Clay Gault, Ralph Bone, and Norm Levine Knives

[blakesnowden]

looking for info and feedback and perhaps est. value on these would be
GREATLY appreciated.

and the Norm Levine folder

 

[2knife]

.. i have seen several Bone knives (marked with a dog bone type stamp) listed in Bruce Voyles auctions, as well as at least one nice looking Gault knife from his 1st auction about 9 yrs ago. I have to think these are older makers, perhaps 1970s-1980s, but no basis. just a hunch. Maybe someone here can offer more info. hopefully..
interesting knives!

Randall style sheaths on a couple.

maybe i've seen a Bone knife or two on ebay also, seem to recall.
Good luck.
David

 

[Gene Martin]

I picked up a catalog from Norm Levine about 3 weeks before he was killed. He was hit by a wrong way drunk driver. Anyway, that's a ball bearing pivot folder. Depending on blade length, it was either $250 or $275 new, basic knife with micarta handles. The stag added $25-$75 to the price.

He was killed, IIRC, about 1994.

Gene

 

[AWALL3869]

Ralph actually quit making knives in 1973 or 74 if I remember correctly, he left lubbock and moved to colorado to teach! His knives are hard to find trust me i have been looking for some to purchase. Not a huge knife collector but he was my uncle if your interested in selling any please let me know. As far as prices they range I just bought on on ebay for 300.00 but I believe those are worth more than that!

 

[Michael Lovett]

Norman was an old friend when he still lived in Huntsville Ala. I moved to Texas, And Norman moved to Cali. While in Huntsville, he was an eng. at the Marshal Space Flight Center, at Red Stone Arsenal. Norman was a trip. Along with his wife, and her twin sister.

Bone sold out to Deleon if memory serves me correctly. Fine old maker. Clay Gault passed away just a few of months ago. He was inducted into the Texas Knife collectors,and Makers Asst. at the Spirit of Steel Show this past year in Grapevine Tx. Sadly, Clay was looking forward to being there. He died only one week prior. Clays work is highly sought after. All of his knives were completely hand finished. He worked extensively with Sheep Horn, and used Vasco Wear more than any other maker. Suprising, as Vasco Wear is extremely difficult to grind and finish. And Clay did it by a lot of draw filing, and hand sanding. The sheaths were many times of elephant ear. He was one tuff but loveable old bird. Never taking the easy way. And it showed.

One of his folders is in one of the older Knife Annuals. It was presented to the Duke of Wellington. Clays work as I said, is Highly regarded. Not flashy, or ultra modern, but slightly rustic, a elegant. Quite a combination.

My wife, Manuela and I always had the fondest memories of Clay, and had a great time anytime we had th chance to get together.

I am including a Pic of Clay, noted Loveless, Moran, Gault, and Lovett Collector, Louis Chow. I cannot tell you how honored and humbled I am to be included in this collection. Mike and Manuela PS, should you want to sell them. Louis is your man! You will See a pic of Clay on Lou's table at just about any show he attends.

On a side note, many here will find it interesting that Clay is the one responsible for popurlizing the Mortise tang knife so in voge now days by such noted makers as Fisk, Dean, and many others. Any of these guys can tell you who Clay Gault was!

This pic was at the last show Clay Attended. The TKCA show in Round Rock Texas. He is looking very frail here. But we all had a great time. I had a bad feeling that I would lnever see him again.

Before someone ask, I have no Idea whether that is a Loveless or Lovett Big Bear in Lou's hand. We were playing with both at our table.

Mike and Manuela

 

[ScotT Blanchat]

Ralph Bone was a good friend of my grandfather, Paul Blanchat of Blanchat Machine in Wichita, KS. I have two of his knives, and one was made specifically for my grandmother to be used as a kitchen knife. The other has an 8" blade, stag handle, and a hone in the sheath. It's the sharpest knife I've ever seen in my life.

 

[BRTATCK]

Hello Blake. I also have a Bone knife although the bone mark on mine is much smaller about half the size. I may be wrong but I was told that the small Bone mark is an earlier knife and the larger later ones. Mine has been guessed at the late 60's and value around $400.00. I really like the toothpick. Good luck.

Brion

 

[Michael Lovett]

I think I would put those Gaults at 800. to 900. for the first, and 1100. 1200 for the second one . Gault's in Sheep Horn, and with the Elephant ears sheaths are bringing a premium. They are going up!

M. Lovett

 

[horseclover]

I believe the timeline information may be incorrect, as I bought a small mark Bone bowie through Orvis in 1978. I had more recently (2001) bought the same model 6" bowie in stag, also with the small mark of those years. The Orvis knife was in a Johnson sheath with the bigger Bone w/Lubbock stamp on the sheath itself. Big early, small late.

A grinder friend in 1970 had a couple of older Bone knives, one an elephant sized folder. I do not know when Enedino De Leon started his apprenticeship but the influence is obvious and the marks Enedino uses look like the later 1970s Bone marks. There is a recent therad that was initiated in the Bernard Levine subforum.

Ralph was engraving guns last I knew and I believe someone mentioned he passed but I am not positive of that. Edit, yes Dec 2006. What I do know is that Enedino continues to grind away, as Jim Behring's page seems to yield a fairly neverending supply. De Leon would be the one with the scoop on marks, timeline and stuff.

Cheers

GC

 

[HUXLEY WALTERS]

My book "Artistry of Ralph P Bone", is about to be printed The book addresses Ralph Bone's life as a knife maker, gun maker and Master Engraver. Section 1 covers the Ralph Bone Knife Company, its principals (including Enedino De Leon) and their custom knives. Section 11 presents Bone's career and exceptional engravings as a Master Engraver, along with the artistry of several gun makers with whom Bone chose to collaborate his engraving talents at, both, conventional and Celtic engraving.

 

[Dawkind]

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