I see several areas where the grind is uneven. Not only the "hollow" on blade right, but also along the spine on both sides. And the line between the primary and secondary grind. Is the non-symmetrical grind original to the knife from the factory? Possible, I suppose. There are, of course, other possibilities.
In reading through old records of annual sales meetings, the return of merchandise is discussed. Return authorizations, restock charges, and disposition of goods. A part of the disposition of goods included re-inspection of the knife and refinishing if needed including regrind and buffing, as well as new packaging before putting the knife back into inventory for shipping. This could be one of those dealer return knives that had serious corrosion problems and it received an aggressive refinishing.
It could be a warranty return knife that languished in a box on the warehouse shelf for years until the meltdown when the few remaining employees were told to finish up everything in inventory to boost the net worth for the October, 2004 auction. Employees were so engaged from the end of July through the October auction.
It could have been made in 1966/67 by an employee not adept at hand grinding this then-new sabre-ground pattern.
It could be an after-market refinish, recent or not, by someone trying to remove deep scratches, patina, or pepper spots. The crocus finish approximates the factory finish but... it looks too "fine" to me.
These are all just guesses at the possibilities. I suggest ignoring the current peppering. These knives can obtain that condition in under a year in the right circumstances. And condition indicates (BRL quote here...
) condition.
Michael
PS- Still a nice early example of a
PRODUCTION knife, and I would not personally obsess over the uneven grind.:thumbup:
