Mystery solved .... not a happy ending

[Rhidian]

If you put the blade in vinegar it might show a difference shade of grey at the supposed weld. But of course then the blade would have to be cleaned up again to remove the vinegar etch.

 

[tltt]

Ive never heard of anyone welding blades on, but it is possible I suppose.

It happens, you just don't see it on most worn knives, but it's a little common on military knives and higher dollar stuff. There was an Ebay faker name Brett Van Winkle (Brett1959), now passed, that was notorious for it. In a couple, three of years on Ebay, he made a couple of hundred thousand dollars doing it. He'd buy high end broken knives for the frames and the blade tangs, then reweld bits of new Rough Rider or Marble's blades to the old tangs. He'd also use blades from the old Stidham blade horde*.

He'd then give everything a hand rubbed finish , and a buff. Lots of $20-40 investments got turned in to $300-600 fakes by him.

*Years ago (late 70's), Rhett Stidham bought up lot of old parts from the closed or winding down old factories in the North East. He had 5 gallon buckets full of unused blades from the late 1800's - 1930's. Lots were sold to people for honest repairs, lots were also sold to people with other ideas.

 

[lambertiana]

Without having it in hand, just by the pictures, I think this is just an example of a deeply pitted/corroded knife being subjected to very heavy cleaning. What about other signs of it being apart? Pivot joints look OK? Blades and springs the same thickness?

Welded blades are not uncommon, but usually seen on knives that were made to look almost mint that could then be sold for high dollar amounts.

 

[r8shell]

Thanks for your attention to this. Maybe this is just the case of someone who did their very best to ruin this knife by grinding and polishing. I still like the Coco handle and it has good snap so it will be in rotation in my pocket.

If you put the blade in vinegar it might show a difference shade of grey at the supposed weld. But of course then the blade would have to be cleaned up again to remove the vinegar etch.

I hadn't thought of testing for a weld with vinegar. I'll try to remember that. I was about to suggest putting some vinegar on, just to start a little patina on the blades. I think it would look much better like that.

Shiny new knives look good, and old patinaed knives look good. I can't see the appeal of shined up, pitted steel.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Beware ebay....

It's never been very risky for the types of knives I buy, but I would certainly be extra careful if I was in the market for higher value desirable collectibles.
Most of what I'm buying are honest users in reasonable condition and Buck 305's which are not a knif being faked.
Remingtons, winchesters, Robesons and Catts are way too risky for me to get into no matter how much I'd like to own one.

 

[sceva]

here is what your 2604 should have looked like when new. From the 1926 - 1927 Winchester catalog.