Let's See Your Custom, Rare, or Classic Knives
- Thread starter TheHobbyist
- Start date
pilgrim6a
Member
fat tom
Absent Comrade
Hobbyist,thanks for reviving this thread! Some fantastic blades here.
f.t.
f.t.
mafuta54
Member
reddogge
Member
An old Puukko knife from Finland a friend gave me along with a WW2 Savage Enfield No1, MK4 and several bayonets.
A WW1 bolo dated 1910.
An assortment of handmade knives. The throwing knife was made for me by a late friend.
A WW1 bolo dated 1910.
An assortment of handmade knives. The throwing knife was made for me by a late friend.
C Broad Arrow
Member
This is a custom knife made by my friend Steve Tedford. He is a master knife maker and it has become my favorite hunting knife.
The handle is big horn sheep antler and the blade is razor sharp.
Great for all jobs when cleaning a big game animal.
The handle is big horn sheep antler and the blade is razor sharp.
Great for all jobs when cleaning a big game animal.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Had these a long time.
Dick
Dick-
I think we may have discussed this photo before; can't be sure.
At the top and bottom of your display are Bucks that are either Nemos or the Model 124. I usually see the later laminated wood handles on the model 124. I think they called it the Frontiersman. I once published an article on it and its use in a Nocona boot ad, in a knife title. Buck and the ad agency were very cooperative, and I got the full story on the artist, who depicted a cowboy using a 124 to behead a rattlesnake whose head he was holding down with his Nocona boot. He painted with a propietary technique, almost photographic in detail.
Many of you saw that ad, which ran in, "Playboy" and other big slick magazines. Maybe someone here can find and post the image. ?? Don't know if copyright might be an issue, but a link should be legal.
Anyway, what model is marked on the blades? Are they the same? Are these considered Nemos or the Frontiersman version? Both of yours have the earlier phenolic resin handles. Are the edges of the tang exposed?
The Nemo was intended as a dive knife, and failed in that role because some divers said the blades rusted. I believe this was due to them not caring properly for a dive knife that has been exposed to salt water. My diver son found that unless he scrubbed the blade of his knife in fresh water (not just rinsing it under a tap) the salt residue remained and rusted blades. It is also possible that the area where the guard joins the blade was not well sealed, as if by silver soldering, as Randall does with his knives. In that case, salt water may have seeped up into the guard and rusted the tang, weakening it.
The photos that I've seen of the Nemo didn't have the handle pins. Those may have been added later, maybe or maybe not before the knife was remarketed for land use. I can't tell for sure in your photo, but don't see the pins in the top knife. ?? I've never seen a Nemo in person. Don't know if the tang edges were exposed, where they could rust after frequent exposure to salt water.
I had a Model 124 in the later laminated wood handle form. The handle was just a little thick for my hand and I sold the knife. I wonder if the Nemo phenolic handle is slightly thinner?
Anyway, I think both knives are now collectors' items, especially the Nemo dive knife. Not as many collect Buck as collect Case, but many do. I do not know the current value of the Nemo, but think it may well reach well over $200. Depends on who has it and what they know about it, of course. You might get lucky and catch a garage sale where they think it's just some old knife they no longer want.
But that raises the moral issue of whether or not to rip them off...
Oh: look at the modernistic steak knife in between the Model 102 and the Caper, on the right. I'm almost sure that I saw that knife in a thriller movie starring Morgan Fairchild (who my mother taught in high school) being stalked by a mad fan of her role as a TV anchor. It was called, "The Seduction." I met her in a restaurant a few years ago, and she couldn't recall the movie. Pity. It made the point very clearly that good people have to be armed, as the police cannot protect. She blew the bad guy away with an Ithaca M-37 shotgun. I reviewed the movie, and the studio PR girl found a good slide of her with the Ithaca, which I used in the article. If you can't place Morgan Fairchild, she used to star on TV series like, "Falcon Crest" and, "Flamingo Road", but made a number of movies, usually not blockbusters, but sound. Mother said that she was an exceptional student in her Honors English 11th grade class. I found her to be bright and articulate in person, and she shares my interest in paleontology, perhaps almost unique among actresses. But she had no idea which knives were in her kitchen in that, "Seduction" movie.
