Could fixed blade knives be counterfeit?

[Gone2Three]

Ebay seller had posted dark pictures in listing, so was hard to make out clearly what the tang stamp was... they have arrived and I'm not too sure about them.
The Case doesn't seem right, too shiny and stamp doesn't look quite right, well at least to me...
The kinfolks knife has a handle that I've never seen before. The blade has age and looks to be carbon steel?

Need help from our experts here to determine what exactly I have.

Any help would be appreciated, Randy

[Mumbleypeg]

It’s rare to see a fixed blade knife counterfeited, but they are commonly re-handled. The Kinfolks shown in your pictures does not have its original handle. I’m gonna let the fixed blade experts take it from here.

Ken

[Gone2Three]

It’s rare to see a fixed blade knife counterfeited, but they are commonly re-handled. The Kinfolks shown in your pictures does not have its original handle. I’m gonna let the fixed blade experts take it from here.

Ken

Thanks Ken,
Yes, the wood is nice but didn't look quite right for age of it.
Also no other markings on either one other than the tang stamp. Not even sure what model #'s they are ....

[Gunsil]

Like Ken says, the Kinfolks has had the handle scales replaced, otherwise correct, that model never had the model number stamped on it as some other Kinfolks did. The Case is 100% correct, stamp is post war, if the blade is super shiny it is because Case chrome plated most of their fixed blades for many years. Ken is also right that nobody is faking common factory made fixed blades, they aren't worth the effort. Rarer fixed blades like Will&Finck and many bowie knives are often faked.

[Gone2Three]

Like Ken says, the Kinfolks has had the handle scales replaced, otherwise correct, that model never had the model number stamped on it as some other Kinfolks did. The Case is 100% correct, stamp is post war, if the blade is super shiny it is because Case chrome plated most of their fixed blades for many years. Ken is also right that nobody is faking common factory made fixed blades, they aren't worth the effort. Rarer fixed blades like Will&Finck and many bowie knives are often faked.

Thank you Gunsil, I appreciate your response and confirmation on authenticity.
I'm still a newbie to the hobby, so it's great to have this resource available and our experts here.
I was just thrown by the case being so shiny yet old lol...
Any other information about model or year would be appreciated as well.
Thanks again!

Oh... what type of handle did the Kinfolks possibly have before it was re done?

[Eye Brand Man]

Oh... what type of handle did the Kinfolks possibly have before it was re done?
[/quote]

Most likely bone.

[Gone2Three]

Oh... what type of handle did the Kinfolks possibly have before it was re done?

Most likely bone.
[/quote]

Thank you, sure would be nice to have seen what it looked like before it was rehandeled... still trying to figure out what wood was used here. It has hues of light and dark green, brown, and yellow. Maybe the wood will help with dating how long ago it was done.

[1967redrider]

I wouldn't say "counterfeit" as much as "repaired." That multi-infused colored wood is what I (and others) call Frost Wood.

[Gone2Three]

I wouldn't say "counterfeit" as much as "repaired." That multi-infused colored wood is what I (and others) call Frost Wood.

I learned something new today, thank you redrider

it's color's are starting to grow on me... wasn't too sure about it originally. Maybe later on I'll look at re-handling the re-handle lol...

[Eye Brand Man]

Here’s one from my collection. The original handles might have looked like this. This one has what I call pick bone. I’ve seen others with Rogers bone.

[Gone2Three]

Here’s one from my collection. The original handles might have looked like this. This one has what I call pick bone. I’ve seen others with Rogers bone.

Wow!... Thanks for sharing your pictures, that is a real beauty, love the pick bone

[RobesonsRme.com]

There are knife technicians here that might be able to restore your Kinfolks knife with similar bone handle slabs.

Charlie Noyes

[Gunsil]

Oh... what type of handle did the Kinfolks possibly have before it was re done?

Most likely bone.
[/quote]

Kinfolks made that model in bone and celluloid. Since a lot of celluloid disintegrates, I think it is more likely it originally had cell handle scales which had deteriorated.. The re-handle job also looks like the handle is more narrow by the guard and the originals all had straight handles so if indeed the tang has been narrowed toward the guard a good restoration will be near impossible. I'd leave it as a user. Most Kinfolks don't command a lot of money and "restored" ones less than originals.

EBM, that is a very nice green bone example you have for sure. They also had Rodgers bone in some years. You will find identical ones marked Case and also Cattaraugus since Kinfolks made that model for those firms too. Kinfolks was a prolific maker of contract knives, I have a list of 20 brands who had knives made for them by Kinfolks.

Edit: Funny, I just surfed the bay and tonight a Case and a Cattaraugus version of the same green bone model just came up for sale. The Catt is pretty nice, the Case a beater.

[Gone2Three]

There are knife technicians here that might be able to restore your Kinfolks knife with similar bone handle slabs.

Charlie Noyes

Thanks Charlie, will probably have that done here soon. I recently sent off a Case knife to Kaleb (MuskratMan) to re handle for me. Once that one is done maybe I'll have the Kinfolks restoration done.