All About Pocket Knives

My latest G.W. Stone acquisition. I posted this one a while back in the Fixed Blades forum but it belongs here also. This was one of Stone’s innovations. He made a lot of knives in the 60’s for servicemen being deployed to Viet Nam, this one was designed as a survival knife for pilots. Stone called this the “Magnum” Survival Knife. Has a wide, heavy blade with spine sharpened at same angle as a hatchet. The blade is wide enough to use for digging. When in hand you can feel the balance weighted such that it could be effectively used as a hatchet. Drilled for a lanyard. Linen micarta handles, 12 inches OAL.

Ken

I was able to acquire another G.W. Stone custom fixed blade. This one has been carried and used lightly, so I now have a good one to carry. Typical of his work it’s materials, fit and finish are flawless. At 7-5/8 inches OAL with a 4 inch blade it’s a good practical size. Integral design, genuine stag handle slabs. Nice custom-made original sheath holds the knife snugly, has a metal belt clip.

Ken

I own five G.W. Stone knives. All are fixed blades. I met G.W. Back in the 1980’s at his shop in Richardson. He was quite a character and was a very good man, at one time he had a young apprentice working there by the name of Jim Eriksen. Jim went on to have his own custom knife making career for over 25 years, Viking Knives. I am told that G.W. and fellow Knife Makers Guild founder Ralph Bone were at one time partners. I am also told that G.W. Was at one time a Weatherby rep. He loved his Weatherby rifles. Eriksen disappeared from knife making a few years back. His Richardson shop was closed. It took me over a year to track him down but I finally did. I took my 5 Stone Knives to him last week and he buffed and sharpened them for me. They now look brand new. During my visit he was intrigued by my Diana Skinner, #441. He said that his memory served that they made just shy of 500 Diana’s total and that there were very few Diana Skinners ever produced, I also have a Trident Steel River Bowie. Those knives were only produced for Trident Steel Corp. And were given away to their important customers. They are identified by the Trident symbol stamped into the blade. G.W. made very high quality working knives. As stated I own 5 but am always on the lookout for my next one.

WOW....Ken.... I LIKE that first one!!
I always like a knife that has more than one use. In this case, all on one blade.!! And the lines are GREAT!!
Those are some real beauties Ken. In case nobody has ever told you.... Your taste in knives is exquisite!

Reekax, welcome to AAPK, and thanks for your information about G.W. Stone. I can verify that he in fact once was a business partner of Ralph Bone. They owned shop in Richardson, TX which sold firearms, gunsmith services and of course knives. I went there a few times in the early 1960s with my dad who had some custom gunsmith work done there. (Check your PMs - I responded to yours). Eventually Ralph left and moved to Lubbock where he continued making knives, and G.W. opened a knife making shop and retail store. I’ve seen several G.W. Stone knives offered recently on eBay by a seller who says he bought a large collection from the estate of a collector. They’ve been selling beyond the reach of my wallet.

Thanks Mike for the compliments. Glad you like the knives. I think you’re referring to the “Magnum” survival knife. I was lucky to find it. I’ve seen a couple of articles written about the knife and it being a unique design, but have only actually seen two of them.

Ken

Here’s one I picked up recently, a 3-1/4 inch gentleman’s knife by G.W. Stone. Handles are engraved stainless steel.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2020 4:01 am Here’s one I picked up recently, a 3-1/4 inch gentleman’s knife by G.W. Stone. Handles are engraved stainless steel.

Ken

WOW... I like those all steel knives when they are highly decorated like yours.
Another nice Stone you have there Ken!

I'm not knowledgeable about custom knives but I have fond recollections of Mr. Stone, the time he spent with me at home and shop. We lived on the same street, Kirby lane, Richardson. He had great stories about hunting, especially Kodiak Bear hunting. I remember one of the times i visited him at his shop, i believe on Floyd rd., he had made some Chinese fighting stars(i believe thats what he called them) he gave me a demonstration using a human silhouette target against a back wall. Scary, in a good way, for a 12 or 13 year old kid.
For some of that period in the early 70's he rode a Honda 750 cb and had a matching one for his wife, a 500.
I always enjoyed the time i got to spend with him. He was fatherly in a way. I dreamed about him last night. Im sure he is deceased. I'm 60 now but i miss him and wish i could ride my bicycle down to his shop just to listen to his adventure stories and maybe get a little fatherly advice too.

@Mumbleypeg, Here is a slipjoint Stone folder I picked up today from an Estate Auction. Sort of curious about the tang stamp. It is clearly STONE, but the positioning of it has me confused. Most of his folders I have observed have it running with the blade. Not for sure on the Scale material, perhaps a smooth bone or Ivory? Open length is 6-5/8", with a 2-7/8" clip blade. Your thoughts??

I have ran across mostly STONE Fixed blades in my searches and travels, but rarely do I see any of his folders. He did TOP QUALITY work and thanks for bringing this up Mumbleypeg! I have purchased a couple of his fixed blades that I sold for a hefty profit, hope this slipjoint I just got will do me well also.

Knights Equinox wrote: ↑Thu Jun 10, 2021 9:13 pm @Mumbleypeg, Here is a slipjoint Stone folder I picked up today from an Estate Auction. Sort of curious about the tang stamp. It is clearly STONE, but the positioning of it has me confused. Most of his folders I have observed have it running with the blade. Not for sure on the Scale material, perhaps a smooth bone or Ivory? Open length is 6-5/8", with a 2-7/8" clip blade. Your thoughts??

