All About Pocket Knives

Posted: **Tue Jun 30, 2026 7:41 pm**

Recently found another muskrat, compared to one i already had and found them slightly different. The one i already had has squarish bolsters and steel liners. The one i just found has more rounded bolsters and brass liners. Is the brass liner one older? I was told towards the start of WW11 the liners were changed to steel to use brass for war effort. Is this correct? This has probably already been answered, but i don't know were to find topic.

Should have mention they are R4593's

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2026 1:58 am**

I don't know but what you said certainly sounds logical. We have some very knowledgeable Remington people here so if you post this in the Remington forum also you might get a definite answer there.

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:51 am**

And include pictures of the knives, if you would.

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2026 3:43 am**

I have two R4593's, one has brass liners with round bolsters. The other has steel liners and squarish bolsters.
Is the brass liner one older? I was told or heard towards WW2 Remington started using steel liners so the brass could be used in war effort. Did i hear correctly?

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2026 7:31 am**

The master blade tang stamp should give you an idea of when it was made . I’m sure there is a tang stamp chart on this site .

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2026 9:14 am**

ScoutKnives wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 7:31 amI’m sure there is a tang stamp chart on this site

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... ang-stamps

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:13 pm**

Well,duh, i should have thought of that! They are both '24 - '33 tang stamp. So my war theory is out the window!! They are made different, maybe just
a question of available material. Pre, post stock market crash 1927 ??

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2026 2:38 pm**

I'll echo the request for pictures, If you aren't familiar with how to post pictures, this explains it very well.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... ly&t=87913

And you might consider posting them here: https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... y#p1241102

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2026 6:03 pm**

dobro59 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2026 7:41 pm Recently found another muskrat, compared to one i already had and found them slightly different. The one i already had has squarish bolsters and steel liners. The one i just found has more rounded bolsters and brass liners. Is the brass liner one older? I was told towards the start of WW11 the liners were changed to steel to use brass for war effort. Is this correct? This has probably already been answered, but i don't know were to find topic.
Should have mention they are R4593's

I can't explain the "why" part of this question. It is absolutely true the R4593 was made with multiple types of bolsters. The round bolster examples should have a match striker style nail nick on the main blade. The round bolster R4593 example I attached is from mid to late 1930s as evidenced by the tang stamp and the fact that the pattern number is inked on vs. stamped. Note that it has brass components. My observation is that iron components were used older knives particularly around the time of WW 1 and before.

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2026 6:54 pm**

RalphAlsip wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2026 6:03 pm
dobro59 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 30, 2026 7:41 pm Recently found another muskrat, compared to one i already had and found them slightly different. The one i already had has squarish bolsters and steel liners. The one i just found has more rounded bolsters and brass liners. Is the brass liner one older? I was told towards the start of WW11 the liners were changed to steel to use brass for war effort. Is this correct? This has probably already been answered, but i don't know were to find topic.
Should have mention they are R4593's
I can't explain the "why" part of this question. It is absolutely true the R4593 was made with multiple types of bolsters. The round bolster examples should have a match striker style nail nick on the main blade. The round bolster R4593 example I attached is from mid to late 1930s as evidenced by the tang stamp and the fact that the pattern number is inked on vs. stamped. Note that it has brass components. My observation is that iron components were used older knives particularly around the time of WW 1 and before.

Super example as always Ralph.
Steve

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 2:54 pm**

I've got an old favorite of mine that I like to carry once in a while.
It has a wide spring with a catch bit on each end.
It is quite attractive in nickel silver liners, spring, catch bits and bolsters.
No stamps on the pile side. 3 15/16" closed.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 3:10 pm**

FRJ wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 2:54 pm I've got an old favorite of mine that I like to carry once in a while.
It has a wide spring with a catch bit on each end.
It is quite attractive in nickel silver liners, spring, catch bits and bolsters.
No stamps on the pile side.

Pretty bones.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 7:29 pm**

Yes, indeed.
Thank you, doglegg.

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:57 pm**

FRJ wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 2:54 pm I've got an old favorite of mine that I like to carry once in a while.
It has a wide spring with a catch bit on each end.
It is quite attractive in nickel silver liners, spring, catch bits and bolsters.
No stamps on the pile side.

very nice rat

Posted: **Thu Jul 02, 2026 9:43 pm**

Gtrclktr-351 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2026 8:57 pm very nice rat

Thank you, Bill.

I did edit my post to say it's 3 15/16" closed.

Posted: **Fri Jul 03, 2026 3:14 am**

Nice examples, Ralph and Joe.

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