What about the other GREAT American Knives?

[swede88]

I'm new to the forum & was just noticeing VERY LITTLE written about the other great American knife companies & it blew me away that there isn't even a mention as to a Winchester price guide.
What's your favorite non-Case american knife?

For me I love the oldies like:
1)Camp King
2) Forest Master
3) Winchester
4)Remington
5)Gerber
6)Schatt & Morgan
7)Russle
8)Buck
& 9) Schrade

Any I missed out their?

[swede88]

Oh, man! How could I forget one of my favorites! How about the original American made Bokers!

[PA Knives]

OK group do you even want to get me started on this????
It reminds me of the song, "I've been everywhere Man"

Buy Goins book of cutlery markings and you will throughly impressed with how many there are. BUT remember, not all company stamps meant they manufactured them, MOST were only jobbers. My history lesson for the day.

[swede88]

I appologies. I meant on this site there isn't much about anything but case info writen about. I know Case is a good knife & the most popular to collect, but there are alot of other great american made knives out there.

[PA Knives]

No apologies needed. I wasn't upset at all, Your point is well taken. There is many fine companies out there, I thought you were actually looking for a list of companies, I apologize to you If I came across the wrong way.

[cbh65beck]

Queen, Robeson, John Primble, Western States, Kbar Union Cutlery, Camillus. Personally, Schrade Walden was my favorite "work horse". Would be nice to see some photos of some of the other American knives. I like an old "odd ball" knife from the past myself, even if the value may not be as desirable as a Case. Good topic
Bryan #2

[longbeachbum]

I've read a lot about how Camillus is a company going down hill, i.e. they ain't what they used to be. However, I have to say I don't think I've ever been dissappointed with a Camillus made knife. Of course they don't all say Camillus on them. Some say Moore Maker, some say Remington, etc. I must say they're pretty close to being my favorite maker.

I note some of their higher end tacticals, such as the CUDA maxx and the one with the sliding button opening system (I know it has a name, I'm just ignernt of it) have a lot of devotees. Even the heat, which is in the low mid price range generates a lot of praise from what I've seen. That being said, when I tried it out I thought, I'd never buy it when I could have a Ken Onion Kershaw for the same price. To each his own.

What are some others opinions? Are they underrated?

[skip]

longbeachbum,
I just put a camillus stockman into my pocket for work EDC. I rotate knives for this purpose. I must be honest though I don't think its quality as good as my case stockman. Just my opinion. I have a couple Old Timers but I am almost afraid to put them in the rotation in fear they might be worth something someday. Well probably not a whole lot, but I would feel bad scratching it up.
Skip

[cbh65beck]

I like the way a Camillus sharpens. Seems they hold a good edge but the steel is a little thick usually. There is something about a Camillus though, when you look at one you can almost tell its a Camillus before you even read the tang.
Bryan #2

[El Lobo]

I think Camillus can make nice knives. I believe they do hit all price points, so some aren't as well fitted and finished as others. SOMETIMES, you do get what you pay for.

They make a bunch of A.G. Russell's traditional patterns for him, Cold Steel Carbon V, Ethan Becker's line, some Mooremakers, and many other knives on contract.

Oh, as of today, November 19th, my avatar is still a medium stockman with abalone celluloid scales, and carbon blades.....made by Camillus.

As always, JMO.

Bill

[swede88]

Great to hear from so many others! The Cub Scout knife my father bought for me is a Camillus & was & is an awesome knife! I also, have recently had the same thought about Schrade knives being worth collecting for the future & am starting to take them out of rotation as my work knives. I love Boker but am kind of diappointed in the way they are starting up asian productions to hit the lower price points.
By the way I am ashamed I didn't mention Queen Steel in my first post.

Swede

[cbh65beck]

I was looking through my collection and found a name thats sometimes forgotten. Marbles Safety Axe, Gladstone MI. Great looking quality made knives. I believe they made more fixed blade knives than folders, but looks like craftsmanship is right up there with any of them.
Bryan #2

[El Lobo]

Marble's folding knives...

I gotta look around and check, but I think the only folder Marbles actually MADE themselves, was the Marble's Safety Folding Hunting knife. I think all others were made on contract for them. And they are certainly remembered for other cutlery, like axes and fixed blades, by most collectors or accumulators (like me ). The modern folders under that branding are a mess...with unauthorized Parker's, German fakes, and some nice quality REPRODUCTIONS. And now, Chinese versions...

BUT...they did make GREAT fixed blades, and the subject was great American cutlers.

Bill

[ivanskee68]

Hey Folks, I'll take a good ol' PA. made Case XX any day over a lot of the brands mentioned here.
ivanskee68

[swede88]

Bryan #2,

Marbles are great knives. I don't have one but I have a good friend who's grandfather work in the same town they are made & he always carried one. I'll have to see if I can find an older one for mycollection. Do you know if marbles ever made a 4 blade congress in MI?

