Mystery Uncle Henry

[nmikash]

I have recently acquired this Uncle Henry Model 897 and it has several odd characteristics. First, the handle scales are all dark brown with extremely high bumps and ridges, at the edges they're slightly taller than the bolsters. The bumps' location do match another 897UH I have. Second, the blades are all unfinished, no edges. Third the master blade has a different finish than the other two, it lookslike its bead blasted or matte compared to the polished look of the other two. Fourth the liners have a very sharp edge to them with some small thin brass filaments/shavings still present. Finally the bolsters have sharp squared off edges. The tang stamp seems appropriate in comparison to other 897UH I own.

Ok this is my theory, let me know what you think. I'm guessing that this was an unfinished knife perhaps left over from the factory closing, which would explain all the rough edges, the handle scales, and unsharpened blades. It does not however account for the differences between blade finish. Check out the pics and see what you think.
Thanks, Nick

[El Lobo]

I'd say you're on the right track.
Rather than an unfinished knife though, I'd probably call it an "End of Days" ...(right after closing, hurrying to get anything out the door before the auction with no real QC)... or maybe a "Parts" knife assembled by someone else after the fact, with whatever might fit...(it's rumored that there were something like 9 truckloads of work in progress/repairs/parts that were sold). These are showing up on eBay pretty regularly, as "One of a Kind"..."Rare".."From XZX's Collection".

Whatever.

That's not to say there isn't some normal inventory showing up ...(lots of blank ivory Delrin stuff that was in inventory for special order scrimming, for instance)...as there are some legitimate buys out there. But there is a TON of cobbled together stuff as well.

JMO, of course.

Bill

[nmikash]

Thanks for the response Bill.