Marbles question

coffeecup · **Posted:** Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:28 am

Some of the old Marbles fixed blades had a huge swage or "blood groove." What was the purpose of this? I've always admired the style, just never known why they did it.

And yes, I bought a knife (not a Marbles) and am now wondering . . .

Thanks,
Jim

Mossdancer · **Posted:** Mon Jul 05, 2010 3:40 am

coffeecup:
You will find lots of brands of knives have as you and many others call it a blood groove. In actuality it is called a fuller, during the war years these were included on virtually all military knives. One of the reasons being was to save steel. Consider that a contract for a hundred thousand knives saving two ounces of steel per knife would save over 12 thousand pounds of metal that could be used for the war effort for other items.
What would that equate to you think? Maybe three, four or five Jeep bodies. Not an insignificant amount.
My opinion and i'm sticking with it.
moss

Owd Wullie · **Posted:** Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:43 am

I've heard that story too. However, most of those fullers were swedged or forged into the blade so it wouldn't really save much if any steel.

Another story I've heard that it was easier to withdraw a knife, sword, or bayonet from a body if the blood grooves were in the blade. ::shrug::

W

tjmurphy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:49 am

Owd Wullie wrote:

I've heard that story too. However, most of those fullers were swedged or forged into the blade so it wouldn't really save much if any steel.

Another story I've heard that it was easier to withdraw a knife, sword, or bayonet from a body if the blood grooves were in the blade. ::shrug::

W

That's what I've always heard too Willie. The groove breaks the suction.

robinetn · **Posted:** Mon Jul 05, 2010 2:37 pm

When you forge the fuller , you actually widen the blade , therefore you can start with a more narrow piece of steel . The fuller lightens the weight of the knife while adding to the strength of the blade ( not unlike the characteristic of an I-Beam ) . I feel that strength and versatility (ease of handling) is the primary function of the fuller (especially for the large sword-type knives) .

Bob R. (RIDGEWOOD CUTLERY)

Froggyedge · **Posted:** Mon Jul 05, 2010 2:54 pm

An article on the subject I once came across:

http://www.agrussell.com/Articles/a/106/

Mossdancer · **Posted:** Mon Jul 05, 2010 3:02 pm

GOSH!!!!
moss

robinetn · **Posted:** Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:55 pm

What Joe Talmadge said !

Bob R.

JACKNIFEBEN · **Posted:** Tue Jul 06, 2010 2:21 am

HERE IS A MARBLES' WITH A REAL "FULLER".

stagman · **Posted:** Tue Jul 06, 2010 3:29 am

I agree with ya on the steel saving WB with other brand knives.
But as far as the Ideal is concerned, in 1899 Webster Marble came out with the Ideal,
and he made the big fuller to save weight.
That is in one of my Marble's books
Real nice Ideal there Ben
Will

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