Who did this scrimshaw?

[5-Shot]

I stumbled across this knife today...haven't seen it in decades. I bought it at a gun show in Memphis around 1980. I choose it because of the scrimshaw. The old lady who did the art work was selling from a table at the show. (Sure wish I remembered her name.) It seems like a very nice knife, but I know very little about knives and even less about scrimshaw. For you knife gurus, is this knife worth anything and does the artwork add to or detract from its value?




Thanks,
Ed

[-db-]

Yours looks like it might be an earlier version of Al Mar's Stout Little Backup: SLB (Stout-Little-Backup) | Al Mar Knives

I like yours better than the current model and I suspect the scrimshaw adds value.

Edit: yours is called a Bulldog. If you do a search on Google, you'll find some examples and info. From what I'm seeing, yours may be a $300+ knife.

[dav2no1]

From what I understand...Al Mar knives has only been around since 1979. So, it looks like you have an early knife and with the custom carving it appears a unique knife. Not sure what the value is, but I would put it away for the future.

Al Mar Knives | Premium Tactical, Every Day Carry, and Kitchen Knives

[Texas Star]

The knife is a Japanese factory knife designed by Al Mar, now deceased. He had better designs, and this one is useful (I feel) mainly as a desk item, for its decorative scrimshaw. I think the company is still in business. Their knives are good.

I think this is a leopard, but the head more resembles the shape of a tiger's. Was it maybe meant to represent a Snow Leopard?

Linda Karst and Sandra Brady are two of the finest cat scrimmers. Compare this work to theirs and guess a price.
You need to buy the big annual, "Knives" from the Gun Digest people. In the back is a directory of most people in the knife business and supporting trades, like scrim and sheaths, etc. View their scrimshaw section photos.

If the work is not signed and you do not recall the scrimshander, value is largely speculative. As with other art, who did it matters a lot. Some are famous. BTW, Linda Kay Karst is now married, but I don't recall her married last name. Some collectors might attach added value to her earlier art. Some won't care.

Just guessing, I'd say the knife might be worth $150-200. But if you know who did it and price it against their current work, you'll know more.

Linda might charge $1500-2000 for work on a knife handle. But she doesn't just display at local shows. She has had publicity, incuding a profile that I wrote. She is known at Safari Club International shows. The people attending those are often very well to do. That amount doesn't faze them.

Maybe Rick Bowles will see this. He posts here as RBScrim. He'd be better qualified to answer your question. He is, BTW, the official scriimshander for Randall Made Knives.

[5-Shot]

Here's a little more info: On the flip side of the blade it is stamped "U.S.A." and under that "SEKI-JAPAN". The artwork is signed, or at least initialed. Looks like RTW or perhaps RJW. I'm sure the artist is no longer around. She looked pretty old when I bought the knife (about 1980).

Thanks so far,
Ed

[Texas Star]

I enlarged and copied your photo and rotated it to see the cat better. I'm almost sure that it's a Snow Leopard, and it's quite well done.

In the absence of the artist's name, you might look through older knife magazines in hopes of recognizing the name.

If Rick Bowles sees this, he may know the artist. Can you change your post title to reflect that you have a scrimshaw question? Like, "Who Did This Scrimshaw?" That might get his attention. Your present title doesn't address the real issue. Anyone can see that you have an Al Mar knife. The unique issue is the art.

If in fact the older lady did do this scrim, I can assure you that it wasn't Linda. She would NOT have been mistaken for an old lady then or even considerably later! With respect to her and her current husband, I believe that you'd remember her. I have framed color photos of some of her work. It is outstanding by any standard.

I presume that the scales are the usual ivory Micarta, not actual ivory. That would add other issues, some legal.

I wish you luck. The knife may be quite valuable. As-is, unless you really need money, I'd keep it on my desk as an item of art and a letter opener. Don't carry it: the scrim will wear off.

Gerber used to sell knives made in Seki City with machine-done scrim. I have one. They're very nice. They were part of their Silver Knight line.

Seki City is a specialist cutlery zone in Japan, known for very high quality materials and workmanship. The famous Fallkniven knives are designed in Sweden, but made to their specs in Seki City, I believe. Quality is superb, perhaps the best of any current factory made knives.

Of the Al Mar line, their Eagle and Falcon models impress me the most. They are very good knives.

But, as I said, the value of your knife is in the art. Otherwise, you just have a used factory knife in an odd design.

[THE PILGRIM]

Nice knife! If you find out who did the scrimshaw it could worth some serious money.

[Texas Star]

I suppose that you can send the photo to the Whut Izzit Editor at Knife World. If he doesn't know the artist by sight, he may publish the pic and someone may recognize it.

He normally wants sharp B&W pics on white or light gray backgrounds. But these colors might reproduce okay. You could also send the color pic to editor Mark Zalesky and ask his help. He does run some color art.

Having rotated and studied the photo, I like the cat. It isn't the best that I've seen, but is very good.

[jag312]

You need the picture in B&W. Here it is. Now, does anyone recognize the initials in the second picture?

[5-Shot]

Here's a better picture of the cat. Thanks for all the input.



Ed

[dax0007]

Hello! I am a serious AL MAR vintage nut and Texasstar was right ON POINT! However the main scrimshawer for AL MAR was BonnieShulte. Bonnie worked on 1980 AL MARs and vintage PUMAS.. They are har to find and have a enchanting look.. THe other 2 ladies that Texasstar talked about are just outstanding and i know Linda worked on many AL MARS, but i dont think she did any for al mar personally.. Bonnie Shulte is what Rick Bowels is to Randall... Rick is awesome!!

ANYHOW.. Unfortunately that scrimshaw "may " hurt the value of that knife becausr THAT KNIFE IS A BULLDOG #1 with USA SEKI JAPAN.. Very hard to find!! BULLDOG #1 without the USA stamp are on ebay 10 times a year, but never with USA SEKI.. Basically the USA STAMP was removed sometime in early 1980s cause the USA GOV did not want AL MAR using that stamp since they were made in SEKI JAPAN... As for the BULLDOG#2 looks very similar just a tad diffent blade style..

I collect bulldogs and have own all of them with different scrimshaw..
I just bought 2 BULL DOG #2 off ebay with unknow scrimshawers.. I paid 250 each... the guy had them listed for 350 for a few weeks and no biters... if u ever decide to part with it please contact me

thanks
D.