All About Pocket Knives

I have a Case 5288 stag half Congress. What is the American Blade connection? Does the knife have value beyond being a nice 5288? Thanks for steering me in the right direction. Will add a pic later, don't have one on this Galaxy

This American Blade is made in Japan and stamped Chattanooga, Tn. , which along with the date would indicate Parker or a Parker/Frost collaboration. Smooth Bone Stag I believe is composition and was also used by Frost cutlery. Both Parker and Frost also used the flying eagle logo. If I'm not entirely right, I'm sure others will know exactly.

American Blade Collectors assoc started after Jim Parker and J. Bruce Voyles bought the American Blade magazine. Later on Voyles bought Parker out. I know they sold annual knives and some special runs.
Contact info at this link for Bruce Voyels.
http://www.jbrucevoyles.com/

This info is from "THE OFFICIAL 1985 PRICE GUIDE TO COLLECTOR KNIVES" by Jim Parker . The current book value is $150 (with etch) and $200 without etch . I find that you are lucky to get 1/2 of today's book value for these knives in the current economy .
Bob

Thank you, I knew an answer would be along shortly....man, I gotta get one of those books. Always nice to learn more about these pretty pieces of steel, bone, antler, etc.

Here is a Frost with same type handles. Also made in Japan.

Somehow, I doubt that Case 5288 was made in Japan.

Charlie Noyes

RobesonsRme.com wrote:Somehow, I doubt that Case 5288 was made in Japan.

Charlie Noyes

Charlie , you'd be surprised how many people try to convince me that Case knives are now made in China !
Bob

I was referring to the two knives that I pictured; the American Blade trapper and the Frost melon tester. The trapper is stamped Japan and the tester is ink stamped Japan.The clip on the trapper is stamped American Blade Chattanooga Tn.

American Blade Co. Life Knife. 5 blade sowbelly given away with a lifetime subscription to the Blade magazine

nice,

Very nice MOP and abalone Sowbelly

Wow! That IS nice,Ray.

Buck, I'm sorry. I read your post on my cell phone and read the first word, "This" as "The" instead.

So I thought you were referencing all American Blade knives as having been made in Japan.

I guess that five blade sowbelly gift for the purchase of a "lifetime membership" was a good thing, because it is now the only thing left of such an investment.

I once paid up-front for a series of five price guides that American Blade planned to publish. They only did two before they dissolved. Bruce Voyles did make good on a resolution to my failed investment, however.

Charlie Noyes

No sweat Charlie. I find myself reading things two or three times and still I may not get it right. I didn't even notice that Steel's example was a Case until you referenced it. I do have new glasses coming next week. LOL

robinetn wrote:This info is from "THE OFFICIAL 1985 PRICE GUIDE TO COLLECTOR KNIVES" by Jim Parker . The current book value is $150 (with etch) and $200 without etch . I find that you are lucky to get 1/2 of today's book value for these knives in the current economy .
Bob

Curious if the "current book value" was taken from that same 30 year old book the info came from, when the knife was but 3 years old---it now being 35 years after manufacture, and still mint, unused, unsharpened, uncarried? That would significantly impact current value, in my mind...

I think Jim Parker putting a "collector" value on a knife in who's manufacture he was involved and probably remained in possession of such inventory, is dubious at best.

I never agreed with the inclusion of Parker Cutlery Co knives in the Official Price Guide to Pocketknives that he wrote for several years.

Charlie Noyes