Jack Knife Ben by Schrade?

waynorth

waynorth

Dealer / Materials Provider
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I managed to snag a few of the older Schrades that AGRussell recently put up for sale. They sure are selling fast! One of them is this stockman etched Jack Knife Ben etc. See 3 pics below. The etch is quite clear, but my scanner bounces it a bit, hence the "double vision".
Does anyone know any of the story behind this?
According to Levine's Guide IV, Schrade made knives for Jack Knife Ben (JKB) until about 1927. Does that make this knife a Schrade Cut. Co? I've never seen the etch, only the tang stamp for JKB. Has anyone else seen the etch vs. the stamp?
Thanks in advance,
Charlie
SchrJKB1.jpg

SchrJKB2.jpg

SchrJKB3.jpg
 
Probably came from the last of the era before they closed down. I have a couple something like yours and a IMPERIAL 2 inch shell sided one that looks like it came off of a card board display. A also have an old Ulster barlow with the ink etch JACK KNIFE BEN, GO FIGURE?



The above is an email from a long time JKB collector. I believe he's referring to the end of the JKB era, and not the Schrade shut down.
 
Based on the general appearance and bone coloring and jigging, your knife and the (very few) others that I have seen appear to be from the late 1940's to 1950's era - Schrade Walden era when they were still using genuine bone handles.

Evidently a number of companies made the Jack Knife Ben marked knives over the years, it is possible that Schrade also made some in the earlier years circa 1920s.

Knife World had a long article about Jack Knife Ben a few years ago, but I do not recall the years that the company was in business.

Where did AG Russell get these older Schrades, anyway?
 
BTW, about a year ago on EBAY, I saw listed a Schrade-made Jack Knife Ben large stockman pattern, 4" square bolstered model...same blade combo as yours, and similar bone with identical jigging, coloring more toward green bone. Again a 1940's to 1950's era knife, etch was KATTLE KING I believe. And it had a tang stamp JACK KNIFE BEN in an arc (may have been JACK KNIFE SHOP, I don't recall). Anyway, it was minty and sold for just under $800.
 
To your question knifeaholic, I wrote to A.G. to ask, but haven't received an answer yet, as to where the knives came from. I'll post his answer here.
To your second post, $800 bucks or so is up there for a folder!! I'd have to know my JKB's and win a lottery to bid that!! I know there are repros on the market; Jim Parker had a bunch made some years back.
 
waynorth said:
To your question knifeaholic, I wrote to A.G. to ask, but haven't received an answer yet, as to where the knives came from. I'll post his answer here.
To your second post, $800 bucks or so is up there for a folder!! I'd have to know my JKB's and win a lottery to bid that!! I know there are repros on the market; Jim Parker had a bunch made some years back.
Click to expand...

Well Jack Knife Ben is a very rare and desireable old American knife name. The one that went for high $$ was a very nice example (yours is as well) but that one had a tang stamp too in addition to the blade etch. That would have helped the value. I had one that was marked like yours, no tang stamp and just the blade etch - it was a slightly different pattern of medium stockman (also made by Schrade) with cracked ice handles and had some rust along the blade face - it sold in the $100 range.

And as far as AG Russell - I looked at his website and it looks like those are all knives sent on consignment - he used to do that with the CUTTING EDGE magazine type publication. I used to sell a lot thrugh that publication. I'm glad to know (thanks to your post) that he is back doing consignments. I am probably going to send a bunch of knives to be consigned.
 
waynorth said:
To your question knifeaholic, I wrote to A.G. to ask, but haven't received an answer yet, as to where the knives came from. I'll post his answer here.
To your second post, $800 bucks or so is up there for a folder!! I'd have to know my JKB's and win a lottery to bid that!! I know there are repros on the market; Jim Parker had a bunch made some years back.
Click to expand...

Sorry I have not seen your letter (email?). I am sensitive about consignors ever since a collector in Texas (30 years ago) figured out my code and tried to bypass me and buy direct (?). These Schrade knives are from a really long time collector who spent a lifetime collecting Schrade (and related) knives and now needs to close them out. There is no parker trash here! I stand behind every one. If I were younger I would be buying lots of them myself. all the best, A. G.
 
Thanks for checking in, A.G! I was just trying to establish some background for the knives I bought from you (quite a few). Mainly, I wanted to know if they came from the bankruptcy, as in "off the factory boards".
Thanks,
Charlie C.
 
No way are these from "off the factory boards" I have seen that collection and there was nothing to compare. These are from a lifetimes focus on Schrade and closely related knives. The collectors is at a time in his life where other matters have become more important.

Over the next year you will see many of these knives. If they are all as fine as the ones I have so far examined this will have been the Schrade Collection of all time, I expect that there will be a dozen or more great collections come from this. all the best,

A. G.
 
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