You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Its now rare to find a Marbles pattern hunter in any of the major cutlery lines. Yep, more nice eye candy and good story thrown in for free. Published Oct 28, 2019 6:08 PM EDT. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4 bids. I appreciate you writing this post and the rest of the site is very good. The top two you have are right as rain for war time production AAF knives. Danny. Amazon has encountered an error. So question: does it have brass spacers in handle? $274.99. by JohnR Tue Nov 08, 2016 6:39 pm, Post I know of examples of the fullered Camillus 5" knife missing the thin brass spacers too. When WWI and WWII came along, Adolph shifted the focus of the company to cater to U.S. soldiers and the Allied Forces. Your email address will not be published. (7,566) $89.99. Marbles actually made very few knives during the war as they were given contracts for other needed equipment. Slowly at first, but with increasing momentum, the folding hunter once again became the favorite field knife of most hunters, and the Marbles patterns were considered old fashioned. By 1992, Buck had produced 11,000,000 Model 110s and was adding more at the rate of 400,000 a year. The sheath also offered a stone pouch and extra holes for tying it down to a flight uniform. The only way to stay in the knife business and keep running a profit was to start making and selling them domestically. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. The third production not pictured has a black plastic pommel. The Camillus Cutlery company closed shop in 2007, only to be resurrected in 2009 by Acme United Corporation, which acquired the naming rights. of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism. Now, we know already that this, Read More How to Tell If A 1918 Trench Knife Is Real (5+ Unique Methods)Continue, The kissing crane knives are some of the most well-made, long-lasting, and historical knives that we can still find around today. The M3 was originally designated for issue to soldiers not otherwise equipped with a bayonet. Basically, this was the Ideal with a 6-inch sawback blade, fully sharpened false edge, steel crossguard, and a heavy steel nut as a pommel. US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY The only known production number from . The Case has two variations which are the details in the casting of the pommel. As long as the treatment passed the series of tests that were required of it it would been accepted. dustin, all I can say is the guard is not magnetic. Kinfolks Founded by Dean Case, Russ Case and Tint Champlin Little Valley, New York 1925-1957 Literally founded by kin - cousins Dean and Russ Case, and Tint Champlin - the venture was to help W.R. Case & Sons and Cattaraugus Cutlery meet production demands for fixed-blade knives. The two with fullers or blood grooves are the known AAF procured types. FREE shipping. This is the Kinfolks family. Sorry, you have Javascript Disabled! In 1962, the design was shortened to 5-inches to make it easier to carry inside aircraft cockpits. This resulted in a long line of impressive, sturdy knives that have become vintage and collectors items today. Without new collectors, this hobby will slowly atrophy until there are just a few of us left (until we age out). Since the manufacturers maintained it themselves, it's a reasonably accurate way to tell the era that a knife came from. I think the album link, vs a picture link . Theyre not like the other vintage war knives Ive dated because theyre not fighting knives. Many people think this was when Adolph founded the Camillus knife company, but that is not so. Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2013, This book is an excellent history of a family who lived the American Dream. A legacy that lives on today, Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2018. J. Elliott Case, son of Dean Case, who went on to become President of Kinfolks Inc. was one who joined the Navy and left the cutlery eventually to return when the war was over. You can also check much larger forums such as BladeForums, AllAboutPocketKnives, or such other relevant picks. Sign up for a new account in our community. Did Camillus Make Other Brands Knives on Contract? by Miller Bro's Sun Dec 25, 2016 8:07 pm, Post and do not appear to have been used! Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. This refers to the Flame Edge Super Hunter model which was made in the USA. Imperial Knife Company: 917,894 Kinfolks, Inc: 119,702 Pal Blade Company: 268,000 Utica Cutlery Company: 515,000. Many hunters and fisherman carried them. He started importing and selling German-made knives to his U.S. audience. If you do, that might be the last time you see that fine blade. You can jump to the following sections if youre in a hurry, but I would advise that you dont skip this part. Also, for the first time, the personal memories of multiple branches of this American cutlery dynasty are included, as well as a foreword by Brad Lockwood. Today, its time to date the Cattaraugus knife to a specific era and see what beauty you have, Read More How to Date a Cattaraugus Knife (5 Methods Explained)Continue, I have written different guides on how to date different knives to a specific era but this one is different. In short order, virtually every major cutlery company in the U.S., England, Germany, and Sweden began offering their own versions of Marbles most popular knives. Likewise, everyone simply assumes that these knives only come from between the 1920s 1930s era, which is not the case. However, that beauty does come with some challenges in telling the exact era that the knife is from. As stated, I presume mine is a rebuild but find your comment interesting. $9.85 shipping. If you use the BB code in imgur it's a straight copy and paste. