Mervin Masters knife

Stringplucker

Stringplucker

Joined
Jun 1, 2016
Messages
152
I just won an auction for a Mervin Masters knife. My father bought one of his knives back in the mid 1980's, a bone handled Barlow type folding knife, that we believe he sold to someone through the years. I know he didn't pay much, since dad was a money mizer. I remember that he picked it up at a show somewhere in northern KY/Cincinnati, Ohio area, one that he took my older brother and myself to. I wish I could remember the show venue, but I can't. It was made out of an old file, and I remember it to be a nice knife.

Anyway, I just won an auction for one, and got it at a decent price, I believe. There's not much information online about the guy, other than he passed away in the late 80's. I won't have the knife in hand for a few days, but here's some of the many photos from the auction site. Also, I found a listing on another site for the same knife...perhaps the seller had tried selling it elsewhere prior to listing in on the auction site. I saw what it was listed for, and paid less than half of that.

I can't imagine that Mervin made many of these knives, so I'm assuming they're somewhat rare. Anyone else here own one?

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Before it's asked, Yes...I did do a search. The one shown in the Barlow thread is similar to the one my dad had. That's the only MM knife I've seen on this site.
 
I have never seen another one of his knives, you are fortunate to have tracked one down! When it arrives you can give us a review:)
 
I certainly will. There is another one on that site with a Buy It Now price that was listed this morning. It's a single blade folder with bone handle.
 
This is one purchase that I'm pretty excited about. It's one that will be cleaned and oiled, then put up in the safe instead of used like my others. I believe there were only a small number of them made, perhaps only one of each style, meaning there won't be another like this one out there. New territory for me...having one that likely nobody else has.
 
I bought this one a few years ago. I think is was Tony Bose who told me Mervin used to show up at eastern knife shows. An old guy wearing OshGosh Bib jeans, dealing his knives out of his pockets!!
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Wish I could have met him!!
 
Nice to see another Mervin Masters knife out there. Good looking knife, too! I'd love to know how many he made. From what I'm seeing, I don't think there were many of them, and each one was different from the next.

I somewhat remember a man with that description selling dad a knife in the aisle between rows...blue and white striped, like a train conductor's if I remember correctly. I was 12 or 13 at the time, and was more interested in the milsurps, balisongs, and switchblade combs. That's the trip that dad bought a pocket knife kit for me, one that I had to assemble myself, with cheap plastic scales. I wish I still had that knife. being 12 or 13 at the time, that would mean that it was 1984 or 85.

I remember the knife that dad bought being decent quality, but he much preferred to carry his Buck 110 or his Camillus US 1967 folder in his pocket, and his Western L36 on his hip. Knowing dad, he either sold it to put food on the table, or traded it for ammo or gun parts. His collection would always grow and shrink, depending on how well things were going at work and how many hours he could get.

It's amazing how many memories flood in when talking about an old knife. I pray that my kids and grandkids experience the same in the future...
 
Well, the knife came in today, and I must say...it's a nice knife. It has a very slight wobble at the joint, but not bad at all. It opens very smoothly. Closed, the knife is 5-1/2" long and 9-3/8" when opened. There is just over 4" worth of cutting surface, and the blade is 3/4" wide. I don't currently have my mics or calipers on me, so I can't tell you the thickness of the blade...but it's a good amount. The spring still has the marks of a file, and can be seen when in operation...which I find to be pretty cool. The handle has is very nice, although this one has a few nicks in it. The nail notch was cut in with a 1/16" cut-off wheel, which is how I probably would have done it. Front and rear bolsters are solid, and likely nickel silver. The liners are brass. Stops are at 90 degrees and full open. The walk and talk is smooth with a nice, well made snap. This really is a very nice knife.

Overall, I really like this knife. It came to me with a very sharp edge, and well oiled. I can tell that it was well cared for and used by a prior owner. There are little scratches and nicks in the handle and bolsters, but that's what I like to see. This was a working man's tool, made by a working man.

Sorry if the photos look off a bit, but they were taken with my phone. Quarter is in the photos for size comparison.

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With quarter to show thickness of blade

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