What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
- glennbad
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
You all would probably laugh...since I was a kid, I always lusted after the Kershaw 1050. Something about the way it looked, the substantial weight, the finger grips...who knows? And yes, I could go out and find one right now if I wanted, but sometimes it's cool for your grail to remain your grail. It keeps you on the hunt!
- #goldpan
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
I have to agree with you Glenn. While its great to hold and fondle a grail knife, the hunt for it is just as rewarding. I believe its been said many times, the journey is just as important as the destination!glennbad wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 3:45 pm You all would probably laugh...since I was a kid, I always lusted after the Kershaw 1050. Something about the way it looked, the substantial weight, the finger grips...who knows? And yes, I could go out and find one right now if I wanted, but sometimes it's cool for your grail to remain your grail. It keeps you on the hunt!
Kershaw 1050.jpg
- Madmarco
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
Ditto for me Glen, but the price has always kept me at bay, and I don't find it laughable at all, perfectly legit!glennbad wrote: ↑Tue Sep 21, 2021 3:45 pm You all would probably laugh...since I was a kid, I always lusted after the Kershaw 1050. Something about the way it looked, the substantial weight, the finger grips...who knows? And yes, I could go out and find one right now if I wanted, but sometimes it's cool for your grail to remain your grail. It keeps you on the hunt!
Kershaw 1050.jpg
- Colonel26
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
Those are few and far between, especially in my budget! I managed to swipe one, not pristine by any means, but man oh man!
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jmh58
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
I was afraid of that Wade. Oh well!! I can dream!!
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- zed6309
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
Mines a Russell Barlow , impossible to find here sadly, but I always live in hope 
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- 1967redrider
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
I'd like to own one of these one day too. Not practical, probably not useful, but an unusual knife that interests me. 
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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- Miller Bro's
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
John, hard to find a nice one and when you do they are pretty expensive1967redrider wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 8:14 pm I'd like to own one of these one day too. Not practical, probably not useful, but an unusual knife that interests me.![]()
I wanted one of theses for quite some time and I found one, now I am on the look out for something else
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- 1967redrider
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 8:48 pmJohn, hard to find a nice one and when you do they are pretty expensive1967redrider wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 8:14 pm I'd like to own one of these one day too. Not practical, probably not useful, but an unusual knife that interests me.![]()
![]()
I wanted one of theses for quite some time and I found one, now I am on the look out for something else![]()
Funny thing, I was just looking at one of those in BL's book. Pretty cool.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
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doglegg
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
redrider, Miller Bros awesome knives.

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stockman
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
Robert, find that 4466 yet? Haroldremington collector wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2010 3:43 pm I'd take a Remington R4466, baby bullet in stag, mint condition with an etch. I'd say that would be a $10,000 knife in that condition. I'm having a hard time even finding a worn example. I have at least 1 example of 12 bullets out of the 13. The 4466 is the one I don't have.![]()
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Captain O
Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
I have a Jeremy T Kreis 10.75" Fishtail Picklock like my daddy carried onboard ship during WW2 and Korea. (This was my "Holy Grail" knife).
All I want now is a Queen Cutlery Model 25 "Jet" Automatic. (I wonder if Jeremy would make me one of these with dark horn scales")? If it were made with a Bohler N390 steel blade, that would be "the cat's meow"!

