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Earliest Marbles tang stamp?

Posted: Sat May 17, 2025 3:31 pm
by Neelymoto
Greetings!
I am trying to date a Marbles Ideal stag pommel knife with a 3 line tang stamp that reads:

MSA Co.
Gladstone Mich
U.S.A.

The stamp is worn, “gladstone” is completely worn off and the “M” of MSA is worn off, and USA is very faint, but it is obvious it was originally a 3 line marking as described above.
Searching the web I find only one image of this style marking but no additional information on when it was produced.
Can anyone help date this knife tang stamp?
Thanks!

Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?

Posted: Sat May 17, 2025 6:05 pm
by 1967redrider
::welcome:: to AAPK! We would need to see pictures of the knife, preferably the whole knife with pictures of any stamps on the blade/ricasso. There's a thread on directions for posting pictures. ::nod::👍

*edit- Here are instructions on posting pictures: viewtopic.php?t=50258

Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?

Posted: Sat May 17, 2025 6:13 pm
by SwedgeHead
I'm sure others will chime in, but there is this as a general (Google) guideline:

Marble's stopped using the "M.S.A." stamp around 1910 when the company changed its name from Marble's Safety Axe Co. to Marble Arms & Mfg. Co.

Early Years: Marbles knives were marked with "M.S.A. Co." during the early years of production, likely between 1901-1911.
Name Change: The company's name change in 1911 resulted in a transition to "Marble's" stamps.

Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?

Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 12:40 am
by Gunsil
The first Marbles stamp was not the MSA stamp. The first knives were marked Manufactured by W L Marbles.

Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?

Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 2:10 am
by Neelymoto
Thanks for the welcome and replies.
Below are two images of my knife in question.
The last image is the only other knife I could find online with the same marks for comparison
IMG_0543.jpeg
https://allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_ ... &id=717437

Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?

Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 5:41 pm
by 1967redrider
Here's what Dunathan says about that stamp, from The Encyclopedia of Marble's Knives and Sporting Collectibles.

Re: Earliest Marbles tang stamp?

Posted: Sun May 18, 2025 7:56 pm
by Neelymoto
RE: “Here's what Dunathan says..”
Thank you very much! I suspected this was a fairly rare marking.