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Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 3:52 pm
by Gone2Three
Howdy y'all, I came across this ol knife and remember reading here about Ivorine scales on some knives.
Looking at this one and it has a shine to it, so was wanting to ask if it's ivory... the real deal
Also the tang stamp looks a little unusual jagged if sorts, perhaps from age. Any thoughts on this one?
Thank you, Randy
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:53 pm
by knife7knut
It looks to be genuine,"pachyderm incisor" to me. As for why the stamp is so disfigured,I can only surmise that it was stamped on an unfinished tang. A word of caution: DO NOT open both blades like that at the same time! It makes it very easy for the back spring to snap in two. Nice old knife.
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:38 pm
by edge213
From the pictures it looks like ivory. Though I've never seen a HSB with ivory.
I don't know what's going on with that tang stamp.
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:44 pm
by Gone2Three
knife7knut wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:53 pm
It looks to be genuine,"pachyderm incisor" to me. As for why the stamp is so disfigured,I can only surmise that it was stamped on an unfinished tang. A word of caution: DO NOT open both blades like that at the same time! It makes it very easy for the back spring to snap in two. Nice old knife.
Appreciate your response
I haven't gained enough experience to distinguish the materials from just looking at it. As for the caution... I have been warned by another member here prior from one of my first few posts of a knife that I brought, so lesson learned the first time lol....
These are the sellers pictures that were sent to me, so I haven't acquired it just yet. I wanted to check with our experts here before pulling the trigger.
The tang stamp has me perplexed, just looked rather odd
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:49 pm
by FRJ
Gone2Three wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:44 pm
The tang stamp has me perplexed, just looked rather odd
It could be an old used up stamp that they had not replaced yet.
Nice little pen knife.
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:52 pm
by Gone2Three
edge213 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:38 pm
From the pictures it looks like ivory. Though I've never seen a HSB with ivory.
I don't know what's going on with that tang stamp.
Thanks David
So that's 2 for a possible ivory ....
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:55 pm
by Gone2Three
FRJ wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:49 pm
Gone2Three wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:44 pm
The tang stamp has me perplexed, just looked rather odd
It could be an old used up stamp that they had not replaced yet.
Nice little pen knife.
Thanks Joe
Was it common for that to happen? Honestly it looks like someone took an etching tool of sorts to it
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:07 pm
by Doc B
Gone2Three wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:55 pm
FRJ wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:49 pm
Gone2Three wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:44 pm
The tang stamp has me perplexed, just looked rather odd
It could be an old used up stamp that they had not replaced yet.
Nice little pen knife.
Thanks Joe
Was it common for that to happen? Honestly it looks like someone took an etching tool of sorts to it
I'm no expert...but; I agree, it looks like someone took some type of engraving instrument and tried to make it more legible. Can't say it was overly successful.
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:52 pm
by FRJ
Gone2Three wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:55 pm
Was it common for that to happen? Honestly it looks like someone took an etching tool of sorts to it
Cutleries did use stamps that were somewhat worn. I believe I have some examples.
However, looking at that stamp, if you can call it that, it looks pretty suspicious I will admit.
I looked at a few of my HSB knives and they have very nice defined stamps.
The thing is, with an engraver, that would be pretty hard to do I would assume. I have no experience in forming
small lettering on anything. (Well, there was that note to Cecelia, in the third grade.
)
In spite of it looking suspect it does have uniformity.
It seems a stretch someone would go to any lengths to promote that knife in a fraudulent way.
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 1:35 am
by Gone2Three
FRJ wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 11:52 pm
Gone2Three wrote: ↑Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:55 pm
Was it common for that to happen? Honestly it looks like someone took an etching tool of sorts to it
Cutleries did use stamps that were somewhat worn. I believe I have some examples.
However, looking at that stamp, if you can call it that, it looks pretty suspicious I will admit.
I looked at a few of my HSB knives and they have very nice defined stamps.
The thing is, with an engraver, that would be pretty hard to do I would assume. I have no experience in forming
small lettering on anything. (Well, there was that note to Cecelia, in the third grade.
)
In spite of it looking suspect it does have uniformity.
It seems a stretch someone would go to any lengths to promote that knife in a fraudulent way.
Well Joe,
agreed... it does have uniformity to it, probably need it in hand to see up close in order to make the call.
On yours are both blades marked or just the one?
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 3:14 am
by FRJ
Gone2Three wrote: ↑Fri Dec 18, 2020 1:35 am
On yours are both blades marked or just the one?
I found two of mine. One is a jack with a curved stamp on the main and the pen blade is stamped also.
The other is a four blade stockman. All blades are stamped, even the little manicure blade.
HSB: 1855 - 1960 ...
It's nice to see a knife of that age that is a "shadow" knife, a knife without bolsters, to still have it's cover intact.
Blades look decent.
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 6:21 pm
by Gone2Three
FRJ wrote: ↑Fri Dec 18, 2020 3:14 am
Gone2Three wrote: ↑Fri Dec 18, 2020 1:35 am
On yours are both blades marked or just the one?
I found two of mine. One is a jack with a curved stamp on the main and the pen blade is stamped also.
The other is a four blade stockman. All blades are stamped, even the little manicure blade.
HSB: 1855 - 1960 ...
It's nice to see a knife of that age that is a "shadow" knife, a knife without bolsters, to still have it's cover intact.
Blades look decent.
Thanks again Joe, well the seller came down to $31 bucks plus shipping and tax.. don't know if it's worth it unless it is indeed real ivory, and factor in the fuzzy tang stamp
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 7:48 pm
by KLJ77
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2020 10:42 pm
by FRJ
Gone2Three, you have a couple of knowledgeable guys there that are giving the thumbs up for the "long tooth".
That's good.
If you buy it I hope it's a good little knife. Seems promising.
Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett ivory?... Tang stamp help /info please
Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2020 3:52 am
by Gone2Three
FRJ wrote: ↑Fri Dec 18, 2020 10:42 pm
Gone2Three, you have a couple of knowledgeable guys there that are giving the thumbs up for the "long tooth".
That's good.
If you buy it I hope it's a good little knife. Seems promising.
Well, this particular deal didn't work out. With 10% off, add the shipping+ tax, it came out to about 40 bucks...
Seller replied also stating there was blade play/wobble and light snap. Took a pass.... but wanted to thank everyone for the help