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. The specific one you asked about is the one on the top or the left. On my variant note the filler in the shape of a cross, on the other variant it is in the shape of an oval. This isn't just a book for knife collectors. You just think these companies would be in cities. It is knives like these that make some people on the outside question why Case knives are so expensive when they are just a great value for their money. Ending Jan 29 at 8:05AM PST 1d 10h. of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism. Or do you just want to know the value of your knife? While none are stamped Marbles, the knife remains in wide use even today. Then came Webster Marble. Read More How to Date a Camillus Knife Effectively (1902 2007)Continue, The Case Kodiak is one of the most interesting exports from the company and continues to command a high price today. Adolph Kastor immigrated to the U.S.A. when he was 14 and worked in his uncles hardware company. September 30, 2018 in EDGED WEAPONS. However, if you got the knife from an older person (your father, grandfather, uncle, etc), you might not need the book. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Marbles next gift to the sporting cutlery world was the Expert sheath knife (5- and 6-inch blade lengths), introduced in 1906. They also made some pocket knives but most were belt knives. My guesstimate would be about 1925 (IIRC the founding year for Kinfolks, but I could be wrong) up to WWII. The sheath looks like the one you show from Camillus. When Vietnam heated up, the Camillus Pilot Survival Knife became a standard-issue item for a wide range of units, including Ranger Companies. Pictured are the 5 principle pattern types and manufacturers for the USAAF. The Creedmoor is the hottest cartridge on the Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. My guesstimate would be about 1925(IIRC the founding year for Kinfolks, but I could be wrong) up to WWII. Also, for the rst time, the The book does not just contain biographies of the companies founders but also comes with up to four catalogs to aid your dating. Awarded many contracts during the period from 1939 to 1945, Kinfolks produced a significant number of knives in several different patterns which helped our men in the field and in the air with a quality tool when needed. I paid a reasonable price on this knife given it's condition. ${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}. The knife was obtained from his family and they stated to the best of their knowledge it had been stored with his memorabilia since he returned in 1946. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of . You could simply want to know if several Kinfolks knives in your possession are originals before you list them for sale too. However it looks like your knife has a nickel silver guard which may indicate pre-Kinfolks made by Case. All had clip-point blades and a deeply-fullered edge grind (not a blood groove). Great read, with very helpful information. We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. Your email address will not be published. Robeson continued to make knives until 1965, the year that Emerson Case . One thing you might not have guessed is that two of the founding members J. Russell Case and Dean Case also found the Case Knife company. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. Kinfolk's knives were made by the Kinfolk company from about 1924 until the early 1950's. They are very hard to date the exact time they were produced. In 1958, Robeson purchased Kinfolks Inc of Little Valley, New York, which just happened to be Emerson Cases former employer. Unless you are fascinated by these things, as am I. Kinfolks used to mark their knife blades, and those markings helped tell what era the knives came from. I have covered some of them here for you: Those guides expose you to some insider tips and strategies to get the exact date of these knives, narrow down their era or simply confirm if you have the original thing. Thank you for sharing. Then again, I prefer dating women in general. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY When I received the package, I, out of more curiosity than anything began to read the forward and introduction and was immediately drawn in by the colourful characters and the 140 years of american history. If using the mobile app, it's a lot trickier I think but then you just need to copy the link and put it into the cell when clicking the upload picture icon. A German himself, and having spent enough time in the U.S.A. to know the market landscape, this business venture was not difficult for him. The CASE sheath is not pictured as I do not know what it looks like so if anyone does please share. Thank you for your interesting post. