Identification Help Requested "Lyle"

[30-30remchester]

Requesting help on the two knives photographed. A friend picked these two knives up at a yard sale. They are both marked "Lile" in script apparently with an electric pencil. If I remember correctly there was a custom knife maker named Lile, and from what I can remember he built very high quality knives. However these do not appear to be that high quality. So unless these were his very early attempt, in high school shop class, I would assume it is another maker. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Dawkind]

James B. 'Jimmy' Lile is who might be thinking of....... That script on the blade looks like it was done with a pantograph, IMHO, considering the preciseness of it.

Ernie Lyle is a Florida maker that started making knives around 1972....same time frame as early Lile knives from Arkansas.

 

[sheathmaker]

Using your own photography, I see Lile. The i has even been dotted. The diagonal scratch forms what could be loosely confused as a y, but it does not match the flow or style of the rest of the script engraving. Therefore, I could conclude that this might be an early Jimmy Lile.

Paul

 

[james terrio]

Therefore, I could conclude that this might be an early Jimmy Lile.

I have no idea, myself. But if it is... wow. That would be ridiculously cool.

 

[Russ Andrews]

I too suspect early Jimmy Lile;
The grind style is very similar to his. The makers mark looks like "Lile" to me also.
The screws are the early Loveless style (Lile primarily used stainless after the early
70s.).
Additionally, The practical essence of the designs just seems to say Lile.

 

[fast14riot]

I'm sorry, but I don't see the lack of quality you describe. Absolutely have never seen something that nice come out of a "high school shop class." What I do see is worn and abused knives. The grinds are clean, even the handle shaping is very tidy, the visual balance is spot on. The mark, I agree was done by pantograph and is "Lile" as I see it. His early works were infact done on a pantograph.

To which Lile these knives can be attributed to, I can't tell you for certain, but I would be reservedly optimistic that they are Jimmy B. Lile.

I think it might be worth the $25 to have Bernard Levine appraise them. Or shoot Miles Welze and email, he is a known collector of Lile knives.


-Xander