Page 1 of 6
Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:54 am
by Miller Bro's
Anyone here have any old ones?
They are hard to find in good condition. I have a few that are well worn or broken.
If you have any let`s see `em

Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:20 am
by Bret888
I will start off for ya. Knifegirl888 has previously posted these elsewhere. We don't have many of these, but here are two that are a handful.
A Case red bone & a Union Cutlery Co. Tidioute, PA
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:31 am
by gmusic
Scott King would wrestle ya for those Brett! Very nice!
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:53 am
by Miller Bro's
Bret,
A couple of beauties!

Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:54 am
by BIGHEAD
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:36 am
by knifeaholic
Napanoch Knife Co
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:18 am
by FRJ
Man, there are some great toes here.
Here's a few.
Now,................these newer looking toes have me stumped as to age; they have the old style stamp, but don't look old.
Stainless blades? I haven't looked into them much. I just like owning them and packing them. Sometimes I can't believe I have such nice knives.
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:58 am
by robinetn
I was going to show this one closed , but I went ahead and ruptured another thumbnail and opened it .
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:04 am
by Bret888
Thanks guys, there are some beauties here already, and I hope we see more.
Steve, that Napanoch is awesome! That has to be a rare bird in any condition, let alone one that nice!
FRJ, That Marshall Wells is a beauty too! Any idea who made it?
I have a set of 3 of those Ka-Bars, that were too good a deal to pass up. They were a set of 3, sold through the Kabar collectors club, that I think is now a thing of the past? I will get them out tomorrow. They had 3 different handle materials, and 3 different tang stamps I think.
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 4:28 am
by FRJ
Hi Bret,
thank you. I hope you will put up some pictures of your KA-BARS. That is interesting info. on them.
I don't know who made the Marshall Wells. They were a large hardware business years ago.
I remember them in Spokane, Wa. when I lived there. I didn't connect the two until a little research on the knife reminded me. I wish I knew who made that knife. It's called a "ZENITH", which I thought was missing from the tang, but later realized it was indeed stamped so. Covered mostly by the bolster.
You guys sure have some beautiful knives.
I hope more show up.
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:51 am
by Miller Bro's
Nice knives
Anyone else have some to show?

Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:34 am
by ObsidianEdge
I love that Napanoch. I also like the ones with double pulls on the main blades.
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:50 am
by theblindog
robinetn wrote:I was going to show this one closed , but I went ahead and ruptured another thumbnail and opened it .
this is a beauty!

what year is it sir?
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:20 am
by Bret888
Here are a couple old sad ones, but I like them anyway. Tested XX & W.R. Case.
Also, the Ka-Bar's that are just like FRJ's, with the wallet they came in from 1986.
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:10 am
by Jacknifeben
Here is my CATT. and H.S.B. I don't open both blades at the same time.
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:12 am
by FRJ
Bret,
thanks for showing those knives; KA-BAR and Union, and so forth. And the wallet. It's so great to see the same knives.
That black KA-BAR is the same as mine. Don't you think that knife is tough s...? I love mine. And it's razor sharp, and will hold up in a tough grind.
I have some knives that are compromised. Scruffy, if you will. But I care for them very much. like your toes, I have affection for all my pieces.
I don't trade, I don't sell, I accumulate.
I see that you and your companion have some very desirable pieces. All the best to you, her, and your familys.
EDIT]And jacknifeben contributes before me, but I will have the honor of taking second place to him at any time.
Such wondrerful knives, always.
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:19 am
by robinetn
theblindog wrote:robinetn wrote:I was going to show this one closed , but I went ahead and ruptured another thumbnail and opened it .
this is a beauty!

what year is it sir?
Thank you ... W.R. CASE & SON'S (1905 - 1914)
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 5:31 am
by RobesonsRme.com
I only have one, a pre-WWII Robeson swell-center with two backsprings and what appear to be some salesman sample numbers on the back of the master blade.
Charlie Noyes
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 9:52 am
by Bret888
Thanks FRJ. These Ka-Bar's have SF86 on the back of the tangs. Do yours? I thought they were exactly the same, but at least one is different, with the wormgrooves? I have picked up a couple other patterns of Ka-Bar collector knives from the 80's & 90's, and I really like them. I think they are a lot of knife for the money.
Jben, I remember that Catt, but I don't remember the HSB. Who would have guessed you would have some nice ones??? The old Tested that has both blades at half-stop, has a very weak spring, and no snap. No danger of breaking the spring on that old girl.
Charlie, I forgot about that 2 backspring Robeson too. I still don't think I have seen another 2 spring toe?
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 4:43 pm
by FRJ
Bret, the three knives I have: the two KA-BARS and the Union Cut. Co., do have sf86 stamped on the back of main blade tang. Does that suggest that they were from a kit like yours?
I bought them at three different auctions on E-bay.
Thanks.
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 4:59 am
by Bret888
I don't know much about the club, I was not into knives back then. Maybe some members here were members of the Ka-Bar collectors? I haven't found much info on it, and when it ceased to exist?
I bet those toes were sold individually, or as a set, but I am not sure?
This is one that I saw at a gunshow a year ago? I told Kathy I really liked it, but hated to spend the money for it. About 20 minutes later, she met up with me and said "look what I got you".

Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 5:07 pm
by FRJ
That's a fine looking knife.
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 3:59 pm
by Bret888
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 4:33 pm
by Tom Hudson
I had a collection i sold. I believe i had a total of 68 Toenails in that collection. From Case Bros. thru dot. I had a pile of dot Cases that i had customized - I would say at 50 of them i had replace the scales - many were engraved - pearl, Masterdon, - elephant Ivory, Hippo Ivory, bone, Sambar Stag, Horn - I miss that collection - so there's a bunch out there with my name on them someplace - tom
Re: Old Elephant Toenails/Sunfish Pattern Knives
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 1:35 am
by just in case
My sunfish.