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Be prepared to take clear pictures of the knife, but never send the knife to anyone to have it dated for you. There has always been a certain amount of fad over function involved in the way outdoorsmen select their cutlery. Buying via the links on CutsandCarves could earn us a commission on the sale. It's easy! There were six manufacturers: Kinfolks, Queen, Williams, Case, Ka-bar, and PAL. They also sometimes referred to the blade or overall knife material which is equally helpful in narrowing down the years. It appears both types of finishes were used , plated and polished. Klein knives are clear vintages, and they're one of those knives that went to the war. Picked up this Kinfolks the other day with its original sheath, tang reads Kinfolks Incorporated, anyone have a date range for this knife. It is the aluminum guards that define Kinfolks made Case fixed blades. Starting in 1918, the English cutlery company, Wade and Butcher, began offering pretty much exact copies of Marbles Ideal pattern. All that can contribute to making it harder to know when these knives came from. Powered by Invision Community, US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY. Although I don't seriously collect knives I do have a small collection of Camillus sheath knives. Literally founded by kin cousins Dean and Russ Case, and Tint Champlin the venture was to help W.R. Case & Sons and Cattaraugus Cutlery meet production demands for fixed-blade knives. The originals stopped being made such a long time ago that the catalogs and materials to identify them might have all gotten lost, or might be unreliable. No matter the reason for wanting to date that blade, these methods will get you an accurate year or an era, at worst. Required fields are marked *. A timeline of the family and related cutleries is included for quick reference, as well as answers to the most common questions about the company from www.KinfolksInc.com. The author, Dean Case, makes reading easy, while inviting you to visit with the next character. The knife you have is the third pattern manufactured under amendment 5679 L36A eliminating the aluminum pommel replacing it with a Resinox plastic type and eliminating the spacers to reduce cost making this model a late war expedited lower costing knife. The middle one is the other variant with oval shaped liked filler. The third (bottom) one is interesting as it seems to have a fuller but barely and steel guard, Always assumed the pommels were secured like the MK1s. Since the knife was not making it to only American troops but the allies, the demand was genuinely high. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. While stag slabs were available at extra cost, most were handled in a feature pioneered by Marblestacked leather washers. excellent! Correct Kinfolks marked sheath, lightly sharpened condition, guard and leather washers very tight. A beautiful little village in a largely agricultural area. Besides Kinfolks knives, there are a series of other well-made knives that you may have and want to date. A similar issue occurs when dating the Kinfolks knife, but the chances of that error are slim. If you are a Case Knife collector this is more the backstory on the people who built the companies that made the products and less about the specifics on any era of knives. KINFOLKS DOUBLE SET KNIFE BUTTERSCOTCH AMBER PLUS UNMARKED BIRD AND TROUT. Some extremely valid points! Knives made by top companies were featured in catalogs that were either internally maintained or sent out to dealers and collectors. Just $1 per month , The history of Marbles knives and their impact on outdoor cutlery for the last 120 years, By As usual Dustin, a fine writeup on a field often overlooked by collectors. THX SKIP. The mystery of the Jean Case Cutlery Company is at last explained, and many family photographs and recipes are included. This is one of the 6-inch knives that the US Army purchased in 1942, before they went to the M3. Just look at it and you would see the same thing. Ending Saturday at 5:06PM PST 3d 20h. #1 Check the Tang Stamps This is usually where I first look at when dating knives. The design of the knife was very imposing. At a time like this, when not all dealers can be trusted, you need to be on guard. I put on a pot of coffee and let myself get lost in the twist and turns of the Case family. All About Pocket Knives is a knife related resource center for buying, selling, researching, and discussing all things knives, Post Most period cutlery companies also produced close copies of the Ideal for use as survival knives in the various branches of the armed forces. $6.30 shipping. The company closed shop in the 1950s and they have since been resurrected in other capacities. The Expert is a great all-around outdoor knife, but the handle on the Sports Knife is just too short. These fakes are even made with materials that age fast, tricking you into thinking that the knife has indeed seen a lot of years. If you have already guessed from the name, this company was founded by entrepreneurs who were related to one another. Due to labor issues, Kinfolks was closed in 1957, with another cousin, Emerson Case, continuing production of the brand under Robeson Cutlery in Perry, New York, until 1965. Also note the top two with brass guards are with and without brass spacers. In most of the places that I've come across a Klein knife, it was either a military electrician's knife or for another handyman. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. 