Does this Winchester look right to you?

r8shell · Jan 23, 2016

I was at a gun show a few months ago. I was with a friend of mine, looking over a display of pocket knives at one of the tables. He saw this one marked Winchester, showed it to me, and asked if I thought he should buy it. I admit I didn't look too closely at it, and I know next to nothing about the collectability of various iterations of Winchesters. I could tell it had nice looking, real bone covers, and the blades and backsprings appeared to be carbon steel. I asked what they wanted for it, and he said $15. My advice was if he liked it, and would carry it, to go ahead. :thumbup:

open mark

tang

closed

pile

Later, I took a closer look at our purchases. As I said, I know very little about the makers and marks of Winchester knives, but to my untrained eye, this knife looks all kinds of wrong! Most obviously, the shield. It's the wrong size and the placement is off. We did some Google-fu, but I couldn't find one that looks anything like this. I'm thinking it's a Frankenknife of some sort. (counterfeit, or lunch-box knife?) Still, he's happy with the purchase, as he just likes to carry and use old knives (as do I)

but was wondering if anyone would find it amusing.

Will Power · Jan 23, 2016

Could be a knife somebody put together in their spare time from bits & pieces yes, but not any attempt to fake anything. That master blade looks like it was something else somewhere else at one time...The bolsters don't seem legit somehow and that shield has been placed there because that's where the hole was, too big.

However, it's a nice item for 15 USD, your friend should feel well pleased. I suspect it was a hobby knife somebody fancied fashioning, good for them and good to see and think about.

:thumbup:

Regards, Will

rma100 · Jan 23, 2016

Looks to me like the Tang has been ground and re-stamped. If you look just below the "M" in "Made in USA" you can see another, faint "M" stamping. And the whole, visible, Tang Stamp looks Cold Stamped.

Pipeman · Jan 23, 2016

Without holding it I would say the scales have been replaced. The mark,blades, frame and bolsters look right for the pattern.

Best regards

Robin

black mamba · Jan 23, 2016

Looks definitely wrong to me, the shield is way off, but for $15, if it has any walk and talk, it was worth it. The bone is nice.

supratentorial · Jan 23, 2016

It's not a legitimate old Winchester.

waynorth · Jan 23, 2016

Re-handled at the very least. US parts likely.
If it holds an edge, and walks and talks, I'd prefer to use it over an off-shore knife any time! Cheap enough to use it up with pleasure!

r8shell · Jan 23, 2016

rma100 said:
Looks to me like the Tang has been ground and re-stamped. If you look just below the "M" in "Made in USA" you can see another, faint "M" stamping. And the whole, visible, Tang Stamp looks Cold Stamped.

You've got a sharp eye! Looking under magnification, I can definitely see the letters: "M A".

Thanks for looking, everyone. Whatever it is, it's got a nice snappy spring, and pretty red bone. If it will hold an edge, he'll be very happy to carry it.