Info on Maker Morseth

JParanee

JParanee

Joined
Dec 23, 2006
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His guys

I have a friend in Canada that owns this knife

Apparently it was made in the 60's

What can you tell me about this maker
 
AG Russell used to buy blades from him and have them handled in his shop. Highly collectible. I'd ask AG Russell about them. If anyone knows he does.
 
Joe, I am assuming your are speaking of Harry and his grandson, Steve Morseth. Harry made knives in the 40's and 50's with Steve taking over in the 60's and selling the brand to A.G. in late 71'. Steve died in 1995. Hope that helps as it was the only info I could find.
 
The blades were laminated back then, if memory serves.

This information is gleaned from a review Mac Overton did of an out of print book on Morseth over on Knife World:

"Harry Morseth’s family was from Norway and he emigrated to the U.S. when he was 17, entered through Canada, and eventually was employed at a lumber company in Everett, Washington. There he worked in the repair shop, and soon learned how to use the lathes, milling machines, drills and planers there to make knives from old planer blades made of A-2 steel. Around 1920, he set up a small knife-making shop in the back yard of the home to where the family had moved.

The first Morseth hunting knives were apparently patterned after the Marble’s Ideal. The book documents the transition from using A-2 planer blades to using laminated steel Brusletto blades Harry brought back from a trip home to Norway in 1938. It also documents what materials were used for handles and guards, such as how brass was used for guards and fittings on most knives Harry made during World War II, when nickel silver was hard to find. Whale bone and walrus tusks, obtained on a trip to Alaska, became handle material for some early knives. Harry also made some of the machinery for his shop. Beall writes “Saying Harry was creative is somewhat like saying Einstein was smart, it is a major understatement.”

The book says that Harry’s Brusletto laminated blades were forged before 1948. In 1948, that firm began using a 60-ton press for cutting blades from strips of laminated steel. The laminated blades consisted of a 1/16-inch thick layer of high-carbon steel, sandwiched between layers of soft, ductile iron.

Collectors will be interested to note that from 1946 to 1951, Morseth blades measured just under five inches long. Around 1953, he added a modified Bowie with a six-inch blade to the line. Also, he offered less-costly “utility” knives made of thinner stock than his regular line.

The book contains 15 chapters (including two addendums) and an incredible 227 photos, most in color. The main chapters include: (1.) Introduction, (2.) Birth of a Business, (3.) A Blade of the Best Traditions, (4.) Harry’s Knife-making in a Nutshell, (5.) The Patented Sheath, (6.) Harry’s Business in its Peak Years, (7.) A Different World, (8.) Steve’s Turn at the Helm, (9.) The Road to Morseth Divides, (10.) Morseth Goes to Arkansas, (11.) Arkansas’ Morseth Knives, (12.) Steve’s Last Years, and (13.) Steve Takes the Reins.

Some of the last chapters document the problems that faced the company as it was handed down to Steve Morseth, Harry’s grandson. While his knives may have been better designed and fitted than those from Harry, he tried to sell them at old-time prices, and, as knife entrepreneur A.G. Russell once wrote, “the result was knife-making disaster.”

The superlative knife maker, Bob Dozier, was hired by A.G. Russell to make Morseth Knives after A.G. bought the company. In addition to his own knives, Dozier made Morseths. (Morseths continued to use Brusletto laminated blades, while Dozier’s own utilized blades of D2, a steel of which he is an acknowledged master.) Dozier had a lot of input into the writing of this book, and wrote part of the introduction.

Finally, there are also the two Addendums, “Kit Knives Lose Their Edge” and “Morseth Knives by Time and Maker”. In particular, the second will be invaluable to collectors and users alike. It gives guidelines on identifying when and where a particular Morseth was made, and whether it was made by Harry, Steve, Bob Dozier or others."

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
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LX_Emergency said:
AG Russell used to buy blades from him and have them handled in his shop. Highly collectible. I'd ask AG Russell about them. If anyone knows he does.
Click to expand...

A.G. bought the Morseth brand after the original Morseth died. Then A.G. Russell - the company - made the knives sold under that brand. A.G. is a great figure in knifedom, a member here, and answers questions.
 
STeven just posted similar information, but here is what I have. I bought one off E-Bay a few years ago. May have to search for the photo, or pull the knife out, but here is the info I received:


"This auction is for a really Awesome Scarce 1991 A.G.Russell Morseth Semi Skinner Model Custom Knife made by Custom Knife Maker Giant Bob Dozier. This is one of two (2) or three (3) Morseth knives I am listing this week. Please take the time to check them out. Dozier was hired to create the very earliest Russell Morseth knives and then came back in the later part of the 80's again. I have collected these for years and they are as nice a custom knife for the money as any piece made. Great quality, materials, workmanship, and the world famous laminated steel blades that made Harry Morseth famous. This Semi Skinner Model came out around 1990/1991 as another great pattern to the Morseth arsenal and wasn't offered that long. Amazing in the hand feel. Full tang construction with the retaining nut countersunk into the butt of the handle, one of the soundest most secure forms of construction ever used. The knife was handled by the original owner but was never used with the original edge. Light handling scratches here and there on the 3 5/8" semi skinner blade as well as a few very small nicks to the top of the blade as well. A few handling scratches to the beautiful Cocobolo handle and scratches to the wide Nickel Silver guard mostly from the sheath. This type of guard was only used on a few of the Morseth patterns that were introduced around 1990. Super top grain leather sheath in almost mint condition. You don't see this Model for sale very often. Great piece!! Thank you and good luck. Please email with any questions."

- Joe
 
As stated, this is a later Morseth made knife with Bob Dozier as the maker, but it gives you a look at the style.

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- Joe
 
As of the Blade Show this year, Bob's started making some Sisu Models in the style of the Morseth knives. If you ever get to talk with him he'll give you the whole history of it, great to listen to him tell it. His Sisu models use his D2 core laminated in the center of 410 stainless on either side.

His shop also sells a book about the history of Morseth Knives itself, called 'The Keen Edge of Perfection' by James R. Beall with Gordon Morseth Jr. Some times Bob will bring a copy for sale with him to the knife shows. Excellent book, pretty well written on the history of the knives and FULL of great pictures. Pretty essential for any knife history enthusiast.
 
The Morseth "Saf-Lok" sheath is also interesting. It was patented and was unique…..but it only worked with certain style knives, Morseth , of course. See Patent info below.

Paul
 
I forgot about that sheath! Yes, thanks.
A SS blade was then offered. duz anyone know which stainless it was? Maybe A.G. will chime in.
rolf
 
Thank you, Thomas.
I had the Chute and Boot knives, both in Red Rucarta and the SS. dunt ask!
rolf
 
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