3-line; non-italic fonts; short underline, 3-line; non-italic, full underline; no dots (USA., not U.S.A.), 3-line stamp; full underline; dotted U.S.A.; italics. My thought was A- at some point the two were mated or B-CASE acquired the sheaths from the same supplier as Camillus, I lean towards A. Marble almost singlehandedly turned the hunting knife into a must-have piece of outdoor gear for the well-turned-out sportsman. Part of the great thing about knives is the variety and variation. Copyright 2004-2023 allaboutpocketknives.com, Collecting Case Knives: Identification and Price Guide, "If there are no Dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where. The blade has a 4 " false edge, and a pair of very narrow, 3 5/8" long fullers, near the spine on each side of the . Unfortunately I was unable to obtain any other items related to his service as they had been bought by an antiques dealer and sold prior to my getting the knife. | Challenges with Dating the Kinfolks Knife. Marble tended to know his customers well, and if he thought a double guard would sell better than a single, then that was the way it was going to be. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Certainly the Camillus and the Westerns are just finished bright, I've never seen any examples that were plated, (only referring to the 5in knives here). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This American heritage contributes to the high-value craftsmanship and quality control that ships with these knives. Suggestions, Questions, Comments, Concerns, Alerts, Etc Member Store Tips, Tricks & Instructions, https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/btrwtr. Also, for the first time, the personal memories of multiple branches of this American cutlery dynasty are included, as well as a foreword by Brad Lockwood. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. Marbles halted most knife production in 1976, and the trademark was later sold to a company overseas. If find myself picking up the book time to time to just reread a chapter or two. Certainly Western didn't have facilities to make sheaths in factory before the 50's. As popular as the Marbles line was with outdoorsmen, it was their impact on the rest of the cutlery industry that really made a lasting impression. Just look at it and you would see the same thing. If you dont go to knife shows, you might also have some luck with veteran knife collectors in your locale. Sign up for a new account in our community. Instead, it was supposed to be reserved for professional hunters, trappers, and guides with the experience to use a light, sharp blade in the field. Dept. This site is maintained by the Cattaraugus County Historical Advisory Committee and the Dept. There are many flavors to be had and with me it is edged implements more directly associated with aeronautical. While this may sound fairly conventional, no one else was making a similar hunting knife at the time. If you have one of such knives, follow the guide above to narrow down the date or era as much as you can. If you dont have both the repro and original side by side, you might not be able to tell the difference sometimes. The consensus is that the Kinfolks knife company was established around 1924 from when they made these really fine knives till the 1950s. Thanks! However, when I went on to see what prices were being asked for Kinfolks in this condition, I saw the prices in the $125 range (over twice what I paid). And a final rant about the place we all love to hate. If you have a Kinfolks knife of, Read More How to Date A Kinfolks Knife to A Specific EraContinue, If you have spent some time here before, then we have dated some pretty amazing knives together. Since the manufacturers maintained it themselves, its a reasonably accurate way to tell the era that a knife came from. Read Next: Five Best Hunting Knives Ever Made. Around 1915, Marble made what some consider his greatest contribution to outdoor cutlery, the Woodcraft sheath knife. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. CASE has one other variation only prevalent at end of the pommel. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identication and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. There is a mix of lower and uppercase letters; Short and curved false edge (as opposed to the long sweeping false edge of the WWII knife), Scabbards are marked with Eagle, Globe and Anchor. Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. This is one of the 6-inch knives that the US Army purchased in 1942, before they went to the M3. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Before WWII, the Woodcraft saw the most attention from competitors. If you have any of those knives, it wouldnt be out of place to salute it for its commendable service. This guide to dating Camillus knives is focused on the Camillus-stamped knives only. Thanks for showing, peaked my interest. Germany, as well as several other European countries, also flooded the country with massive quantities of low-priced sheath knives (most of them based on the old Marbles patterns). . Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. i>Kinfolks Knives" offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Today, you and I are going to go through a journey that should, hopefully, help us estimate the founding date of your Kinfolks knife or what era it came from at the least. $49.99. dustin, I purchased 2 books to give as a gift to some of the men in my family. The knife is 14 5/8" in overall length, with the instantly recognizable 9 " clip point Bowie blade. I am immediately ordering even more books to pass on. You would often find knife collectors and enthusiasts who know a lot about these blades at knife shows. Stockman knives have two backsprings, which support at least three blades. Now, we know already that this, Read More How to Tell If A 1918 Trench Knife Is Real (5+ Unique Methods)Continue, The Case Kodiak is one of the most interesting exports from the company and continues to command a high price today. The Expert pattern is just a