. Not gona cut much but will get the job done otherwise I’ll bet.

With the round point, I'd call that an ice pick--and a damned nice one. A dagger with a triangular or diamond point would be much more effective as a dagger.

 

[rustyedge1]

With the round point, I'd call that an ice pick--and a damned nice one. A dagger with a triangular or diamond point would be much more effective as a dagger.

Ice pick for block ice would make since, but a lot of folks have met their maker by an ice pick too..

 

[Beerhippie]

Speaking of picks, here's today's:





A Camco Barlow with amazingly unfuckered blades! Should clean up real purty.

Main blade is 2 /4", knife was probably made in the '50 or '60s.

 

[30-30remchester]

I carry this most work days. It a US military TL-29 that I pulled apart and removed the screwdriver blade and one back spring, then modified the liner lock and reassembled it. It now is a single locking blade folder that see a lot of work every week.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I went to yard sale down the road and the older man about 80 years old or older said that his grandfather forged this knife during WWI and his grandfather worked for the Railroad at the time. I mentioned that I believe that service men had to build a knife for a requirement, but he thought sure he was never in the military. Now it is very sharp with very good steel. Any Ideas?

Now you may know me if back in the 1980s and 90s if you hunted from one of my hunting camps in Pa. We always had a few blocks set up for throwing hawks. We always had competitions in cutting cards or sometimes handles. But I cannot find anything about this hawk. No marks or stamping on it. I got this from the older man, but I did not ask about it. I have been down the hole. Anyone have any idea who mad it? Thanks.

 

[Nofries]

Anyone know any of these? They were knives my Grandfather used to clean fish with mostly. Some Case,Chicago cutlery, Normal, Martin from Finland, Morty the knife man. (Japan) steel. Hoffritz to name a few names i saw.

 

[Dave455]

Anyone know any of these? They were knives my Grandfather used to clean fish with mostly. Some Case,Chicago cutlery, Normal, Martin from Finland, Morty the knife man. (Japan) steel. Hoffritz to name a few names i saw.

I don’t know much about fish knives, but I recognise some of the makers.

Normark were a brand from I think Sweden, very common in the 70’s and 80’s. I don’t think they actually made any of the knives themselves. The fixed blades were made by Eriksson (now known as Mora) and the folders by EKA. Both were of good quality, and reasonably priced.

Normarks better distribution and advertising meant that their knives often became better known than those of the original manufacturers, who were not well known outside Sweden.

I still have a Normark “Big Swede” lock knife from that era, which is a very substantial thing. They were used as survival knives by some units of the British Royal Marine Commando’s. Most of the patterns are still available from EKA.

Hoffritz were an American cutlery retail chain, active primarily between the 1930’s and 1970’s, but I believe the name may have survived longer.

Many of their knives were sourced from the U.K. or Europe. Edwin Hoffritz obviously had an eye for good quality (sourcing many knives from Sheffield, England) but also the purchasing power to negotiate good deals.

 

[Beerhippie]

I don’t know much about fish knives, but I recognise some of the makers.

Normark were a brand from I think Sweden, very common in the 70’s and 80’s. I don’t think they actually made any of the knives themselves. The fixed blades were made by Eriksson (now known as Mora) and the folders by EKA. Both were of good quality, and reasonably priced.

Normarks better distribution and advertising meant that their knives often became better known than those of the original manufacturers, who were not well known outside Sweden.

I still have a Normark “Big Swede” lock knife from that era, which is a very substantial thing. They were used as survival knives by some units of the British Royal Marine Commando’s. Most of the patterns are still available from EKA.

Hoffritz were an American cutlery retail chain, active primarily between the 1930’s and 1970’s, but I believe the name may have survived longer.

Many of their knives were sourced from the U.K. or Europe. Edwin Hoffritz obviously had an eye for good quality (sourcing many knives from Sheffield, England) but also the purchasing power to negotiate good deals.

GI Joe's was the main Normark marketer in our area back in the day. Among the first knives I bought myself were the same fillet knife shown and a large folder that resembled a Buck 110, but with a black plastic grip and no lock. Both were excellent knives, but the lack of the lock on the folder... I got some of my first knife scars from that one.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I hardly ever post BEFORE pics, but this wartime "Kingston" U.S.M.C. camper just begged for it. It was literally stuck to the bottom of a toolbox by the same gunk that's all over it collecting debris. I could not even open the blades until I got it home, which are unfortunately also afflicted with some rust.

Nevertheless, I was elated with the find and even more so when it was clear that the seller didn't really know what it was. It's a collectors' advantage that these look like the ubiquitous dime a dozen MIL-K's of our youth and later.

Despite its condition, I am hopeful it will clean up. I will post AFTER's.