Earliest Marbles tang stamp?
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Earliest Marbles tang stamp?
Greetings!
I am trying to date a Marbles Ideal stag pommel knife with a 3 line tang stamp that reads:
MSA Co.
Gladstone Mich
U.S.A.
The stamp is worn, “gladstone” is completely worn off and the “M” of MSA is worn off, and USA is very faint, but it is obvious it was originally a 3 line marking as described above.
Searching the web I find only one image of this style marking but no additional information on when it was produced.
Can anyone help date this knife tang stamp?
Thanks!
I am trying to date a Marbles Ideal stag pommel knife with a 3 line tang stamp that reads:
MSA Co.
Gladstone Mich
U.S.A.
The stamp is worn, “gladstone” is completely worn off and the “M” of MSA is worn off, and USA is very faint, but it is obvious it was originally a 3 line marking as described above.
Searching the web I find only one image of this style marking but no additional information on when it was produced.
Can anyone help date this knife tang stamp?
Thanks!
- 1967redrider
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Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?


*edit- Here are instructions on posting pictures: viewtopic.php?t=50258
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
- SwedgeHead
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Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?
I'm sure others will chime in, but there is this as a general (Google) guideline:
Marble's stopped using the "M.S.A." stamp around 1910 when the company changed its name from Marble's Safety Axe Co. to Marble Arms & Mfg. Co.
Early Years: Marbles knives were marked with "M.S.A. Co." during the early years of production, likely between 1901-1911.
Name Change: The company's name change in 1911 resulted in a transition to "Marble's" stamps.
Marble's stopped using the "M.S.A." stamp around 1910 when the company changed its name from Marble's Safety Axe Co. to Marble Arms & Mfg. Co.
Early Years: Marbles knives were marked with "M.S.A. Co." during the early years of production, likely between 1901-1911.
Name Change: The company's name change in 1911 resulted in a transition to "Marble's" stamps.
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Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?
The first Marbles stamp was not the MSA stamp. The first knives were marked Manufactured by W L Marbles.
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Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?
Thanks for the welcome and replies.
Below are two images of my knife in question.
The last image is the only other knife I could find online with the same marks for comparison
https://allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_ ... &id=717437
Below are two images of my knife in question.
The last image is the only other knife I could find online with the same marks for comparison
https://allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_ ... &id=717437
- 1967redrider
- Gold Tier
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- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:23 pm
- Location: Alexandria, VA
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Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?
Here's what Dunathan says about that stamp, from The Encyclopedia of Marble's Knives and Sporting Collectibles.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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- Joined: Sat May 17, 2025 3:14 pm
Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?
RE: “Here's what Dunathan says..”
Thank you very much! I suspected this was a fairly rare marking.
Thank you very much! I suspected this was a fairly rare marking.