However, the movie is good, and worth looking for.
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Magnum-Krazy
Member
I don't have too many knifes, just a few that interested me.
Heres my "Cobra" movie knife.
The "Rambo" knife.
"The Enforcer" or Special Forces knife.
And the knifes seen in many movies, the Switchblade and Butterfly knifes.
Ernie
Heres my "Cobra" movie knife.
The "Rambo" knife.
"The Enforcer" or Special Forces knife.
And the knifes seen in many movies, the Switchblade and Butterfly knifes.
Ernie
OP
TheHobbyist
Member
Dick, thank you for your service!
Lots of nice blades here!
Lots of nice blades here!
OP
TheHobbyist
Member
Just picked up a Spartan, "Horkos" model. Waiting for it to be delivered!
Please continue to share your favorites--
Respectfully,
TH
Please continue to share your favorites--
Respectfully,
TH
mgo
Member
Special Forces Bowie
This Special Forces Bowie has an interesting story behind it. I purchased this totally unused knife and scabbard many years ago when I lived in El Paso. One evening I showed it to a friend, a Vietnam veteran. His eyes popped out of his head. He told me that when he was in Nam, a SF captain had boxes of these things, and gave them to anyone who wanted one. My friend wove the lanyard in an unusual pattern. Turns out, this was his knife, and he traded it off foolishly for something else he coveted. As you probably know, these knives in this condition are easily worth $1,000 or more. I told him if I ever decided to part with it, he would have first right of refusal. Only problem was, I didn't want to stick my friend for that much cash - it just didn't seem right.
And then, on a recent trip to El Paso, he showed me a little Smith Model 1 2nd issue. I had an "Ah Ha!" moment. I told him I'd trade him straight across for his old Bowie if he still wanted it. He hesitated for a split second, and then we shook hands on the deal. I knew the gun was worth about $800, but he didn't have near that much in it. As I recall, I was out about $150 for the knife. I really wanted to return the knife to its first owner, and this was the way to do it. I returned to AZ with the Smith, and had his knife in overnight insured mail the day after my return. I do miss the knife, as it was a cornerstone of my U.S. military knife collection, but I have the satisfaction of pleasing a good friend who really deserved it much more than I. I do have a picture, and here it is.
John
This Special Forces Bowie has an interesting story behind it. I purchased this totally unused knife and scabbard many years ago when I lived in El Paso. One evening I showed it to a friend, a Vietnam veteran. His eyes popped out of his head. He told me that when he was in Nam, a SF captain had boxes of these things, and gave them to anyone who wanted one. My friend wove the lanyard in an unusual pattern. Turns out, this was his knife, and he traded it off foolishly for something else he coveted. As you probably know, these knives in this condition are easily worth $1,000 or more. I told him if I ever decided to part with it, he would have first right of refusal. Only problem was, I didn't want to stick my friend for that much cash - it just didn't seem right.
And then, on a recent trip to El Paso, he showed me a little Smith Model 1 2nd issue. I had an "Ah Ha!" moment. I told him I'd trade him straight across for his old Bowie if he still wanted it. He hesitated for a split second, and then we shook hands on the deal. I knew the gun was worth about $800, but he didn't have near that much in it. As I recall, I was out about $150 for the knife. I really wanted to return the knife to its first owner, and this was the way to do it. I returned to AZ with the Smith, and had his knife in overnight insured mail the day after my return. I do miss the knife, as it was a cornerstone of my U.S. military knife collection, but I have the satisfaction of pleasing a good friend who really deserved it much more than I. I do have a picture, and here it is.
John
OP
TheHobbyist
Member
Paladin, Wow. Thanks for sharing that beauty. I'm glad you and your friend were able to work out a good trade together.
My good friends and I will barter too like that. Once in awhile, you come out a little bit ahead, others, a little behind. No biggie.
Recently I traded a good friend a 8 3/8'' barrel model 14. It was an exceptional shooter and in overall very nice condition. Gave him a price that was probably about $100 - $150 below what I could have got elsewhere, but I know he has been talking about one for the longest time.
My good friends and I will barter too like that. Once in awhile, you come out a little bit ahead, others, a little behind. No biggie.