All I want now is a Queen Cutlery Model 25 "Jet" Automatic. (I wonder if Jeremy would make me one of these with dark horn scales")? If it were made with a Bohler N390 steel blade, that would be "the cat's meow"!
- garddogg56
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- Rotten
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
GEC Abilene Yellow Rose. Never even seen one posted on any forum, just old pictures on dealers websites.
Trace
- geocash
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
It seems like I've always had a pocket knife or two & probably got my first one before I started to school. I've gotten a few more over the years but early on I was more interested in fixed blade knives. I got my first Randall when I graduated from high school & over the years have had a few other fixed blade knives that I thought were pretty good. My "Holy Grail" knife was a Moran. When I got this catalog he had a backlog of over twenty years. Specifically, I wanted his ST-9 & placed an order. This was his response. I never heard from him again & he passed away in 2006.
geocash
- Dan In MI
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
I'm resurrecting this thread, as a little research led me to believe that a "holy grail" of mine might exist. That would be a mint Case Hawbaker Special with both blades date coded 1978. Should I ever see one, I'd suspect it would be priced too far out of reach or not for sale.
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Adaptable and (usually) affable knife enthusiast, unsure of his knife collecting destination but enjoying the journey
Case taste, Rough Ryder budget
Adaptable and (usually) affable knife enthusiast, unsure of his knife collecting destination but enjoying the journey
Case taste, Rough Ryder budget
- Ridgegrass
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
Mine is a CATTARAUGUS, "King Of The Woods", 12919L, 12829G, or 12919.
J.O'.
- 1967redrider
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sun Jun 19, 2022 6:20 pm Mine is a CATTARAUGUS, "King Of The Woods", 12919L, 12829G, or 12919.![]()
![]()
J.O'.
I wouldn't mind finding one of these at the right price either, J.O'.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
- Ridgegrass
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
Hope so! J.O'.
- Mumbleypeg
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
Seems like I always have a grail knife, and have managed to obtain them eventually. The elusive one I’m on the hunt for now is the Case 3-blade junior scout from the Tested era, with the scout jr. shield. (As pictured in Sargent’s).
Ken
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- bestgear
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
that’s a true holy grail knife Ken!Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 12:10 am Seems like I always have a grail knife, and have managed to obtain them eventually. The elusive one I’m on the hunt for now is the Case 3-blade junior scout from the Tested era, with the scout jr. shield. (As pictured in Sargent’s).
Ken
My holy grail was found a few years ago (BSA Remington Heroism folder) and I’ve been searching for a new holy grail but nothing is bubbling to the surface. Oh don’t get me wrong, I have dozens of wish list knives but most are likely manufacturers variants or true unicorns and just aren’t worthy of holy grail status.
Anyone else in the same predicament want to start a local chapter of the Lonely Hoky Grail Club?
- Dan In MI
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
I hope so, but it's hard to say. The market could be changing. As an example, last year I sold an HK whosr steel and country of origin were mysteries. I figured I'd get $15 for it. The hammer price was closer to five times my estimate.1967redrider wrote: ↑Sun Jun 19, 2022 7:11 pm It seems the tables are turning and it just might be a buyer's knife market in the not too distant future.
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Adaptable and (usually) affable knife enthusiast, unsure of his knife collecting destination but enjoying the journey
Case taste, Rough Ryder budget
Adaptable and (usually) affable knife enthusiast, unsure of his knife collecting destination but enjoying the journey
Case taste, Rough Ryder budget
- zzyzzogeton
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
My current "grail" is an "affordable" REAL M1861 Dahlgren bayonet.
While Gahlgrens show up occassionally, they are either WAY too expensive for my budget or they are Japanese replicas, one of which I have, made back in the late 70s or early 80s. The Japanese replicas are well made, probably even as good as the originals.
Most of the Dahlgrens that show up on fleabay are replicas, even the ones being touted as originals. The Japanese versions have the wrong font AND they stamped JAPAN down in the slot.
If you look inthe slot of a Dahlgren and there is no JAPAN in it but there is a bunch of scratches and dings, someone has tried to make it "an original". Badly rusted blades with the wrong font are also a tell.
While Gahlgrens show up occassionally, they are either WAY too expensive for my budget or they are Japanese replicas, one of which I have, made back in the late 70s or early 80s. The Japanese replicas are well made, probably even as good as the originals.
Most of the Dahlgrens that show up on fleabay are replicas, even the ones being touted as originals. The Japanese versions have the wrong font AND they stamped JAPAN down in the slot.
If you look inthe slot of a Dahlgren and there is no JAPAN in it but there is a bunch of scratches and dings, someone has tried to make it "an original". Badly rusted blades with the wrong font are also a tell.
- Dan In MI
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
When I hear "Dahlgren," I think of Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren, VA. I'll have to do some research into knives bearing that name!zzyzzogeton wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 4:02 pm My current "grail" is an "affordable" REAL M1861 Dahlgren bayonet.
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Adaptable and (usually) affable knife enthusiast, unsure of his knife collecting destination but enjoying the journey
Case taste, Rough Ryder budget
Adaptable and (usually) affable knife enthusiast, unsure of his knife collecting destination but enjoying the journey
Case taste, Rough Ryder budget
- zzyzzogeton
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Re: What Is Your "Holy Grail" Knife
Here's a picture of the M1891 Dahlgren bayonet and its scabbard. This is of a REAL one. I should probably put together a new thread showing the differences between a real one and one of the reproductions.

It was originally designed in 1856 by US Navy Admiral John A. B. Dahlgren for use aboard his ship, the USS Plymouth. This knife replaced the saber-style (yataghan blade) bayonet that went with the Whitney rifle issued to the Navy.
Admiral Dahlgren really wanted a boarding knife for hand-to-hand fighting, but he knew he couldn't get the Navy to approve one, so he designed a Bowie knife style bayonet since he knew he could get a bayonet approved. Politics. One of the first, if not THE first, knife blade bayonet.
To my knowledge, most of the Dahlgren bayonets were never finished out to actually mount on the rifles. Dahlgren wanted a fighting knife so he got one. It just so happened to have a bayonet mounting ring attached.
It was originally designed in 1856 by US Navy Admiral John A. B. Dahlgren for use aboard his ship, the USS Plymouth. This knife replaced the saber-style (yataghan blade) bayonet that went with the Whitney rifle issued to the Navy.
Admiral Dahlgren really wanted a boarding knife for hand-to-hand fighting, but he knew he couldn't get the Navy to approve one, so he designed a Bowie knife style bayonet since he knew he could get a bayonet approved. Politics. One of the first, if not THE first, knife blade bayonet.
To my knowledge, most of the Dahlgren bayonets were never finished out to actually mount on the rifles. Dahlgren wanted a fighting knife so he got one. It just so happened to have a bayonet mounting ring attached.