Hi; Is there a way to date and price pocket knives ???

[BARKER]

Hi Folks; Over the years I have found a lot of pocket knives. I try to guess their ages or values with little luck. Does anyone know of any definitive guide books, web sites etc that would help in this process. Are there collectors out there. How would you build a pocket knive collection ?? This has been bugging me for a while. I await your replies. PEACE:RONB

 

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[releventchair]

There are a few sites that are into them. I usually find info from marks on blades. Case an example on a theater knife.W.R. Case College - Tang Stamps

All About Pocket Knives ? Index page

How To Pocket knife repair and restoration

 

[Limitool]

POCKET KNIFE QUESTION: My buddy (Frank) found an old pocket knife a couple weeks ago while we were MD'ing. Was about 3-4 inches down in this hard TN. soil by the Duck River. Appears to have both blades broken about 1/2 way each. It has a bone handle and is really drying out now. Does anybody think it would hurt the bone handle if I put in electrolysis for awhile?

 

[releventchair]

Well....a bone handle can be re hydrated in mineral oil at risk of darkening, then waxed to preserve, the longer it soaks usually the more it swells. Have used it on antler scales and while adding weight it did improve condition.Bone has a moisture content that affects fit when way dry or way wet if not preserved. My concern with electrolysis would be if any swelling of deposits put force against bone scales around pins and bolster(s) if they are rusted badly and don,t allow scales to move outward. Coloring too may result, especially if electrolyte allowed to get colored. Depends on value but I,d give it a bump and watch its progress. The bone itself unless really degraded should tolerate a brief bath before inhaling a lot of liquid. I,d do it to one of yours.

 

[Limitool]

Well....a bone handle can be re hydrated in mineral oil at risk of darkening, then waxed to preserve, the longer it soaks usually the more it swells. Have used it on antler scales and while adding weight it did improve condition.Bone has a moisture content that affects fit when way dry or way wet if not preserved. My concern with electrolysis would be if any swelling of deposits put force against bone scales around pins and bolster(s) if they are rusted badly and don,t allow scales to move outward. Coloring too may result, especially if electrolyte allowed to get colored. Depends on value but I,d give it a bump and watch its progress. The bone itself unless really degraded should tolerate a brief bath before inhaling a lot of liquid. I,d do it to one of yours.

Well the knife is in really bad shape to start with. Both blades broken and badly rusted. The handle looked better coming out of the ground then it does now. It says something on handle but I can't make it out even with a magnifying glass. I finally got a electrolysis devise made and it works great.

 

[BosnMate]

I have a Remington knife that pre-dates WWII which I've been interested in finding out information on.
I want to keep track of this interesting post. Will also be able to do research on my knife now.

 

[releventchair]

Well the knife is in really bad shape to start with. Both blades broken and badly rusted. The handle looked better coming out of the ground then it does now. It says something on handle but I can't make it out even with a magnifying glass. I finally got a electrolysis devise made and it works great.

Oh boy! she,s toasty chalky. I,d expect it to crumble regardless other than encasing it from air.Scales are cracked at pins so there is relief from any expansion in the bath. Preservation possible perhaps if keeping it desired,up to current owner I guess. The badge kind of Case like. Electricians knives and barlow knives,and some others only have one bolster like the knife pictured. Unless your bud wants to save it I would electro while watching and as soon as detail started to fade quit. Might pull the name from the badge as it looks temptingly decent and being a single bolster be able to find an original pic somewhere once maker established. Could get lucky and find a mark at base of blade, but a very light wager if any.

 

[luvsdux]

Unfortunately, I can't offer much help here as every pocket knife I've found with a detector had been reduced to a ball of rust.
luvsdux

 

[BARKER]

Hi Folks; What about dating them ?? and their values ??

 

[austin]

Book of Knife Values is out there in many forms. From individual brands to all brands including history. Book store, Walmart, Gun or Sporting Goods Store. Used to have a collection because Dad would give me knives, some I bought. Discovered dozens in a drawer so I became a collector. Sold many over the years, but still have about 25 or so in a big curio cabinet. Smoky Mountain knife works has a free catalog and you can join NKCA/National Knife Collectors Association. They have a club knife every year that is usually pretty nice. I don't collect anymore, never touch them. Use a SOG Flash ii around the house and carry an old Swiss Army officer's. Can be an expensive hobby...

 

[unfound]

I am a MD'er and also a Knife maker. I'm going to be betting it's a Barlow knife. A quick google search will give you similar pictures with similar plate location. But it looks like an older two blade Barlow pocket knife. It just has the Barlow look to it. There are many many collectors of knives. Case, old time, buck, shrade...just to name a few. some collect a specific type. others collect older ones. It as big as coin collecting probably, it can be a very very expensive hobby. Knives are like coins though....nice and clean preferred, old and crusty from the ground not so preferred. But it depends on the knife too. Barlow knives were common and carried in most stores for a buck or so when I was younger. I've lost a few in my younger years, gather up some glass pop bottles at 5 cents each and head back to store to get another one. oh those were the days !!!