Marble's knives - Still practical or outdated?

runningboar said:
Gramps,
Your a David Byrne fan?
Click to expand...
...I have three grand-daughters in the house...they not only have commandeered complete control over what music I listen to, but also rule entirely the TV remote. It is sad...I'm just a shell of a man now. ;)

Also, during the winter months I took a course in modern American poetry at our local community college. The professor assigned us to study the lyrics of Dylan, McCartney, and Byrne...among others. I enjoyed the class immensely and got exposed to some interesting stuff I otherwise would never have discovered !

- regards
 
That's awesome!!! Your granddaughters have a great Gramps and good taste in music as well. I have a 17 year old boy and try to steer him to the good stuff but I still get exposed to a lot of noise that he calls music.:D

Enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mHnzGoX1fY&mode=related&search=

One of the first videos I ever saw on MTV about 1981 or 2 I think, oh well enough hijacking, back to marble's knives.:thumbup: Chris
 
I cherish my three 'Mike Stewart' Marble's in 52100, a pair of Campcrafts and a Fieldcraft. I would guess that Camillus was making the 0170-6 blades after Mike left, so my question is, who is making them now?
 
I have my dad's Woodcraft. It was the only fixed blade he ever owned. I couldn't begin to guess how many deer he skinned with just a slip joint. The Woodcraft saw very little use. If I had any sense I would have been satisfied with his old Marble's and not spent any money on the drawer full of knives I now own.
 
Alberta Ed said:
I cherish my three 'Mike Stewart' Marble's in 52100, a pair of Campcrafts and a Fieldcraft. I would guess that Camillus was making the 0170-6 blades after Mike left, so my question is, who is making them now?
Click to expand...
...perhaps Ontario ?....I know all the Marble Outdoors slipjoints are now produced in China....I would hate to think the fixed blades...?? !!

I think Mr. A.G Russell would know for certain. He always is knowledgeable about knives and their "origin of production".

-regards
 
Still practical as ever. Yes, there are glitzier, more "modern" designs. Yes, you can buy blades with the tip pointed every which way and gimmicks that may work or not. But the old designs still work as well as they ever did.

1. Western
2. Marbles
3. Remington



Codger ;)

(You knew I would say this, right?)
 
I have no experience with Marbles knives. But here is what I think in general about old tools:

I think that in general, if a tool has evolved over time to look a particular way, it probably works. I don't think there's any reason for a tool to be "outdated." I have a hammer from 1940 or so, for instance. It pulls and drives nails every bit as well as my 2005 Estwing. I have a big crosscut saw that is eighty years old. I doubt anyone makes a better one today - in fact I doubt anyone makes them at all! Well, probably somewhere.

Anyway, I can't think of a single reason those knives wouldn't work today. I think sometimes we tend to overthink things a bit - could the knives possibly be redisigned for maximum cutting efficiency? Probably. But do they work? Man, it's a long, narrow wedge with a very finely ground edge. Of course it works. There isn't all that much to making a cutting tool, in a way.
 
I don't know if it was part of the original intent of the wide fuller on the Ideal, but I imagine that having that fuller there would make it much quicker to thin the knife by the mousepad stropping method of today since you have much less steel in the middle of the knife to remove.
 
Hey I was just reading the above linked article and it says
they had placed an order with Boker to make the USMC knife.
How could we place an order with Boker if we were also fighting
their country? Am I missing something?
 
Styles and steel come and go, but as long as it has a sharpenable blade and a handle to hold onto, it's still a practical/functional blade to have with you.
 
I don't think you would be disappointed in any of the Marbles Fixed blades that are still made in the US. Their China stuff is pretty cheap.

I have handled and used the older 52-100 stuff and the newer models. No doubt, my preference was 52-100, but the new stuff is still excellent and the workmanship on the knives is very good.

I don't have any trouble recommending them.

But...if it came down to the Marbles or a Bark River or Fallkniven, the Marbles would be out.
 
msiley said:
Hey I was just reading the above linked article and it says
they had placed an order with Boker to make the USMC knife.
How could we place an order with Boker if we were also fighting
their country? Am I missing something?
Click to expand...

Yes. We did not declare war on Boker. Boker U.S.A. was founded by Hermann Boker as an importer circa 1837 located on "cutlery row" (Duane Street, N.Y.C.), Carl F. Boker (Bowker) began as a manufacturer circa 1917. They bought Valley Forge Cutlery Company in 1916 and moved to a new factory in Maplewood, N.J. in 1921. The company was sold in 1969 to J. Weiss & Sons, part of the Cooper Group in 1978. The N.J. plant closed and the factory moved to Apex, N.C. until 1984. THE Heinr. Boker Germany bought the company in 1986. Boker Cutlery U.S.A. is the import division of the German company now.

Codger
 
Marbles had good designs which are still quite viable. Other than new steel and new handle materials, not much there hasn't already been tried in blade design in the last few thousand years. Deer, fish, and other useful and tasty critters still disassemble the same way today as they did 100 years ago when Marbles' designs were perfected - and wood is still wood.

Since the demise of Camillus (who did all of the 0170-6C aka 'Carbon V' blades for several companies), good, production carbon blades are getting scarce on the ground.

Buck and Knives of Alaska make some very good designs that are humanly priced and available, as does RAT series by Ontario. I'd look for blades in either D2 or S30V. Both Buck and Gerber are making a special series of S30V knives just for Cabales.
 
2dogs said:
Thanks Codger! Were you working there in 1837 or did you come on in 1921? :D
Click to expand...

1917. Carl and I go way back. That was before Platts and I got our patent for Western States Cutlery and Manufacturing. The Baer brothers were just sprouts back then, never dreaming they would become cutlery kings.

Codger
 
I personally like the Woodcraft, Hunter, and Sport models...all wickedly sharp and easy to maintain the edge. I have a 8" Ideal Stag and bought it mostly for the looks and collector's value. Have not used the Ideal.

Want to try the new Safety Grip (rubber?) Marbles since the price seems right about $16 on Ebay. Rather have a USA made over a Mora.
 
There are some slipjoints made in the US with the Marbles name, they were done by the Custom Shoppe and made by Queen, and pretty sexy too of you can find them.

As for fixed blades I have a Sport from 99 and can attest to the supersharp edge it takes. I also have a Woodcraft pre 1930 that I think holds a better edge than the Sport and gets just as sharp. I say try them:thumbup:
 
Codger_64 said:
But the old designs still work as well as they ever did.
Codger ;)

(You knew I would say this, right?)
Click to expand...

I think this hits the nail on the head. I don't believe in obsolesence. If it worked well in 1884, it will work just as well in 1984 and 2084. There may be newer (and arguably better) designs, but that doesn't mean the old one mysteriously quits working.

Personally, I prefer a full flat grind, but love 52100. The BR Lil Boone that looks like this knife but is full flat 52100 is just about perfect for me. But that doesn't make the old one bad, not by a long shot.

As always, YMMV.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top