cattaraugus ?

trappinia · Post by **trappinia** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 3:23 pm

My dad gave me a cattaraugus 12839 with 2 little dice in the stag handle . I have been told that the dice were an after market add on , and they detract from the value. I have also been told they are original and they add to the value. can anyone help please. Thanks in advance.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 5:19 pm

I believe that the 9 at the end of the pattern number is for a bone handle. A stag handle would be a 5. So, if your knife has stag scales...it sounds like aftermarket work.

If it's the BIG folding Hunter (5 3/8" ??) it is a desireable pattern. Don't really know what to say about helping or hurting the value. It might depend on who did the work, I guess.

If the scales ARE in fact bone....well, I don't know about the dice. Sorry.

Anybody else have an idea??

Bill

trappinia · Post by **trappinia** » Sun Dec 18, 2005 6:11 pm

sorry I thought bone and stag were the same thing , I did look it up and 9 does mean bone. The knife is in mint condition it looks like it has only been sharpend a few times.

remington collector · Post by **remington collector** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 1:12 am

If it has been sharpened a few times, I would not consider it mint. Near mint maybe, the original 12839 lock back hunter books for $750 in one of my books. You probably should have a knowledgable knife person to give you a hands on appraisl of this knife.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Mon Dec 19, 2005 3:36 am

I would agree that if it has been sharpened, it was most likely carried and used, and would not be anywhere near "MINT" in the eyes of any collector.
Mint is unused...often new in the box with papers, or at least best of class.
It may still be a very nice knife, and you may want to avail yourself of someone like Bernard Levine's services.....
http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/appr-k.htm

Just a possibility.

Bill

EDITED: The above opinion doesn't mean that people all over the internet don't misuse the term mint, as they surely do...particularly on eBay. Just because a knife may have been lightly carried/used, doesn't mean it couldn't still carry the potential for value to another collector. Heck, I'm pretty sure that Jim Bowie's knife was used, but man, who wouldn't want it??

JMO.