It' s a scruffy old Gardner I found in some electric transaction a while back.Berryb wrote:Can't get rid of the last pic but it looks like a cool knife, what is it?
No sir.kootenay joe wrote:Ken, any markings on knife in pic #3, dble end jack, black(ebony ?) handles ?
kj
Any insights as to what it might be are very welcome.Great score Olde Cutler, wish they had a flea market like that around here. Beautiful bones, keep those kind of babies coming. Welcome to AAPK too, nice to see some new blood around.OLDE CUTLER wrote:I picked up this Paxton & Gallagher Omaha Harness Jack at the local fleamarket for $6. Nice bone handles, a few scratches, no chips.IMG_1690.JPG
Opinions are welcome. 
Doodlefroodle uses a "copypasta" of description text for the copious amounts of knives he sells. A lot of the time "Custom" just means "Hell if I can figure it out, let's sell it anyway." I've had hit-and-miss luck with Doodlefroodle's listings. Photos are always plentiful but very low-res. I routinely cap out at 75% or less of what I'd normally pay for a knife when I'm bidding on the light blue background because I've generally found defects that would probably appear in better photos, and generally I limit my bidding on his listings to stuff I absolutely cannot find anywhere else (like the Cutsure Barlow). The upside is that you often run into knives like Ken found that are simply outside the usual cutlery collector's purview, which makes for interesting opportunities. And frankly, the collector value of any knife is no more and no less than someone else is willing to pay for it, so YMMV!kootenay joe wrote:Ken, the seller says it is 'custom' in this case most likely an assembly of blades & parts taken from other knives. Not considered a collectible knife by most. It is more like 'folk art' and might be a very strong knife with blades that can take a sharp edge, your new user buddy.
Those are two nice Case 54s, Richard.bladeguy58 wrote:ust picked these two Case Trappers up yesterday. I feel torn now because they are great additions to my collection but I feel like I paid too much based on the condition. That said I guess it just evens out in the end if I look at some of the real bargains I've gotten over years. There was another post where they talked about two different sides and I definitely think the one with red and brown handle is that way. Not sure what to make of the other one but it definitely shows signs of being a real user. I am thinking of putting them up for trade on something older. I realize now that I am really attracted more to the older classics, maybe because I am one!
I'm one of those freaks who likes the mismatched slabs on some knives -- my only 1st-gen Camillus 72 has 2 fairly different Rogers handles on it and my favorite Appaloosa Case knives have a wide variation in dye. I think the pile side of your red trapper is the star of the show. 
KJ,Tsar Bomba wrote:Doodlefroodle uses a "copypasta" of description text for the copious amounts of knives he sells. A lot of the time "Custom" just means "Hell if I can figure it out, let's sell it anyway." I've had hit-and-miss luck with Doodlefroodle's listings. Photos are always plentiful but very low-res. I routinely cap out at 75% or less of what I'd normally pay for a knife when I'm bidding on the light blue background because I've generally found defects that would probably appear in better photos, and generally I limit my bidding on his listings to stuff I absolutely cannot find anywhere else (like the Cutsure Barlow). The upside is that you often run into knives like Ken found that are simply outside the usual cutlery collector's purview, which makes for interesting opportunities. And frankly, the collector value of any knife is no more and no less than someone else is willing to pay for it, so YMMV!kootenay joe wrote:Ken, the seller says it is 'custom' in this case most likely an assembly of blades & parts taken from other knives. Not considered a collectible knife by most. It is more like 'folk art' and might be a very strong knife with blades that can take a sharp edge, your new user buddy.
I'm not saying there's any ill intention there -- quite the opposite -- just that the sheer volume of business he does probably means that most listings can't be as detailed and OCD as some of us knife knuts wish they could be. And I'm always thankful for sellers who aren't tommygg.
As they say live and learn! 
Thanks for the advice. 
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Thanks for the good words Tsar,Tsar Bomba wrote:Is anybody surprised that Herman's work is outstanding as usual -- but that the Schrade USA stands out as a cut above?
That is one outstanding Barlow, sir, congratulations on your fine acquisitions!
kootenay joe wrote:The Camillus is a "Rope knife". It's a good pattern to collect
Back to your ebony Dble End Jack: d-f tells us what it is in last line of his description: "UNIQUE OLD CUSTOM MADE PIECE. PART OF A COLLECTION OF THESE I RECENTLY PURCHASED FROM THE MAKERS ESTATE. "
Making a good knife out of parts from other knives has a long history going back to when most men were familiar with tools and money short enough that you didn't through out a broken knife but re-built it instead. And some guys did it as a hobby. It still goes on now but usually with the intention of passing the knife off as something that it isn't.
This ebony knife looks to have old parts and could well have been made/assembled over 50 years ago.
kj
Thanks for the input guys...jerryd6818 wrote:The Camillus "Rope Knife" was probably made in the mid-80s.
