Vintage or Not

[celluloidheros]

Ok how many think this knife is Vintage and how many think it was made in Michigan ?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Marbles ... 35c0e988bf

This knife was made by Jim parker

[jerryd6818]

As far as I know, all domestic made Marbles knives have been made in Gladstone MI (I don't know if they ever had any contract knives made by domestic companies), so vintage or recent, Gladstone MI is correct for that knife.

I have a couple of the 90's made knives and that one looks like that era to me but don't take that to the bank because I know nothing about vintage Marbles, nor can I tell the difference. Just expressing an impression here. Could be way off base.

I wasn't aware Jim Parker had a relationship with Marbles. Mike Stewart, yes (Blackjack, Marbles & Bark River) but not Jim Parker. If I'm incorrect about that (and as always, I could be. I'm no expert and Parker had his fingers in a lit of pies.) someone will set me straight.

Since this post is in the Counterfeit Watch forum, I'd have to say that knife is right as rain. The only question is age.

[chetr1200c]

i agree with jerry, and i am not an expert here either, but it does look correct in the description. i also don't think parker had anything to do with marbles. and if he did do any similar knives, he certainly wouldn't stamp it as a marbles. even though i know that a tang stamp can be changed.

[bworldwidedotcom]

I had a genuine Marbles sheath knife of the era that this knife purports to be from...

The knife in the auction appears to be genuine. However, there was someone who was using the Marbles tradename (perhaps still is) on modern knives. I don't think it was Parker, but I could be wrong.

In my opinion, this knife is a genuine Marbles. The tang stamp looks correct and the construction of the handle is indicative of their quailty. The buffed out blade is reason to be concerned. I wonder if it is stainless or carbon steel? If its stainless - watch out. I don't think Marbles used stainless in this era.

[knifeaholic]

Parker did use the MARBLES trademarks for a few years maybe late 80's to early 90's. His story was that the Lauerman family had let the Marbles trademarks lapse for use on knives, since they had not made any Marbles knives since the 70's. Others disputed Parker's use of the trademarks. But he did indeed use them. I do not believe that the posted knife is one of his though.

Edited to add: I think that most of Parker's Marbles knives were made in Seki Japan, but some were also made in Germany by Olbertz. I seem to recall mostly folders but I imagine that he offered some fixed blades as well.

I want to say that Marbles took legal action to get the trademarks back but I may be wrong.

[jerryd6818]

Thanks Steve. Learned something again today. (Now if I can just remember it.) This place is great.

[chetr1200c]

thanks steve for that tidbit of info. but wouldn't parker have his name on them also?
although now that i think about it and to answer my own question, he never put his name on the case classics