All About Pocket Knives

Had this thread over in knife lore hoping someone would have info on this knife. Was suggested that this forum may have more experts on fixed blades. Obtained this from my cousin who ran a pawn shop in Delaware in 90s early 2000s. When he closed up he stored all unclaimed and left over inventory in dry storage. I bought out his gun and knife inventory a few weeks back and located this fixed blade. At first thought it was unmarked and put it on an auction site for starting bid of 25.00. My son who has better eyes than mine said I can see cursive writing on the blade. After taking pictures in good light and magnifying we finally see the name Buell & sign plus other unreadable letters. Still trying to decipher those. Never heard of Buell and magic of google located a Abel Buell from Conn. (Check out his wikipedia). Im thinking this is a Buell& Greenleaf knife as they made swords from 1799-1801 for US military. Tell me what you all think and what type of knife is it.

Like I said in the other thread, the lettering style and the knife style doesn't look like late 1700s-early 1800s. Looks more like a late 1800s knife and lettering. I also don't think the etching is the knife maker's name, it is more likely advertising or a retailer's name. There were a lot of companies named Buell, one that fits the late 1800s time frame is Buell Woolen Mills, active circa 1850-1900. Your knife could easily be a giveaway from that company or another. It will be hard to get a positive ID since there were so many companies with that name. Most knife companies stamped their names on the ricasso rather than etch it out on the blade.

Show me one like it from a wool factory in the midwest that ended up in the Northeast then ill go with your theory. Whos to say that a silversmith and engraver Named Abel Buell didnt etch this knife. Thanks for your opinion. Going to let a local knife expert in Atlanta take a look.

From Worthpoint I'd imagine the GL stands for Greenleaf.

Dank1296 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 26, 2020 10:48 pm Show me one like it from a wool factory in the midwest that ended up in the Northeast then ill go with your theory. Whos to say that a silversmith and engraver Named Abel Buell didnt etch this knife. Thanks for your opinion. Going to let a local knife expert in Atlanta take a look.

Gunsil who replied i would call an 'expert' on fixed blade knives. No one person is an expert on all types of fixed blades. It is too vast a field of study for one person. That said Gunsil's posts in this forum on fixed blade knives have always proved to be correct. The 'expert' in Atlanta might or might not be as well informed as Gunsil.
There are also Buell motorcycles.
kj

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Sun Dec 27, 2020 1:28 am

Dank1296 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 26, 2020 10:48 pm Show me one like it from a wool factory in the midwest that ended up in the Northeast then ill go with your theory. Whos to say that a silversmith and engraver Named Abel Buell didnt etch this knife. Thanks for your opinion. Going to let a local knife expert in Atlanta take a look.

Gunsil who replied i would call an 'expert' on fixed blade knives. No one person is an expert on all types of fixed blades. It is too vast a field of study for one person. That said Gunsil's posts in this forum on fixed blade knives have always proved to be correct. The 'expert' in Atlanta might or might not be as well informed as Gunsil.
There are also Buell motorcycles.
kj

Gunsil is a pretty straight shooter. Actually I don't know how pretty he is but he does know his fixed blades. There was no animosity in his opinion and his opinion is usually a good one. Just saying.

Hopefully can get age on knife and go from there to eliminate Buell Motorcycles. Hopefully can find a way to pull out full inscription.

Just finishing my thirteenth year of studying collectible knives. If I needed info on old fixed blades I would go to Gunsil or Bernard Levine, in that order. Number Three Expert would be pretty far down that list. My son had a Buell for awhile; it is a helluva lotta bike.

Looks dang close but what do I know.

The bolster on it is reminiscent of the type used on table cutlery from about the mid-1800's to the turn of the century. It could even be a re-purposed table knife.I'll go with Gene's assessment.

Could what im reading as Buell be Russell& Co knife instead.

Quite honestly it could be either. I can’t make it out. You’re the best judge since you have it in hand and can manipulate it to different angles and catch the light on what remains of the etch. There are several possibilities as have been mentioned already. You may never know for sure. At the least it’s a conversation piece.

Ken

Think I found its larger twin. Russell with exact etching on blade. Tell me what you think.