Nice find, looks like it’s had some use but Stone’s blades are the closest to indestructible I know of. He was justifiably proud of them. I wouldn’t put much concern into the positioning of the stamp. The knife has the characteristics of a G.W. Stone knife, and his fixed blades were typically stamped like that.

What is the closed length? (Folding knives are typically measured and described on closed length. Blade length varies slightly from knife to knife in the same pattern, and especially so on used knives since metal lost from sharpening changes the blade length, and hence the overall length).

I’m not sure about the handle material. Perhaps horn, or walrus tusk? Someone else here may recognize it.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Jun 11, 2021 4:15 am

Knights Equinox wrote: ↑Thu Jun 10, 2021 9:13 pm @Mumbleypeg, Here is a slipjoint Stone folder I picked up today from an Estate Auction. Sort of curious about the tang stamp. It is clearly STONE, but the positioning of it has me confused. Most of his folders I have observed have it running with the blade. Not for sure on the Scale material, perhaps a smooth bone or Ivory? Open length is 6-5/8", with a 2-7/8" clip blade. Your thoughts??

Nice find, looks like it’s had some use but Stone’s blades are the closest to indestructible I know of. He was justifiably proud of them. I wouldn’t put much concern into the positioning of the stamp. The knife has the characteristics of a G.W. Stone knife, and his fixed blades were typically stamped like that.

What is the closed length? (Folding knives are typically measured and described on closed length. Blade length varies slightly from knife to knife in the same pattern, and especially so on used knives since metal lost from sharpening changes the blade length, and hence the overall length).

I’m not sure about the handle material. Perhaps horn, or walrus tusk? Someone else here may recognize it.

Ken

Thanks Mubleypeg, closed length on this one comes in at 3-3/4". As for wear the blade looks to be as Mr. Stone sent it out of his shop, no sharpening marks at all, there is some pocket wear on the outer portion of the knife. Good guess on the scales, it could be either one but I don't think it is bone. The scales have way to much yellowing in and on them for bone.

This one came to live with me. It has definitely been carried some - even without a loupe you can see scratches in the covers and bolsters. The blade is full though and may never have been sharpened until I touched it up today. Been wanting a used Stone folder to carry, and it’s in my pocket. Can’t decide what the handle covers are made of, still thinking probably walrus.
Any body got an idea, confirm or otherwise?

Ken

Beautiful and beautiful. What a gorgeous knife!!!

Thank you Floyd.

Ken

Mr. Stone's work is, in a word, wonderful. Impressive as all get out.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Thu Jun 17, 2021 4:21 am This one came to live with me. It has definitely been carried some - even without a loupe you can see scratches in the covers and bolsters. The blade is full though and may never have been sharpened until I touched it up today. Been wanting a used Stone folder to carry, and it’s in my pocket. Can’t decide what the handle covers are made of, still thinking probably walrus.
Any body got an idea, confirm or otherwise?

Ken

Glad it made it ok. I knew you would like it Ken! Hopefully one day we can figure out the Scale material, I am almost positive it is not bone. That blade was immaculate indeed, never even been close to a whet stone. Keep your eyes peeled I have some more Stone's in my sights!!!

This is my latest G.W. Stone Knife acquisition. Looks to be one of his Fighting / Tactical Models.

As gorgeous as a Randall!

Gorgeous indeed! Nice acquisition.

G.W. often credited Bo Randall as being a big influence, and that could be readily seen especially in his earlier work. He began innovating with models like the Magnum and High Country but continued to produce many designs having an unmistakable Randall influence.

I sometimes wonder what he thought about his knives being “collectibles”. That phenomena started well before he passed away.

Ken

Any info on the model or type of knife? I'm putting it on ebay so need to do a good description. Thanks in advance.

That Hooked guard is what made me say some sort of tactical or fighting knife. It even has a Scale shield for personalization.
!

It looks similar to his Model A “Fighting Knife” but the guard on yours is different than what is shown in the catalog I have. The Model A as shown in Stone catalog I have a copy of has an 8 inch blade length but could also be ordered with 7, 6 or 5 inch blade. Note the letter “A” stamped on the ricasso on the knife. Just a semi-educated guess but it might possibly be an early Stone knife for which he made the guard “to order” for a customer. He made many knives for servicemen during the Vietnam War. Again, that’s just a guess.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 10:33 pm It looks similar to his Model A “Fighting Knife” but the guard on yours is different than what is shown in the catalog I have. The Model A as shown in Stone catalog I have a copy of has an 8 inch blade length but could also be ordered with 7, 6 or 5 inch blade. Note the letter “A” stamped on the ricasso on the knife. Just a semi-educated guess but it might possibly be an early Stone knife for which he made the guard “to order” for a customer. He made many knives for servicemen during the Vietnam War. Again, that’s just a guess.

Ken

This one is 13-1/8" OA length with a 8-1/8" blade.

Knights Equinox wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 11:20 pm

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Jul 26, 2021 10:33 pm It looks similar to his Model A “Fighting Knife” but the guard on yours is different than what is shown in the catalog I have. The Model A as shown in Stone catalog I have a copy of has an 8 inch blade length but could also be ordered with 7, 6 or 5 inch blade. Note the letter “A” stamped on the ricasso on the knife. Just a semi-educated guess but it might possibly be an early Stone knife for which he made the guard “to order” for a customer. He made many knives for servicemen during the Vietnam War. Again, that’s just a guess.

Ken

This one is 13-1/8" OA length with a 8-1/8" blade.

Pretty sure it’s a Model A with an 8 inch blade then. None of the catalogs I’ve seen list the OAL.

Ken