All About Pocket Knives

i got this large lockback hunter off of ebay i have seen lot of these big knives but have not seen any with a bail this one has a bail and i believe this to be original to the knife. what ya think on it

Just a guess here, but I don't think that the bail is original to the kinfe, based on the type, and size of bail and the fact that the holes are drilled all the way through the caps and the frame.

I agree with TJ. I think the bail is too small for such a large knife.
I would be surprised if that was an original bail.
I wonder if a knife like that ever had a bail.
Nice knife though.

i dont remember seeing one on these big knives maybe someone with catalog will let us know

I cannot speak to the originality of that particular bail on that particular knife.

But, there are numerous brands of these large coke bottle folding hunters that have a drilled bolster like that.

What purpse would the holes have served, if not for a bail? They are too small for a lanyard.

And, I can tell you for certain that a box of 1/2 dozen Robeson 118 5" folding hunters came with six loose bails in the box. The bail could be added to the knife at the time of purchase at the buyer's request.

So, yes, some, but most likely not all, these knives did come with bails.

Charlie Noyes

Would it have been the norm to drill completely through the caps and frame though.

i don't have any large cokes with bails and charlie is right to say they are on some. but i do have to agree with tj and frj when i say that the bail looks too small for such a big frame. like a car going down the road with the doughnut tire on it.

like i said the hole is very small anything much bigger wont fit

Great looking knife!

I would have to agree with everyone here. I do have a NYKC Hunter like that, IMO there is no way a bail of that size would handle a knife of this size. This knife is much more in the hand than the pictures appear, its a big one.

BH

if it is the wrong one it still was worth the $ it had on it for buy it now

I know what you paid from our talk in chat......WOW!!
I surmised in chat that the bail might be original........sorry bout that.
Looks like the overwhelming consensus is that its been added.
NICE KNIFE BUD!!

IM

well if you think it served purpose of hanging or tying cord to. But i cant believe it would be for that as the knife is large, not sure what the function is for it though with it being that small but if i keep looking at it. it will come to me its simple logic for it. knife that size would of been a good candidate for a sheath . so bail is for other function than that of say boy scout or t-29 type or watch fob knife.

Looks to be an "add your own bail," cato!
VERY nice knife!

This is from the 1902 Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett catalog.

..... Joe

joe i saw the exact knife today at the lewisburg knife show. it had the hole but no bail. and it looked as if that hole never did see a bail either. the knife was in fairly good shape, the seller was asking $325 for it. i didn't even want to try and bargain a price. i was on the lookout for easy opens. snagged 4 of them. 2 robesons, a keen kutter and a pal.

Wow Chet! $325 for that knife!!

Wonder what the average wage was in 1902?
A dozen knives for $22 + postage and then dealer mark up would put the price around .50 cents or so, per knife!
What would that equal in today's economy?

.... Joe

Cato,

Forget the bail That knife will always be awesome. Once you see one of those in hand one says whow! I've seen several sell but usually a couple hundred bucks or more..... NYKC did some awesome jigging on that bone too Nice Find

thanks it is sweet