Moki, Mcusta, Al Mar and other Seki Made Knives

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Mark, that lovely teal knife sure didn't take long to sell. I went to your store to see it. Then purused the rest of your inventory. Went back to the top to pull the trigger on the teal and it was gone.

Well good news it’s still for sale. Someone must have had it in their cart and changed their mind. Come on back!

[eveled]

Mark, that lovely teal knife sure didn't take long to sell. I went to your store to see it. Then purused the rest of your inventory. Went back to the top to pull the trigger on the teal and it was gone.

Well good news it’s still for sale. Someone must have had it in their cart and changed their mind. Come on back!

I didn’t know that could happen. I just went and checked my cart and emptied it.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I didn’t know that either but I am glad it works like this. It is frustrating to shop, view cart, and checkout to find what you wanted sold. I know that TKC is now keeping items in your cart to check out so this doesn’t happen when you shop there. They will get more of my business doing this.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Mcusta has released their new “Custom Series” for 2019. Below are pictures of the 3 new ones. They have also released a JKD special, limited to only JKD. The bottom two are “Urushi Art” Knives. Limited to only 50 pieces each. These aren’t cheap at 390 each. But when you read the description of how these are made, you can understand why. The following is the description from the JKD website: “It has been almost 5 years since Mcusta has last released Custom Artist series. During these years, we have received many inquiries of next release, but Mcusta factory was too busy with regular model production. However, we did not forget your requests and have been working with Japanese traditional Urushi lacquered handle out of Japanese Maple wood. The selected Japanese Maple wood has some stripe woodgrains, but it is not visible on the natural white color, but multiple layers of Urushi lacquers make it coming out beatifully. This is a time consuming work of art with repeated brushing Urushi lacquer and dry process.

It took several months to receive 50 pairs each of Black and Brown handles from the Urushi Artist. Mcusta has prepared VG-10 San Mai blade with Japanese tradition Tsuchime (hammered textures) and Katana's Hamon pattern to perfectly match with the Urushi Art handle.

Each blade is marked with Mcusta logo and red Rakuin on front, and URUSHI ART 漆, Limited Edition of 50 on back. The serial numbers of "001-050" are engraved on blade tang. Each knife comes with presentation Leather case, that can also display the knife on top.“

I might just have found what I want for Christmas.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Got this Cattaraugus Cutlery in the mail today. I am excited about this knife. It’s surprisingly heavy for a Seki made knife. The bone handles are immaculate. Suppose to be brown but these look more red to me. The pins, liners and bolsters are all nickel silver. The backsprings are mirror polished on the outside, never seen that before and I love it, it looks great. The blades are AUS8 and are satin polished. The main blade locks and the release is the second blade. You push down on the second blade to unlock it. The run up between blade and backspring are the typical tight tolerance and very snug with no gaps. The screwdriver comes out easily and is not stiff but just the right amount of pull.
Made in 1992 for the Knife Collectors Club ( A.G. Russell). An amazing knife.

[cody6268]

Very nice knife! Kinda like an old German hunter, or even a bartender knife (both of which have used locking blades with secondary/pen blade releases), but with a more practical layout. I could see this as being a perfect EDC for me.

Is the Wharncliffe lock release easy to use?

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Very nice knife! Kinda like an old German hunter, or even a bartender knife (both of which have used locking blades with secondary/pen blade releases), but with a more practical layout. I could see this as being a perfect EDC for me.

Is the Wharncliffe lock release easy to use?

Yes it is. It doesn’t take a large amount of pressure to get the blade to disengage, but it does feel solid when engaged.
I was thinking the same thing about a good EDC, But I don’t have a need for this bigger blade most of the time. This is a knife that would last a lifetime, it’s that well built. I actually bought this to resell, but after handling it, I just don’t know if I can turn it lose. Japanese knives are my favorites.
And it is called a hunter. Since it’s a hunter, can you tell me what the screwdriver is for? Is that for working on a gun?

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Here is a picture of the back side of the knife. I forgot to post it earlier. I am impressed with how nice the pile side looks.

[Montanaman]

Here is a picture of the back side of the knife. I forgot to post it earlier. I am impressed with how nice the pile side looks.

Nice one! That is classic A.G. Russell bone, have seen it on Bose knives too.

[WillyCamaro]

Third that. Very nice looking, old school design. Bone is especially good looking on that one.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Thanks guys that bone and color really are something. Just bought another one that does look brown in the pictures and it’s from 2 years earlier 1990. Looking forward to getting it as well. After handling this one, I am going to start picking up these Japanese Cattaraugus Knives when I can. If they are all made this well, then these are extremely overlooked and underrated in the collector’s world.
My first experience with Cattaraugus knives is with the small bullet lockback, which is a very light and precise Japanese made knife. I just didn’t realize the heft and great “in hand” feel these bigger knives had. I’m very impressed.

