Hey guys, I thought I would share this story about finding this most unique and rare ring turn, as well one other bone ring turn the very next day. Both style ring turns I have hunted for at least 8 months, without any success whatsoever. Until recently I had a best friend since the 7th grade. We both collected knives our entire lives and this was a real 'brother to me' Unfortunately, he died of Cancer a few weeks ago. Too young at 57 years old. Anyhow, it's been rough. (I am strong and sadly getting used to the stages of grief, lost both parents way too young as well.) Anyhow, as I was doing my daily ring turn hunt last week. I had given up on ever locating any ring turn with a bone/stag handle. I only knew of two makers that I had seen produce any with jigged bone scales. This was Vom Cleff & Co., and W.H. Morley. So I have typed them in on searches a million times! I had only seen the Morley on E Bay and it had a snapped off blade, plus cracked scales. No good! So back to my story. I was setting there searching online and thinking about "I how I wondered if my buddy was still here?" I looked up on the wall at some of my passed mothers artwork and thought of her again as well.. I then spoke out loud to my fallen best friend, Steve. Saying out loud." If you are there buddy, please give me a sign, show me a jigged bone scaled ring turn knife Steve." I then thought to myself and him "If I find a bone handled ring turn, then I will know you are here with us Steve, and that you are good to go." What followed next I have written below. I know this is a lot of writing.. But I am still in awe of what happened the day I asked him for a sign. I don't want this to seem like a stupid 'material' thing. I asked him not because I really had to have the bone ring turn knife. But because WE BOTH loved knives and collected them. So I knew this would relate if I asked him for the bone scaled ring turn. I had no idea that in 15 minutes more of searching such an amazingly rare knife and knives would come my way. I am positive now my best friend of 45 years, is still here and gave me a 'knife nod' for sure! R.I.P. Steve....Thanks buddy!
*Sorry if repetitive guys.. the story bellow I wrote right after it all happened, or arrived I should say...
Hi - thought I would tell you something pretty amazing that happened this week. Which sent some major spiritual chills up my back! I collect antique and vintage knives. Steve collected knives as well, and we had a real bond there when it came to knives, since 7th grade. Anyhow, I have been collecting these small knives called ring turn knives. Very small pocket knives. (Most were made with all metal handles. However, there are some with mother of pearl handles. But these are hard to find. I have found seven of those in my near year of collecting this particular style knife. They all can date back as far as late 1800's. Most early 1900's - 60's? So, I had been searching daily for near a year for a 'ring tone' knife with bone/stag bone handles. These are super rare and near impossible to locate one. (And if you do find one, it's broken down with cracked bone handles or missing blades. So I was setting here two days ago doing my word searches for my ring turn knives. I have given up on even word searching for a bone handled one. So I am sitting here thinking of Steve and how much I miss him. I look up at artwork my mother made who has passed as well. I think think out loud to Steve, and say out loud "Show me a sign buddy, show me a sign by letting me find this rare type of knife that I cannot find." I know it sounds weird as it is a material thing? But I thought if for real and knew if somehow he was still here with us, then he might show me through our hobby of collecting knives. I then typed in the standard search words I type in daily for 'ring turn knives'. Only minutes later as I scroll through ebays knives, I do a double take as I think I scroll past something? I go back and right there in front of me is not only a ring turn knife with the sought after bone handles.. It is a famous maker's name knife, that even collectors of the brand had never seen nor heard of them making one of this style knives! It was up for bid, with no bidding yet. I then contacted the seller , made an offer and he agreed. The Camillus, knife arrived and is the most amazing ring turn I have seen! It is from at least 1920-40's and looks mint/new! It is also two, to three times bigger than any other ring turn anyone has seen, and is extremely rare! Was this a sign from Steve, giving me the clue that he has indeed been there with us? Now get this, the very next day some knife guy emails me and says he has a bone handled antique W.H. Morley ring turn, and sells it to me! Two of the very knife styles I could not find, and many knife guys say are rare, or nearly unheard of, especially the Camillus!
CAMILLUS CUTLERY
W.H. MORLEY
If you’re gonna be dumb... You better be tough!
You've got quite the ring-turn collection as we've seen but I have to imagine this one's going to hold a special place. As a big Camillus fan who doesn't know ring turners from ring toss, I'd still love to have a beauty like that.