strong as any other knife in its general weight class when used for reasonable field tasks. This forum is for discussing and sharing pictures of anything that relates to fixed blade knives. Kinfolks were granted the patent to use tungsten carbide on their knives in 1955, and the knives went into production afterward. The crossguard consists of two equal length arms that extend to the left and right and are terminated with circular ends. The middle knife has the chrome plating on the blade that Case was known to do. Gary I wonder if your knife is a transitional example were the fullered blade transforms into the saber grind variety more like the Mark1. Please try again. Id rather give up now than give you a piece of misleading information anyway. It is believed that some of these tactical knives made it to WWII but there is no concrete proof of that anywhere. Find out more below. $14.59. by johnburrell Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:49 am, Post Originally, the deep fuller was intended to allow the blade to be laid flat on a hone and sharpened something like a straight razor. The original building was blown away by wind, yet Dean Case was able to buy-out his related partners through product by the 1930s, supplying fighting knives and the M4 bayonet during World War II, refocusing on hunting and household knives afterward. Thank you Steve, did not realize it could be that old, the type of bone and the hammered pins did make me wonder.. Is it a genuine vintage or merely a reproduction? Okay, maybe not fakes. The knife featured here was manufactured by the Kinfolks company. The table below shows you different tang stamp designs and when they were circulated.Tang StampDescriptionYear/ Era3-line arch stamp1902-19154-line straight stamp with yearFeatures year of manufacture3-line straight stamp1916 the 1930s4-line straight stampThe 1930s mid-19453-line; non-italic fonts; short underline1946 19503-line; non-italic, full underline; no dots (USA., not U.S.A.)1960 the 1970s3-line stamp; full underline; dotted U.S.A.; italicsThe 1970s 1980s3-line stamp; dotted U.S.A.; mixed caps1989 2007Camillus Knife Tang Stamps and their Eras. Summary of article content: Articles about Kinfolks Knives The original Kinfolks Company was a Little Valley, NY based cutlery company that was closed in 1957. Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2021, Kinfolks Knives: A History of Cutlery and Cousins, Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2010. Add that to some shady collectors taking advantage of this fact to fabricate the fakes of these knives, and we have another challenge on our hands. Turner Manufacturing, Imperial Knife Company, Conetta Tool and Die, and Bren-Dan Inc. received the contracts for this run of M4 bayonets which finally ended in 1970. Of course, they were sharp and most of them are older than us, but that doesnt mean we lost interest. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. After decades of feuding and parting ways to start yet another Case-related cutlery, Kinfolks saw three cousins come together to help one another. The TC marking shows that the blade was made of Tungsten Carbide, a material that Kinfolks started using in 1957. All of these make the recipe for a truly great knife that deserves our attention. KINFOLKS USA 1925- 40's RARE PERFECT BONE VINTAGE KNIFE $104.99 $5.55 shipping Vintage Kinfolks 330 And 333 double knife set with Sheath . Enjoy! March 26, 2014 in EDGED WEAPONS. Awarded many contracts during the period from 1939 to 1945, Kinfolks produced a significant number of knives in several different patterns which helped our men in the field and in the air with a quality tool when needed. Your email address will not be published. Knife collectors and dealers should still have those catalogs if you can find them. These RARE KINFOLKS Y330 & Y333 Fixed Blade Sabre Ground Hunter Knives w/Original Tooled Leather Sheath are in EXCELLENT overall vintage condition! Why in the world would ANYONE pay $713.00 for this book? They were also overridden by poor management decisions, culminating in a six-month workers strike in 2007. Marble first marketed this model as not being up to the same kind of hard use his Ideal was. With decades of experience under his belt, Adolph spearheaded the growth and expansion of the Camillus knife company into what we know it as today. Kinfolk Collectible Vintage Fixed Blade Knives. Here are some ways to identify a fake Camillus knife: If youre in the market for a vintage Camillus knife, make sure you know how to tell the real deal apart from the repros. Picked this up at a nearby antique festival in NC. Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt. Still,, Read More How to Date Klein Knives to A Specific Year or Era (5 Methods)Continue. I've pretty much assumed that it is likely not a War production piece, but whether it's pre or post war I have no idea as Case used the chrome plating for a long time. I agree that he probably was the person who hand stamped the USN mark on the sheath. by btrwtr Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:19 pm, Post 2023 Cuts & Carves - Designed by O. Christopher, How to Date a Camillus Knife Effectively (1902 2007), How to Date Klein Knives to A Specific Year or Era (5 Methods), How to Date A Kinfolks Knife to A Specific Era, How to Date a Cattaraugus Knife (5 Methods Explained), How to Tell If A 1918 Trench Knife Is Real (5+ Unique Methods), How to Date A Case Kodiak Knife by Yourself (Expert Advice), How to Determine the Value of a Knife (Vintage, Antiques & Collectibles).