All About Pocket Knives

Just Picked this up on Ebay.What do you think?Is this a tougher one to come by??I cant seem to find it in my book,what is the design# and approximate value in mint??(description says it is mint)we shall see:)Let me know what ya"ll think,thanks in advance!!! Merry CHRISTmas Dave

VERY COOL BULLET.

MERRY CHRISTMAS,
SINGIN47

It is an AG Russell Catt. He has used that particular bullet shield before; they are on a couple of his texas toothpicks I've picked up over the years. Let us know the complete tang markings, please. Mostly likely made in Japan in the eighties or nineties. I seem to recall several different handles on this particular issue.

I know AG is one of the finest men in the knife business, but I really dislike the recycling of old, classic brand names. Jim Parker probably took it to the lowest extremes.

Phil

gosh,i hope not,nowhere in the auction description did it say anything about A.G Russell or being made in japan.What to do,what to do??Ive e-mailed the seller asking him what the tang reads.I have not mailed payment out as of yet. I will not have a fake catt in my collection,i can tell you that,i should have done my research better?? Let me know what ya'll think on this knife and what i should do, thanks Dave

You are not the first to be taken in by this recycling of old names, and you won't be the last. I had a friend call me once just about peeing his pants because he'd found a mint condition Marbles safety folder for sale in an antique shop for $30. Good reason for that, it was a modern Jim Parker repro. And probably daily on ebay, people buy what they hope is a bargain priced, mint condition, old classic Betram (AG again), PineKnot (Parker) or something similar.

Protect yourself; Study, study, study old catalogs and references. Handle and study old knives in person. Look at the knife and ask yourself: "Why did I win this mint condition old Catt for $35????" It is the height of hubris to think you are the only one that saw this on the auction site at that cheap a price. As BR Levine constantly says, "Read the knife, not the markings". Note the little things. An example is your new Catt: That original company ceased production in 1963. Is there anything about that modern lockback with the bullet shield that looks 40+ years old?

Here is a pic of some AG Russell, Springdale ARK, Japan made Catts. At least one of them was an issue from his 'Knife collectors club'. All four of them sold for less than one original old Cattaraugus in 'Good' condition.

Knowledge is Power.

Phil

JRFAN1, Call the seller and tell him what you have found out. Don't take the knife!

Stockman

Believe me, most of us have made the same mistake on Ebay.
IMO, it is a good and not terribly expensive lesson and it is not like you will end up with zero. It isn't a bad knife, it just isn't an authentic old Cattaraugus knife.
You'll have a good reminder of the lesson every time you pick up the knife. You can eventually sell it or use it for trade here or at a show.

Ray

if the seller did not misrepresent the knife,then he should pay the man.a bid on ebay is entering into a contract.Now if the seller misrepresented, then that is another story, but if you enter an agreement with someone,you should honor your commitment.thats my 2c.

Recycling of defunct cutlery brand names is not a new phenomenon. New York Knife went out of business in 1932. In 1936 Imperial acquired NYK’s Hammer Brand name and used it mainly on their less expensive shell handled knives. I am sure there are other historical examples of this as well.

There were probably more Hammer Brand knives made by Imperial than were made by NYK.

Dale

just to keep everyone up to date,the seller replied and basically said yes it was from 1984-1990 and was made in japan also saying IF YOU DONT WANT THE KNIFE LET ME KNOW AND CONSIDER THIS AN EDUCATION,I WAS NOT TRYING TO DECEIVE CONSIDERING THE BULLET SHIELD,LET ME KNOW.Hmmm....i dont know,being a newer colllector i guess it was partially my fault not knowing,BUT why didnt he put that information in the auction detail,when he knew all the info,and the tang stamp just so happened not to be visable and no attempt was made to take a better pic of the tang stamp,he has sold plenty of knifes in the past having 99% of them pictured with a clear pic of the tang stampings,now what happens from here on out with ebay??Im not taking the knife as i said before i will not have a non original catts in my collection,Let me know what ya"ll think. thanks Dave

give us a link to the auction. easier to make a call that way.