- Joined
- Dec 19, 2006
- Messages
- 8,210
No worries, Duncan. It would be ok if you were skeptical of this knife. In general, a bit of skepticism is necessary in knife collecting.
I'm happy with both knives.
The Challenge does have a pin crack on the mark side and some more scratches than I had hoped but there are spots of original finish peeking through the wear. I usually don't buy stories (they're usually more expensive than the knives themselves
) but I have no reason not to believe the seller's story. It seems like a reasonable explanation. For a novice she did a very nice job with the description. I like that she said "I have not attempted to clean the knife because the patina speaks of its age."
I'm happy with both knives.
The Challenge does have a pin crack on the mark side and some more scratches than I had hoped but there are spots of original finish peeking through the wear. I usually don't buy stories (they're usually more expensive than the knives themselves

My husband received this knife when his father died in 1984. It had belonged to either my husband's father or grandfather. I found it in my husband's keepsake box after he died last year at 87 years of age.. The knife had remained in the box until his death. He had never removed nor used the knife.
In my research, I learned,the knife has carbon steel blades, brown jigged bone handle, brass inner scales and pins. It has an unusual 3/4" rectangular bolster. Large blade has CHALLENGE Reg. U.S. Pat. O. Each blade tang is marked: Challenge Cutlery Corp. Bridgeport. The large blade is spear blade. I am not well informed on knives, but in my research, I have discovered that this knife has good "walk and talk", also referred to as snap. I have not attempted to clean the knife because the patina speaks of its age.
Length from tip of end bolster to tip of large blade is 5 6/8". Small blade is 2 2/8". The weight is 3.3 oz.
Last edited: