Knife Identification

U

uscgretired

Joined
Mar 23, 2002
Messages
17
I have purchased a knife from an individual at a local gun show and I am seeking information on the maker of this knife. The knife has a shield on one side of the blade that has the word Levine and a engraved dragon in the shield. The other side of the blade has the following: 154 cm 62R and what looks like a date of 9-76. I have attched picutures to help with identification. The overall length of the knife is 7" the blade is approximately 2 3/4 inches and a thickness of 3/16". It has a Yellow Linen Micarta Handle with a different picture of a cougar on each handle. I believe the cougars are scrimshawed in the handles. The handle has 3 spacers, the first one againts the metal is yellow, the second one is black and the third is yellow and then the micarta handle. It has a brass bolster. The blade is highly polished and very thick. For a short knife it is heavy. Everything on the knife is very smooth and form fitting. Mr. Levine appears to be very talented in the skills of knife making. If anyone has any information on Mr. Levine and his knife making, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank You,
Tom Kuntzi
USCG/Retired
 
Tom, welcome to Bladeforums! The best of our forums for identifying old knives is The Bernard Levine Knife Collecting and Identification Forum.

You can't post a picture as a Basic Member, though.

154cm refers to the steel, the American equivalent of the Japanese ATS-34, both used in high-end knives. 62R refers to the Rockwell scale for blade hardness. 62 is very high, and could lead to a brittle blade, but one that would hold a sharp edge. I don't know if 154-CM was available in 1976.

Hope this helps!
 
Let me also welcome you to BladeForums, Tom.

That is definitely the mark of Norman Levine. He made a wide variety of knives; folders including slipjoints, hunters, daggers, boots and art knives. There are a lot of pictures of his work in the Knives Annuals, starting in 1982 and in almost every issue until 1996. It seems he was mostly known for his art knives.

154CM was indeed available in 1976. Bob Loveless was using it in the early 70s.

Edited to add this.

He sold his first knife in 1974.
 
Tom, like the others have stated, it is Norm Levine's work.
One last note, unfortunately Norm was killed by a drunk driver some years ago, near his home in Lake Elsinore, CA. He was a great guy.
 
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