Need help with date for this Russell

[bocaj]

I need someone to help me date this knife. Pretty good shape. Does the sheath help to date

[Case V42]

According to my trusty old Levine's Guide, Abercrombie & Fitch (established 1892) claimed the "Thistle Top" was their design and J. Russell made the knives A&F sold. The knives were available in either 4.5 or 6 inch models, and some were marked for A&F and some weren't.
"... the thistle top hunter must stand as one of the first mass produced sheath knives designed specifically for hunting as a sport. It's popularity lasted only until the middle 1910s , by which time it was supplanted by the more practical Marble's..."
I have three thistle tops made by Union Cutlery and one of those is tang stamped KA-BAR, so that knife was made no earlier than the early 1920s. I guess that gives you a range of a couple of decades.

[bocaj]

Thanks. Great info

[Miller Bro's]

That looks like the 6" blade, which is much harder to find

[bocaj]

Yes it is thanks. So does the above comment date this knife marked j Russell at 1910 era ??

[Case V42]

Can't have been made before 1892 because that is when Abercrombie & Fitch started, and according to them, they designed it. That style of knife sort of faded away by the mid teens, but a few were made into the 1920s. So, the knife was made in the period between 1892 and 1925. From my limited knowledge, trying to pick a smaller date range would be impossible.

[Gunsil]

Abercrombie &Fitch only claimed to be the originators of the pattern but Levine says it may have been an English design originally. It is generally accepted that these are early 1900s. They will also be found made by Joseph Rodgers, George Wostenholm, Joseph Allen, all English makers.

[bocaj]

Thanks for your help