All About Pocket Knives

Some of the old Marbles fixed blades had a huge swage or "blood groove." What was the purpose of this? I've always admired the style, just never known why they did it.

And yes, I bought a knife (not a Marbles) and am now wondering . . .

Thanks,
Jim

coffeecup:
You will find lots of brands of knives have as you and many others call it a blood groove. In actuality it is called a fuller, during the war years these were included on virtually all military knives. One of the reasons being was to save steel. Consider that a contract for a hundred thousand knives saving two ounces of steel per knife would save over 12 thousand pounds of metal that could be used for the war effort for other items.
What would that equate to you think? Maybe three, four or five Jeep bodies. Not an insignificant amount.
My opinion and i'm sticking with it.
moss

I've heard that story too. However, most of those fullers were swedged or forged into the blade so it wouldn't really save much if any steel.

Another story I've heard that it was easier to withdraw a knife, sword, or bayonet from a body if the blood grooves were in the blade.

W

Owd Wullie wrote:I've heard that story too. However, most of those fullers were swedged or forged into the blade so it wouldn't really save much if any steel.

Another story I've heard that it was easier to withdraw a knife, sword, or bayonet from a body if the blood grooves were in the blade.

W

That's what I've always heard too Willie. The groove breaks the suction.

When you forge the fuller , you actually widen the blade , therefore you can start with a more narrow piece of steel . The fuller lightens the weight of the knife while adding to the strength of the blade ( not unlike the characteristic of an I-Beam ) . I feel that strength and versatility (ease of handling) is the primary function of the fuller (especially for the large sword-type knives) .

Bob R. (RIDGEWOOD CUTLERY)

An article on the subject I once came across:

http://www.agrussell.com/Articles/a/106/

GOSH!!!!
moss

What Joe Talmadge said !

Bob R.

HERE IS A MARBLES' WITH A REAL "FULLER".

I agree with ya on the steel saving WB with other brand knives.
But as far as the Ideal is concerned, in 1899 Webster Marble came out with the Ideal,
and he made the big fuller to save weight.
That is in one of my Marble's books
Real nice Ideal there Ben
Will

Nice stag on stag Ideal Hunter, jacknifeben! I have a couple Marbles myself with one MSA Co. on the way. Hope it actually has a tip.

More like if it doesn't.

Nice knives...Ideals are high on my favorites list.

By the way, that fuller / suction myth is just a joke based on someone's imagination.Obviously, if you can't visualize the function of a certain attribute an item possesses, it's time for fantasy to fill in the gaps.

Wullie I'm in agreement with your explanation. I also agree with an explanation I heard of it being a way to let air get in the wound & allow the blood to flow more free.

A.G. is one of Levine's stooges and that sounds like it came right out of the horse's (or should that be ass's? HEeeHAaw!!) mouth.

I just can't see them having so much trouble with blade weakness that they had to redesign the whole knife to make it stronger.

Them little Jap's & Kraut's hide ain't that thick!

Finally have the old Marbles fixed blade in hand, 6 5/8" blade, right at 11" overall. It does have the M.S.A. Co., Gladstone, Mich. USA ricasso stamp, making it at least 100 years old from what I have ready.

Supposedly Marbles changed to the standard Roller Coaster logo stamp in 1911. Also has the 1/2 brass pommel nut. Just took some surface rust off using a Miracle Cloth, too bad some jack___ used a grinder to sharpen it at some point. My Dad did the same thing to a 70's Pic hunting knife I have.

Redrider, that full guard Ideal in the middle of your one pic is just a beauty
when I see an Ideal like that I gotta watch out that I do not
short out the key-board with my drool !!!
Will
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/clearcreekknives

Thanks!

Nice collection of Marbles knives

I like Marbles stuff too