Recently I traded a good friend a 8 3/8'' barrel model 14. It was an exceptional shooter and in overall very nice condition. Gave him a price that was probably about $100 - $150 below what I could have got elsewhere, but I know he has been talking about one for the longest time.
Not valuable or rare, and a crappy picture to boot.
It's a Benchmark, made in Gastonia NC by a fellow who owned a steel mill, and thought he could make a better knife than the ones he had used while hunting. The company wasn't in business too long before Gerber bought it, but this one's from the original company. I bought it in the very late 70's while stationed in Ohio, and used while living in South Dakota from 1980-85. There is some wear on the blade the picture doesn't show. I've enjoyed owning it.
It's a Benchmark, made in Gastonia NC by a fellow who owned a steel mill, and thought he could make a better knife than the ones he had used while hunting. The company wasn't in business too long before Gerber bought it, but this one's from the original company. I bought it in the very late 70's while stationed in Ohio, and used while living in South Dakota from 1980-85. There is some wear on the blade the picture doesn't show. I've enjoyed owning it.
Walter Rego
Member
Seeing Gatorbaiter's outstanding stiletto collection made me pull this one out and take a couple of photos. Custom, rare or classic ? I don't know about that, but here's the story.
My dad was in Laredo, TX in early 1944 receiving aerial gunnery training prior to attending Navigation school and going on to serve as a Navigator on a B-24 out of Italy. I assume that he bought this knife while on leave from the Laredo base and visiting Mexico. He carried it inside his A2 flight jacket throughout his combat tour, probably more for the reassurance that it may have given a 20 year old in those circumstances than anything else. The handle was originally cow or ox horn but bugs ate it and it crumbled away. I replaced it with a bit of California muley antler from a buck I took back when you could still hunt deer in SouCal. The pommel and cross guard are brass. Senor Cruz wasn't very good at spelling, you can see where he crossed out the C and replaced it with the X in Mexico. It's as sharp as a needle.
My dad was in Laredo, TX in early 1944 receiving aerial gunnery training prior to attending Navigation school and going on to serve as a Navigator on a B-24 out of Italy. I assume that he bought this knife while on leave from the Laredo base and visiting Mexico. He carried it inside his A2 flight jacket throughout his combat tour, probably more for the reassurance that it may have given a 20 year old in those circumstances than anything else. The handle was originally cow or ox horn but bugs ate it and it crumbled away. I replaced it with a bit of California muley antler from a buck I took back when you could still hunt deer in SouCal. The pommel and cross guard are brass. Senor Cruz wasn't very good at spelling, you can see where he crossed out the C and replaced it with the X in Mexico. It's as sharp as a needle.
A few of mine.
First: my old Buck. Bought it in the PX in Ft Richardson, AK, about 1965.
Next, The Laguiole I carry day to day. It has only a blade, no corkscrew, and is made by Fontenille Pataud. Scales of antler.
Last: an Opinel, another French knife. They're very inexpensive, used to cost less than 5 francs in France. This one has a fancy rosewood handle.
First: my old Buck. Bought it in the PX in Ft Richardson, AK, about 1965.
Next, The Laguiole I carry day to day. It has only a blade, no corkscrew, and is made by Fontenille Pataud. Scales of antler.
Last: an Opinel, another French knife. They're very inexpensive, used to cost less than 5 francs in France. This one has a fancy rosewood handle.
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Each one of those is a classic in its own way. I am especially fond of the Opinel, which still can be had in basic trim for about ten or twelve bucks from the manufacturer (which means you can probably find them cheaper on eBay). The locking mechanism is about as cheap, simple and elegant as can be.
I can put my hands on three of them right now, and have another two or three tucked away in various pieces of motorcycle luggage. I'm clad you included them in this thread. Classic does not necessarily mean expensive.
Rock185
US Veteran
CH47gunner
US Veteran
This one was made by an older gentleman, Ken Richardson, who has since passed. The blade was made from an old rotary saw mill blade and Ken, being unaware of Cali. laws, helpfully sharpened the upper edge of the blade.
This is an old Westmark I've had for years and has been one of my favorites.
Cold Steel Tanto blade - one heck of a tactical/combat knife.
This is an old Westmark I've had for years and has been one of my favorites.
Cold Steel Tanto blade - one heck of a tactical/combat knife.
