ruana knives

[MountainMan]

Here is one I picked up at a garage sale about three weeks ago. It is an "S" stamp skinner. Paid $100 for it and it still has the original sheath.

My understanding is that the "S" stamp means it was made between 56-58. I've been looking for a value on it but can't find any of the old "S" stamps being sold, only the "M" stamps.

[MountainMan]

I grew up in Great Falls and as a kid growing up hunting in Montana, you always wanted to be the one to have one of his knives. Even back in the 80's, we would head down to Scheel's sporting goods on 10th Ave S and see these knives under the glass. Back then they sold for around $150.

[Miller Bro's]

He was proud of that knife. I thought it was the ugliest thing I'd seen and it reminded me of those Mexican knives that you used to see for sale at the tourist traps.

At first glance they look kind of crude, but now that I have one in hand it is a solid knife, the way the handle is cast around the tang and the handles are dovetailed and pinned they are not going anywhere.

Like I said earlier the blade finish leaves something to be desired but the cutting ability of the blade is incredible.

My cousin had the knife in car and his car was broken into and some doper stole the knife.

Oh well.

Too bad, it would have been cool to see his knife Willie

I posted a link a while back on your uncle and he lived quite a life

[MountainMan]

Ok, I can hardly contain myself. I went down to the NWKC show today in Kelso, Wa. with my primary purpose of seeing Frank Towsley who was a personal friend of Rudy Ruana and has one of the largest collections of Ruana knives in the world. Thankfully, as I entered the Red Lion Inn, where the show was taking place, Mr. Towsley's collection was situated in the first conference room. I went in there just in awe at the number and raw beauty of his collection. Anyways, I first meet his assistant and told him how I came across the knife. I explained to him how it all came about up to the point as to how much I paid. When I asked him what he thought the value would be he told me that first I would have to talk to Frank personally and make sure I tell him as well the whole story.

He introduced me to him and I proceeded to tell him (BTW, I ended up telling the story several times today as nobody could believe I paid what I paid). So, he gave me a brief history of the knife itself starting with the stamp. The "S" stamp means that it was saltwater tempered which he did between 1956-58. Rudy was at the time playing around with different tempering techniques. The "M" stamp knives mean they are medium tempered. He went onto explain that my knife is a fairly rare Model 17B with a six inch blade. Apparently Rudy didn't make a lot of 17B's and I was extremely lucky to have one. Anyways, he told me that on Ruana knives that the market has softened over the last three years. At this point I started feeling let down. Boy was I in for a shock.
In my limited research, I estimated that I might get $900-1250 for this knife. Frank wanted to know if I was interested in actually selling the knife. I told him that I had always wanted a Ruana growing up in Montana but if the price was right I might consider it since I am trying to buy tools so I too can start making knives. He said that about three years ago, he saw a 17B "S" sell for $2800 and that if I wanted to insure it, I should value it between $2200-$2500 ( ). According to Franks wife, the look on my face was priceless. He did go on to say that a dealer would probably offer me $1200-1700 for the knife if I NEEDED to sell it.

Frank himself did offer to buy it for $500 plus a couple of new production Ruana blades so that he could put it in his collection. I declined. I thanked him and told him I would be back to buy his book, "The Hammer Still Rings", which I did and he did sign it for me.

I only spent 5 hours at the show but word somehow to a couple of dealers and they both offered me $1200 for the knife. I once again declined.

I just want to thank you guys here because without your knowledge and friendship since Ive been on this board, I may not have gone to that estate sale at the beginning of August and stayed long enough to see this particular Ruana.

[Beechtree]

Wow, GREAT story MountainMan, thats the kind of find you always hope to make at a garage sale. This thread sure is fantastic read. It has beautiful knives, a whole lot of information, and a fantastic story.

[Mossdancer]

Mountain Man:
Somehow we missed connections. It must have been my camouflage AAPK hat, you couldn't see me. I am barely big enough to reach the counter top anyway so it is understandable. I also got to see the display that your talking about, fantastic is an understatement. A great show it was near half again the size of last years. I had other appointments so had to leave at 1PM. Did you catch the Randal display at the end of hallway. The young man had one of the giant bowies for a reasonable price but I told him about a late 40's that I just acquired and it would only take two of those to trade me out of it. He just might come up with something. I did end up buying an early Kershaw boot knife made before their excursion to China. Will put it in the Kershaw forum when I get to it. Maybe we shall meet next year.
Mossdancer