Need help on Case 6254 Knife please

[reader]

It's marked Peabody Coal, 6254, Case XX, Bradford, PA

Is this another Trapper knife? Second Cut Stag?

I'm guessing this may be from the 1980's or earlier. It belonged to my great uncle.

Any idea on value?

Thanks so much,
Susan

[reader]

Could this be a red bone second cut? Thanks for any help or suggestions.

[mikek]

Susan, The "6" in 6254 means the knife has bone handles. A better shot or the tang stamp and we can tell you what year the knife was made. As far as value, it may be worth more as a family keepsake than the $30.00 to $50.00 it might bring on ebay. If you find a Peabody collector,who knows, maybe more. Hope this helps, mikek

[remington collector]

From what I gather, Peabody Coal gave these knives to certain employees for various reasons, (safety, attendance, etc) in the late 80's. It is a trapper pattern and I think 2nd cut bone. I've saw at least 3 different patterns of folding knives and 1 fixed blade with the Peabody Coal etch. Knives of this type generally sell in the $40 -$50 range, but if you could find a buyer who had one of the other patterns with the Peabody etch, they might pay a premium for this paticuliar knife. This knife should be wiped off with a oily rag, I see fingerprints on one of the blades that could cause tarnish.

[reader]

Thank you so much!

I'm attaching a close up shot as requested. I appreciate the help.

Thanks, remington - I wiped the blades as you suggested.

[mikek]

Susan, If you look closely as you open and close the main blade you should see a stamp like this:

CASE XX
Bradford,Pa.
19USA90,91,92 or 93

The last two numbers on the very bottom right side are the year the knife was made but can be hidden because of the bolsters. mikek

[reader]

Thanks, Mike. I found the mark and it was made in 1991. I wouldn't have known to look there without your help. You guys are great.

[Aimus Moses]

From what I gather, Peabody Coal gave these knives to certain employees for various reasons, (safety, attendance, etc) in the late 80's. It is a trapper pattern and I think 2nd cut bone. I've saw at least 3 different patterns of folding knives and 1 fixed blade with the Peabody Coal etch. Knives of this type generally sell in the $40 -$50 range, but if you could find a buyer who had one of the other patterns with the Peabody etch, they might pay a premium for this paticuliar knife. This knife should be wiped off with a oily rag, I see fingerprints on one of the blades that could cause tarnish.

I agree with you and think your correct. They were also given to most employees at Christmas time as part of the employee's Christmas bonus. The bigger companies would also give their employees a turkey a week or so before Thanksgiving time. These coal company branded, etched, or engraved knives with every coal company name you can imagine are very common in VA., KY., WV. at flea markets and yards sales in the summer.

Aimus Moses

[Paladin]

First, WELCOME to AAPK, Aimus!!
As to the knives passed out by coal mines, here is a Jim Bowie passed out by the Owens Coal Mines back in the 1980s.

Ray

[Aimus Moses]

Thank you for the welcome Paladin and yes that's a very good looking Copperhead pattern. Aren't those Jim Bowie brands made by the German Eye brand makers? I don't recognize the name of the coal company right off though. The majority of the coal company bonus knives or hand outs that I've run across usually have the company's name etched on the blade. I've seen more Frost Cutlery coal company branded knives than other brands. The bigger coal companies buy the good USA or German made brand knives for hand outs at holidays and as a bonus for good production.

[Paladin]

Yes, the Jim Bowie line was by Eye Brand's Carl Schlieper. It didn't have quite as much finish but was just as good as the Eye Brand in all other aspects.
I googled the Owens Coal Mines once but never found much about them.