All About Pocket Knives

Awesome knife Joe!

Way to go Joe!

Thanks very much for your comments, guys.

I got this Challenge folding hunter last summer, one of my best finds

Great knives all, love that shield!

Nice one PD.I have a near mint one in my collection also.Likely posted on this thread someplace.I have seen and own/owned several other tang stamped etched Challenge made coke bottles.They are easy to identify from the shield.

Real nice Challenge Hunter PD .. they don’t get much better than that example!!

Western States 4" Closed Stag Punch Stockman. All blades stamped both front & back. Neat Etching out on Master that says (((Porter Prize) across the top in a curved fashion, Then Premium (Steer logo) Stock, Bottom line says N. Porter Co Phoenix, Ariz.

Apparently This was a Give away Prize Knife by The N. Porter Saddlery and Harness Company. Awesome American History here
https://www.vintagegunleather.com/compa ... story.html
Kindest Regards,
Mark

Ratlesnake75,,, just seen your post on the Western States 4" Stockman,, first of I love Stockman's especially those 4" and up pieces, punches, those tang stamps are just knockout, and then we get to that one of a kind blade etching just great. And then top it off with that History,,,, That piece has got it going on,,,,,,,,,, Tom

Thanks so Much Tom!!! I sure do like it & out of the tons of Antique knives we see daily, Hard enough to find a decent Western States knife much less in this caliber.
Kindest Regards,
Mark

I just saw this knife now. I never see Western States in such fine condition and actually rarely seem in any condition. Absolute Top Notch find Mark.
kj

Hey ROLAND, Thank you so much Brother for the Wonderful words!!!
Kindest Regards & Blessings my friend
Mark

This is abit different of an etch but I'll post this example to share with all. The knife is an Edward Barnes & Sons Sheffield dagger (dirk pending your definition) circa 1850s-early 60s OAL 9”– scabbard is not original but my understanding is period correct in terms of a crafted replacement - the collar appears to be original based on fit and similarity to known others, but a skilled individual constructed this wooden scabbard from hollowed halves of wood – it is solid, very functional and the dagger fits perfectly in all ways.. One can see some old hand made nails used as pins in the construction – really old time craftsmanship. Scabbards of that time were ruined by water as they were essentially a type of cardboard and accordingly rain destroyed alot of them despite the fact some had thin pig skin or Moroccan leather as the outer layer… The assumption is the original scabbard was ruined and the collar was pulled to make another scabbard to carry the dagger… In fact the replacement scabbard was probably partly responsible for the etch being in such good shape – the blade slides into the wooden scabbard perfectly without any rub – I quite like the character of this wooden scabbard… Anyway knife itself is in excellent condition/shape and considered only lightly sharpened…

The etch is no doubt very detailed and depicts a common slogan during the Civil War period – “Americans Pride – Equal Rights – Equal Laws & Justice” … This etch has a different look about it and almost seems embossed – I believe this is an acid etch but perhaps a bit different technique than those applied to most pocket knife blades.. If I’m not mistaken – and if you have a different understanding please correct me - the pattern was created on a copper plate using a acid-resistant wax where an artist, maybe a calligrapher using a sharp pen did the original lettering with scroll design on the plate - subsequently this copper template was affixed to the blade to create the acid etch… Some but not all of the bowies and daggers of those days were etched with many slogans for the Mexican War, Gold Rush, Civil War, etc..

I tried to include a few different photos of the etch and get some macro views to see the detail well… The full etch will be followed by a few close-ups… Click to enlarge for a better view...

Great knife, Lee. Very period design and etch, I would say.

Thanks Mel ...

Lee it fits the thread just find.

Very cool knife and great write-up Lee.

Thanks Roger and Mike ...

That's an awesome dirk/dagger LongBlade
A piece of history in general, love the tang stamp too with the nautical-ish star

Thanks PD ... The history of these knives from this period of time no doubt was at least half the reason my trigger was tripped big time when I bought it... The Barnes trademark on the tang is cool - in fact even in the 1800s Barnes sent out a warning and reward to identify those trying to impinge on their trademark...

Just as an aside - I am really intrigued by the bowies and daggers and that period of history but I can’t emphasize enough that fakes and counterfeits abound and many of which were made in the 1970s or so (and because of that many look tarnished and aged , and some of which have fooled even some of the most experienced collectors) - just as bad as Case knives if not worse - so one needs to really do their homework when chasing them...

Nice knife and scabbard, Lee, and great text.

Thanks Joe ...

I was fortunate enough to see and handle Mark's stag western states stockman in person at the tulsa show, it's a fantastic old knife.


This is one I had and sold recently. An old utica with no stamp and just an etch. It had some very cool winterbottom bone handles that were mostly black in color. The blade was ground very thin, it cut like you wouldn't believe.

Paul, I like that Kutmaster etch, very nice.

Just received this early Camillus with a nice Sword Brand etch.

John