All About Pocket Knives

Found this old knife in a box of cutlery I got from my cousin who owned a pawn shop in Delaware until 2002. When he closed up shop he pack and stored all his left over inventory until a couple weeks ago when I bought it out. Mostly guns and knives .I originally had it on an auction site for about 5 minutes until I could make out the faint inscription. Was able to decipher Buell & in fancy cursive. There's more that I just can't read. Never heard of Buell so did some research and found an Abel Buell from Conn. who was a silversmith and sword maker and map Maker late 1700s-1800s. Buell and Greenleaf made m1798 swords for US military 1799-1800. I'm hoping he also made knives.(Did find one folding knife on Worthpoint sold in 2007). Any ideas on type of knife and does it look like a knife from that time period. There's possible a G under the & sign. Can add additional pictures

Welcome to AAPK. Goins’ Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings lists “Abel Buell Hartford Conn. c 1799. Buell made belt or hunting knives.”

Your knife is a nice find, may or may not be the same Buell. Sorry but I don’t have any ideas about value of old fixed blades. Someone here may.

Ken

Hey thanks I haven't seen that. Im sure same ,he was quite a character according to Wikipedia. Hope someone can help me on this. Be nice to have a 200+ year old knife.

Dank1296 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 26, 2020 2:44 pm Found.....

Hi. Maybe someone in the "Fixed Blade Knives" forum
can provide you with the answer(s) you seek.
viewforum.php?f=34

Thanks ill repost over there

Knife and etching lettering appears to be late 1800s. Just not a style of knife or lettering found in the early 1800s. I also think the etch is a retailers or advertising etch rather than a maker's name. Buell Woolen Mills was active circa 1850-1900, perhaps this was made for them as a giveaway. There were a lot of companies with the Buell name, so it will be hard to pin down positive ID.

This is from Abel Buells map of US. Look at Double l in Excellency and double l on blade looks quite alike.

The handle on your knife looks similar to handles seen on knives made in first half of 20th century. Blade could be older than the handle and might be a cut down short sword ?
kj

This may be helpful. I sometimes take a pencil and fill in all around tang stamps and blade etches. Move the piece around at various angles to the light. Sometimes the writing shows up better as the graphite is somewhat reflective . A paper towel or kleenex wipes it right off. I also use the eraser on rusty and cruddy tangs. Works nicely. Good luck. Neat piece! J.O'.