All About Pocket Knives

I got this knife in a "batch buy". It is a beautiful Fightn Rooster stockman. But there is a problem with an organization that is etched on the master blade. Principles trumped by $$$. Comments please.

A few weeks ago I bought (and then quickly sold) an antique "secret code" knife associated with the same organization. I was thrilled to find the knife at an antique show for a low price. However, a knife like that is both a blessing and a curse. Since mine was a 1910's to 20's era knife, it was a true historical artifact, but difficult to display and sell for obvious reasons.

I would be quite torn. I like Fight'n Rooster knives and yours is a beautiful example. I have an unfortunate ancestorial connection to the infamous organization. I don't really know what I would do.

That is a nice knife. I would keep it but not display it. I guess you could sand off the blade etch, but I would not.

On another note, when I look at the close up photos, I think that knife is beginning to outgas. The shield, the pins and the top of the blades appear to have that characteristic corrosion.

I see what Mel does. It’s fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective) in the early stages of decomposition, so not too late to salvage. The brand is notorious for outgassing celluloid. There is typical outgassing tarnish on the shield, pins and at least one bolster. It usually manifests on nickel silver and brass first.

Ken

Maybe just let it gas itself to death.

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Mon Sep 22, 2025 2:40 am Maybe just let it gas itself to death.

You're crackin' me up dude.

Seriously though, I would nix the blade etch and yank the scales off. Get some nice stag on it.

Thanks to all for well thought out responses. Still not sure what to do but I will take all into consideration.

You can still appreciate an old knife that has a storied history. No one that’s seen them seems to care that some of my guns were used in war and have Nazi or Russian markings on them. My old guns make me a Nazi just as much as owning that knife makes you a member of the KKK. It’s a part of history and if we are intent on erasing it every chance we get, there won’t be anything to remind us of how terrible people can be.

Editing to say that if you decide to ruin it, please message me and I’ll buy it to preserve it.

tpm_989 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 22, 2025 4:10 pm You can still appreciate an old knife that has a storied history. No one that’s seen them seems to care that some of my guns were used in war and have Nazi or Russian markings on them. My old guns make me a Nazi just as much as owning that knife makes you a member of the KKK. It’s a part of history and if we are intent on erasing it every chance we get, there won’t be anything to remind us of how terrible people can be.

Editing to say that if you decide to ruin it, please message me and I’ll buy it to preserve it.

You're definitely not wrong. To me it's just words. But in the interest of preserving the knife, the scales do need to be removed. Nothing historical about those. But they will kill the rest of the knife. Even if the etch stays, it won't be legible after a while with outgassing celluloid.

ThatWeirdKnifeGuy wrote: ↑Mon Sep 22, 2025 6:18 pm

tpm_989 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 22, 2025 4:10 pm You can still appreciate an old knife that has a storied history. No one that’s seen them seems to care that some of my guns were used in war and have Nazi or Russian markings on them. My old guns make me a Nazi just as much as owning that knife makes you a member of the KKK. It’s a part of history and if we are intent on erasing it every chance we get, there won’t be anything to remind us of how terrible people can be.

Editing to say that if you decide to ruin it, please message me and I’ll buy it to preserve it.

You're definitely not wrong. To me it's just words. But in the interest of preserving the knife, the scales do need to be removed. Nothing historical about those. But they will kill the rest of the knife. Even if the etch stays, it won't be legible after a while with outgassing celluloid.

I understand that and I agree it would be a shame for that to ruin the knife. I’m speaking on the etching, specifically.

timdog44 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 21, 2025 10:02 pm I got this knife in a "batch buy". It is a beautiful Fightn Rooster stockman. But there is a problem with an organization that is etched on the master blade. Principles trumped by $$$. Comments please.

... I suspect this has become an interesting dilemma with certain collectibles as times change and attitudes along with them.
Recently, I saw a similar knife at a pawn shop (German made "Eye Brand") The etching was of "Bill Wilkinson Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan". I wanted the knife because it was an "Eye Brand" stockman in like new condition and the Pawn shop wanted $100 for it because it was "notorious", so to speak. I explained to them that they could not sell it online (they have an eBay online store) and the collectability value of it because of the etching, was about non-existent. They would not lower the price and I was not going to pay what they wanted ... so I walked out the door. .... I guess in this case "Price trumped Principles" ....