All About Pocket Knives

I picked up this monster J. Russell a while back and I cant seem to find out much about it. I think it's a clip point bowie. Can anyone give me some insight as to age, knife type, collectibility, possible value, and so on. The blade alone measures almost a foot just for reference. Thanks guys.

This one has me wondering. I haven't seen but a couple of large Russell fixed blades but those had full width tangs and slab sides.This one looks like it has a carving knife handle attached. I can't imagine having a knife with a blade nearly a foot long and having such a fragile looking handle. Just my opinion.

I can't imagine having a knife with a blade nearly a foot long and having such a fragile looking handle.

I tend to agree, however here is a similar Green River Works Russell Bowie with a stag handle (though this handle looks a little beefier). It sold in 2017 for $400, below the auction estimate of $600 - $1,200. http://www.icollector.com/Original-J-Ru ... _i26428265

Dennis

As far as I know J. Russell never made any genuine period Bowie knives. They did make hidden tang Bowie hunting knives. The Bowie posted from the auction looks to be a fake similar to the original post knife.

I am not a Bowie knife collector but I do have several period Bowie knives to include one with an extremely light and fragile hidden tang mother of pearl handle. A true advanced collector described this knife as “a fishing lure designed to catch fishermen” In other words a knife designed to catch the greenhorn going to the western frontier.

deo-pa wrote:

I can't imagine having a knife with a blade nearly a foot long and having such a fragile looking handle.

I tend to agree, however here is a similar Green River Works Russell Bowie with a stag handle (though this handle looks a little beefier). It sold in 2017 for $400, below the auction estimate of $600 - $1,200. http://www.icollector.com/Original-J-Ru ... _i26428265

Dennis

I believe that one was also deemed a fake as well.I don't remember ever seeing any Russell bowie knives. The fixed blades I recall are a thistle handled hunting knife with about a 5" blade (I have one made for Iver Johnson sporting Goods in Boston)and several wooden handled kitchen styled knives.

Russell made plenty of fine bowie type knives, not just the thistle top knives, I have owned and sold quite a few over the years. I am in Bradford, PA now, going on a Case factory tour tomorrow and the Little Valley, NY bicentennial celebration Saturday so I cannot photo any of my remaining Russell bowie style knifes in my stash. The knife in question here is also on another thread and deemed a fake as it indeed is. The other Russell in the provided link is also a fake. The OP knife here is now on ebay, and the seller told me it was not fake and it belonged to his grandfather who got it from his father and it could date to the civil war. This knife has a fake Russell blade married to an old carving knife handle and is as fake as the day is long.

Russell Bowie hunter.

Russell thistle top at far left.

2 Iver Johnson Bowie hunters made by Russell.

Wayne

Thistle top describes the handle design shown in your 2nd picture of the 4 knives? Are they defined as a Bowie type as well? Cool old knives, thanks for sharing!

steve99f wrote:Wayne

Thistle top describes the handle design shown in your 2nd picture of the 4 knives? Are they defined as a Bowie type as well? Cool old knives, thanks for sharing!

Yes, thistle top is the name given to the handle design. They are early hunting knives but not Bowie knives or Bowie hunting knives. Most have carved ebony wood handles.

KA-BAR also used this design handle on hunters with more of a Woodcraft style blade. Handles on these were some type of plastic.

Gunsil wrote: The knife in question here is also on another thread and deemed a fake as it indeed is. The other Russell in the provided link is also a fake.The OP knife here is now on ebay, and the seller told me it was not fake and it belonged to his grandfather who got it from his father and it could date to the civil war. This knife has a fake Russell blade married to an old carving knife handle and is as fake as the day is long.

On the other thread he says he got it at an auction

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J. Russell Bowie Questions.. Please help!!
Postby dto1982 » Wed Aug 22, 2018 9:51 pm

Hey guys,

I picked this old stag bowie up at an auction and I'm just trying to find out anything I can about it.

btrwtr wrote:

steve99f wrote:Wayne

Thistle top describes the handle design shown in your 2nd picture of the 4 knives? Are they defined as a Bowie type as well? Cool old knives, thanks for sharing!

Yes, thistle top is the name given to the handle design. They are early hunting knives but not Bowie knives or Bowie hunting knives. Most have carved ebony wood handles.

KA-BAR also used this design handle on hunters with more of a Woodcraft style blade. Handles on these were some type of plastic.

Yeah Wayne, and KA-BAR also made one just like the Russell ones which they called the "Northeaster", and another one with a fullered clip point blade called "Deerslayer". The (I hate to use the term Woodcraft) one is called "Kamper".

Gunsil wrote:
Yeah Wayne, and KA-BAR also made one just like the Russell ones which they called the "Northeaster", and another one with a fullered clip point blade called "Deerslayer". The (I hate to use the term Woodcraft) one is called "Kamper".

Here is one marked Union Cutlery Co. Olean NY and the blade etch(very hard to read) says Dardevle whatever that is.

Dang K7K, I like that one!! I have them marked Union Cut, Olcut, KA-BAR, and Folsom, all etched KAMPER and the sheaths have the same in the leather. I have not before seen the Dardevle etch.

Gunsil wrote:Dang K7K, I like that one!! I have them marked Union Cut, Olcut, KA-BAR, and Folsom, all etched KAMPER and the sheaths have the same in the leather. I have not before seen the Dardevle etch.

Thank you sir. I tried to take some pictures of the etch but didn't have much luck.It is written fairly large in script and goes almost the full length of the blade.I found out that the name is a brand of fishing lure made by the Eppinger Co. of Dearborn Michigan(about 50 miles from where I live!).Sent them an e-mail to see if they had any info on when they contracted Union Cutlery to have them made. Doubt I will find out though as I have had poor luck trying to find info on many products.

I have used Dardevle lures in the past and was wondering if there was a relation. Pretty cool.