marbles knives

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scottyutah

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Mar 30, 2006
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Marbles knives except for the value we will put that aside. what do you all think, the better knife is an older ideal or the new ideal?
 
Aren't there 3 kinds?

The OLD ones, the 1997-2001 ones made by the BRKT people, and the post-2001 ones after the company was sold.

---edit forgot to answer the question. For me, I'd pick the 97-01 ones made of 52100 for a user knife (I remember reading somewhere that they'd cut the old knives in half if placed edge to edge in a vise), and the old ones for collection purposes. The newest ones have no value for me. I'd rather get BRKT stuff today.
 
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did not know that, thanks. I am looking at not just the ideal but the older pat. 1916 as well. just don't know which is the better steel.
 
I don't know much of the older v. new ones or between the 2. My grandfarther used to tell me stories of when he worked in the factory pre ww2. Just thought that is would be cool to get one that maybe he touch and worked on. But I would use it pretty hard as well. 1997-2001 I will look for one. How could I tell the diffrence?
 
scottyutah said:
1997-2001 I will look for one. How could I tell the diffrence?
Click to expand...


A couple of things.

Look at the 2 sets of spacers between the handle and guard as well as between the handle and butt cap. Each year of knives from 97-01 used a specific color pattern of black, red, and/or brass spacers for that year only. There's a chart of this online somewhere.

Also the 97-01 knives for the most part (the trailmaker is one exception) used very small brass guards. I think the idea was for the guard not to get in the way when cutting. The newer stuff uses much larger guards.

The 97-01 tang stamps were laser engraved, the newer ones are stamped in (could be vise-versa)

Expect the 97-01 stuff to cost more as well......
 
wow! I will look for that I also found a book on marble knives. You know alot of this subject. thanks for the info.
 
One more thing.

I seem to remember that there may be some 1997-2001 series Ideals made using original, vintage 1940's era Ideal blades (1095 steel) that were found one day in the shop. There wern't many made---I think AG Russell was selling them back then.
 
I have an older, around 2000 model with 52100. It has decent grinds, is fitted pretty well, and had a competent edge out of the box. I like it better than the brand new ones. I found it NIB at a gunshow with a dealer that had it for years unsold. I got a pretty good deal on it , paying less than current prices, and I like the 52100 steel on it. It takes a great edge. Joe
 
The 52100 ones produced when Mike Stewart, now of Bark River Knife @ Tool, was in charge, are superb. I am not impressed by current production, although the carbon steel ones are supposedly 50100B/Carbon V. I understand that the early Marble's were die forged, probably from 1095, but Marble's may have outsourced some blades.
 
Older knives are usually a better buy for the money than newer knives of the same brand. Scratches and minor pitting are of no importance when actually buying a knife for use and $10 beats the heck out of $80 for a functionally similar tool.
 
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