[kennedy knives]

Good looking Knife you need a Sub Heading on the main Page for Moki, Mcusta, AL-Mar And other Seki Made Knives

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Agreed Gary. Although it seems like I do most of the posting on this one, so maybe that’s why it hasn’t been moved to it’s own subgroup.
Here is another Cattaraugus I just picked up. I’m on the hunt for these now. This is a sleeve board Whittler made for the KCC for A.G. Russell, made in Seki Japan. I am loving the mirror polish on the backsprings on all these knives. The polishing on all these is superb, on blades, bolsters and backsprings. Only problem is, it’s easy to smudge, reminds me of my lenses on my glasses.
I included a picture of the backsprings with the reflection of the box off the surface.

[Quick Steel]

Very refined. It strikes me as elegant.

[WillyCamaro]

Man, another superb example there Mark .
I think these are some of the best looking knives I've ever seen, as good as GEC's best Tidioute releases. Might need to pick up myself a couple in the future, as I need more knives .

[kootenay joe]

What would be the ultimate is to find an original Cattaraugus of the same pattern in top condition. Even though pattern might be identical pocket knives somehow have personalities and the presence given off by an old USA made knife is different from a recent Japan made knife. Nothing to do with which is 'better' just fascinating that they would seem different, demonstrable if you had an example of each.
This pattern is deeper than the usual sleeveboard. I am not sure what it is called other than whittler maybe "sleeveboard baby sunfish whittler" ?
oh, nice knife too !
kj

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Got another Cattaraugus Hunter. This one does have brown jigged bone handles. It was made 2 years earlier than the red one posted a few days ago.
These Cattaraugus knives are all over the top.

[kennedy knives]

Got another Cattaraugus Hunter. This one does have brown jigged bone handles. It was made 2 years earlier than the red one posted a few days ago.
These Cattaraugus knives are all over the top.

I agree

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I picked up another Mcusta MC 37 this week. I posted all the MC 3 series earlier in this thread. This is the first time I have been able to acquire one to offer for resale. I love this knife. It’s my favorite of the MC 3 series. The handle is made of 33 layer Damascus stainless. Blade is San Mai VG 10 core stainless. A fantastic knife.

[kennedy knives]

I picked up another Mcusta MC 37 this week. I posted all the MC 3 series earlier in this thread. This is the first time I have been able to acquire one to offer for resale. I love this knife. It’s my favorite of the MC 3 series. The handle is made of 33 layer Damascus stainless. Blade is San Mai VG 10 core stainless. A fantastic knife.

[Quick Steel]

The Japanese productions seem to come from another dimension.

[1fartsmella]

What would be the ultimate is to find an original Cattaraugus of the same pattern in top condition. Even though pattern might be identical pocket knives somehow have personalities and the presence given off by an old USA made knife is different from a recent Japan made knife. Nothing to do with which is 'better' just fascinating that they would seem different, demonstrable if you had an example of each.
This pattern is deeper than the usual sleeveboard. I am not sure what it is called other than whittler maybe "sleeveboard baby sunfish whittler" ?
oh, nice knife too !
kj

Roland, I was just browsing this thread and read your post. I have one of these original Catt Jumbo Whittlers that the A.G. Russell used to model his knife after. This is the Cattaraugus 32959. It has a 100 year old patina, not shinny anymore but the blades are full. This is one of my favorite knives.

[kootenay joe]

Thank you Barry. That really is a beauty. Such an elegant pattern and the condition is perfect & real, never buffed/cleaned.
You have some very fine knives.
kj

[Sharpnshinyknives]

The Japanese productions seem to come from another dimension.

Garry, that’s a good way to describe it. I have no idea how they do it, but they must be very dedicated, obsessed with detail and perfectionists. Plus their designs are amazing too.
On the older Cattaraugus sleeveboard Whittler, I would say they nailed the reproduction of that one.

[Sharpnshinyknives]

When I set my attention on something to collect I don’t let moss grow under my feet. Here is another Cattaraugus from A.G.Russell’s KCC. This one is a toothpick. Has an interesting bolster lock. Not the bolster lock that moves the entire bolster but part of the bolster is moveable into a locking position on the blade. I like it but it’s a little difficult to move, unlock most liner locks. It also has the mirror polish on the back-springs, which I love. This is a small toothpick at 3” closed OAL. Again impeccable fit and finish.