Ruana knives

[THREEDFLYER]

I am going through some knives that I recently acquired from a good friend and was planning to list most of them for sale on the forum.....but this one caught my eye.....

It's even been signed by Mr. Ruana himself and you have to love the elk antler grip

I've never owned a Ruana, but this model 17-A has such great lines it will most likely stay with me!!

 

[STCM(SW)]

Nice one Tom! Going to use it on your next Elk?

 

[THREEDFLYER]

Nice one Tom! Going to use it on your next Elk?

Thank you sir!

I think it deserves to be used for sure, and hopefully at least on a deer this Fall!

 

[swagmeister]

Beautiful knife. Don't see many of those for sale. Thanks for showing. Wise decision keeping that one!

 

[30-30remchester]

Being an antique knife collector, I have owned a dozen or so Ruana's. Never got that warm fuzzy feeling and sold them online shortly after acquiring one. Most sold from $350 to $500. Then I listed one that got many offers to end the auction early. I always said no to the offers. Then one man asked if I would take an offer and end the auction early. I replied that I would let the auction go it duration. His reply was that I had not actually heard his offer. I then asked his offer. $2,500 was his reply. I told him he had just bought a knife under one condition. Once he receives the knife, I want a call explaining all the offers and why the high price for a $500 knife. Upon receiving the knife, he explained that this particular example was the Holy Grail of Ruana knives. The one all collectors are looking for. I asked what it was worth. He asked did I really want to know. Replying yes, he said it was worth at least $5,000. Asking if I was disappointed, I replied no. I had bought it at a yard sale for $40, so a $2,460 profit was enough, and we both were happy with our deal,

 

[THREEDFLYER]

Being an antique knife collector, I have owned a dozen or so Ruana's. Never got that warm fuzzy feeling and sold them online shortly after acquiring one. Most sold from $350 to $500. Then I listed one that got many offers to end the auction early. I always said no to the offers. Then one man asked if I would take an offer and end the auction early. I replied that I would let the auction go it duration. His reply was that I had not actually heard his offer. I then asked his offer. $2,500 was his reply. I told him he had just bought a knife under one condition. Once he receives the knife, I want a call explaining all the offers and why the high price for a $500 knife. Upon receiving the knife, he explained that this particular example was the Holy Grail of Ruana knives. The one all collectors are looking for. I asked what it was worth. He asked did I really want to know. Replying yes, he said it was worth at least $5,000. Asking if I was disappointed, I replied no. I had bought it at a yard sale for $40, so a $2,460 profit was enough, and we both were happy with our deal,

So now the question is what model was it that was worth $5,000?????

 

[dave1918a2]

Beautiful knife. Made in 1983. The R H Ruana stamp with no 'M' was only in 1983. The Rudy signature with the whip means it is one of the last knives done by Rudy. Just keep the polishing to other knives and leave that one alone.

 

[30-30remchester]

So now the question is what model was it that was worth $5,000?????

He was a Ruana collector and according to his, this was an extremely early knife. Most likely Rudy's first year of production. To me it looked no different from the others I had sold. While dealing with this man, he bought the last 2 I had listed without much online interest. I got $500 and $350 for those two.

 

[holo]

Great knives. My buddy took me elk hunting in the Bob Marshall last fall. As a gift I bought him and his 2 sons each a Ruana knife. I paid $700.00 apiece for them and feel they are worth every penny.

Yours is something special, there is a great book you can pick up it is all about Ruana knives it is called Hear The Hammer

 

[THREEDFLYER]

Beautiful knife. Made in 1983. The R H Ruana stamp with no 'M' was only in 1983. The Rudy signature with the whip means it is one of the last knives done by Rudy. Just keep the polishing to other knives and leave that one alone.

Thanks for the great info on production date, etc.
I did some internet digging and the only Ruana knife I could find that was made in 1983 and signed by Rudy with no "M" was this one.

1983-84 Custom Hand Made R.H. RUANA Model 13B Signed Blade Hunting Kni – ANTIQUE & MILITARY FROM BLACKSWAN

 

[turnerriver]

Years ago I bought some ammo from a guy who asked if I was interested in knives. He had several Ruana knives that I had no knowledge of or interest in, I mentioned them to a friend and forgot about it. Next time I saw him at a gun show he tucked a $100 bill in my shirt pocket and thanked me for putting him onto those knives. Like with many collectibles, I thought they might be worthwhile but didn’t know enough to buy them myself.
Regards,

 

[Photog]

Nice knife. Hold on to it as you will not be able to order a new one from Ruana. As of the first of this year, they are no longer taking orders with the exception of a kitchen knife they produce. They will occasionally put a knife on the website for sale, that being the only way you will get one from them. They stopped making all their larger knives, like bowies and such, a few year back and does not look like they will start making them again, at least for several years, if that.

 

[THREEDFLYER]

Sounds like the value on this one just went up!

 

[huntsman22]

you will not be able to order a new one from Ruana.

Probably because they caused an aluminum shortage, using all those recycled, melted beer cans on their foogly handles......

 

[Walter Rego]

My old hunting buddy had a Ruana that he referred to as his "three finger" knife as the hilt was only long enough to get three fingers on. The blade was about 3" long if I recall, and it has stag scales. He bought it back in the late 1970's or early 80's. Gutted a few deer with it on our hunting trips. I had no idea it was valuable and it disappeared from his belongings when he passed away. I was going to ask his widow for it, probably went to his son who sold it as he had no interest in those kinds of things.