Swede

[swede88]

Ivanskee68,

Don't get me wrong Case makes a very good knife. I was just saying that there are alot of other GREAT American knife companies out there as well and very little mention of them one this forum.
Hey, my small, newly started, collection has more Case knives than any other brand but, I have knives like Queen, Winchester, Boker, Camillus, Schrade & Buck that rank right up there w/ Case, in quality, IMHO. America has alway made GREAT soliders, guns & knives, there's no way around that!!! GOD BLESS THE U.S.A!!!!!

Thanks for the reply!
Swede~

[PA Knives]

I know this was discuss on another thread, but I think it applies. I visited Lowe's over the weekend and asked about the CASE knives. I section manager said they no longer sell them, display was distroyed and the remaining knives sold by the night manager at $5 a piece I asked why? Prices were to high for there average customer. They wanted cheaper knives so they would come back and buy another in a year or so. Lowe's isn't into collecting, they are into cash flow. This hit me like bricks, cheap is better????? Somehow I missed this thought process. I am concerned about the future of our beloved CASE cutlery. I would hate to see it go by the way of Schrade, but I would like better quality control. It appears that poeple like us are the minority in the market and I am not sure what the right answer is. I don't buy new knives and haven't for many years, but I still don't want to see them gone. JMO

[swede88]

PA Knives,

I know exactly how you feel! I very seldom buy new knives, maybe 2 or 3 a year, mostly for gifts, but would hate to see the bigger American Knife making Icons go under like Schrade (my dad's favorite brand).
I don't get it??? The only thing that brings me hope is that companies like Queen Steel, Robeson & Shatt & Morgan are still making knives SOLELY in the USA & have been selling what most would consider extremely high priced knives, even before knife collecting really hit the main stream!!! When I saw my first off-shore Marbles knife it scared & piss** me off like mad!!! Winchester really gets under my skin & I loved their American made knives to death!!!!! I like the way Buck is handling it all..."Here's your cheap Asian knife & for 33%-60% more you can have the same knife that's really a knife!" It seem thats the way the majority are going though, cheap Chineese knives for the masses....... GRRRRR . Hey look at the up side when the average knife costs $1.75 at the local gas station maybe we can pick up all the true American steel for $5 each & call it fair! (Dear Lord...I hope that never really happens!!).

Thanks for the reply!::tu::
Swede~

[skip]

I was in Wal-Mart this weekend buying my hunting license and seen a stockman in the blister pack hanging on a peg. It is outdoor life brand. Chinese of course. So I bought it $4.94. I will throw it into my edwc rotation and see how it holds up. I'm not expecting much but just wanted to see how long it will hold up. If Wal-Mart can sell them that cheap how much do you think they pay for them.
Even if Lowes and Case broke ties how much over all percentage of sales would Case loose out on? I'm sure not enough to put them out of business.
Face it, the average guy or gal goes to buy a knife chances are they will buy chinese over American because of the low cost. Hopefully Case won't start shipping things out of country to be assembled in china. when I'm at a gunshow I don't want to have to sift through chinese Case to get to an American Case. Never say never.
Skip

[swede88]

Skip,

I too have asked myself that question. I sometimes watch a couple of cable knife sales shows one sells mostly American & German made knives. The other sells huge collections on pocket knives,bowies & even swords. When they break down the price to a per piece amount sometimes the are selling swords for .99 cents. Makes you think!!
Happy Thanksgiving & don't forget to pray for are service members & leader.

Thanks & God Bless!~
Swede

[cbh65beck]

Hey Swede, I'm not sure about the old Marbles folders, as El Lobo said in his earlier message, Marbles were mostly fixed blades. I have seen some very nice modern Marbles MSA's that are made in Gladstone MI, but be carefull about online shopping for Marbles, as SMKW and others I'd presume are selling "Marbles Outdoor" brands with a Chinese origin . The price reflects this (or should) as around $15 to $25. And the higher being MOP!! I purchased a modern stag handled Warncliff Whittler MSA MI from a seller on Ebay and paid close to $90 for it. It may have been made elsewhere than Marbles, but is stamped Gladstone MI and I feel confident its American made. I'd give you a link to his Ebay store if you want, but these are new reproduction knifes and not the old good ones we like, right ?:)
Bryan #2

[El Lobo]

Here is a rather lengthy thread from another forum, that explains SOME Marble's history.....
http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showt ... id/636608/
Dave Shirley provides some good input.

You might need popcorn and beer to get through it, however.

Bill

[swede88]

Bill,

I had to break out the beer & popcorn but when is that ever a bad thing? Awesome thread link! Thanks for the info.

Thanks & God Bless!~
Swede

[swede88]

Bryan#2,

I'd love to see the link but from what I've stumbled across alot of the Marbles newer knives are like the Shrade USA knives. Old blades bought out & assembled elsewhere, but I'd love to check it out. I may have to go up to Mich. & see what I can find.

Thanks & God Bless!~
Swede

[cbh65beck]

I hope you guys don't mind me throwing a photo or two up every now and then for conversation. I can handle ridicule and criticizm when I've layed an egg. Just got this Union Cut. Co. Ladies Leg this morning and wanted to see what you guys think. I've never had an interest in the Leg knifes until recently, this one's handles caught my eye. Just one of the other great American knives.
Bryan #2