I found a W. W. Cronk in the wild!!

S

steif

Joined
Jan 29, 2017
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5
I found a great very heavy W. W. Cronk while out messing around and of course, immediately bought it..
It does not look like anything I've seen of his knives, but I guess that's what a custom maker does.
I am so unfamiliar with his work, other than the images I drug off the internet.. but the quality of this thing is phenomenal.
I would think this might be a very early made knife? I also know there's no way to date it.
I thought the little "hook" on the knife blade was so interesting, but I looked at it while in the sheath and it sure looks like a bottle opener to me... lol.
Here's some pictures.

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that's a serious score! Congratulations!
 
WOW. I once found an early one off Ruana in the wild..Jim Behring got it off of me.
Great score! Really fantastic knife.
 
If you hold your hand close to the guard. Will a finger fit in the hook?

As not2sharp said. Fine cutting, whittling. My first thought was control for shaving

DON
 
Thanks everyone for the comments and likes!
I was curious about the finger being able to fit and came up with this..
GiLrrub.jpg


so... nope.. lol
hold your finger over the notch?
uLiw6LN.jpg


Also a nope unless slicing it is a priority..
I guess it is just a decorative thing..
 
Maybe its the very beginning of Cronk's extraneous hook fetish! 🤷‍♂️😂
 
Good stuff. Good EYE!

Cronk is one of very few makers who succeeded without a one-piece stamp or etch.

99% of the time a maker individually stamps letters in their name, they are simply good hobbyist makers.

An exception to this rule.
 
I am curious where he lived/worked? I have looked all over and there were 3 different areas mentioned on where he lived..

Coop, that's what i figured as well.. I've seen a few letter stamped knives and they just didn't measure up in quality.
I have a small collection of WW2 made soldiers knives made in the home front, and some of those are very rough, but got the job done if needed.
Most of those are unmarked or letter stamped, but there are better made examples of course.
I am not that knowledgable about custom knives at all.
The only other thing of this period I have is a giant claymore sword made by Gil Hibben and etched/engraved by Shaw-Leibowitz in 1972, but i think the sword was made in 1969 or 70. It's a thing of awesomeness..lol.
 
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