Oregon Knife Show!!

Mark Zalesky always seems to have some Empire treasure for me at the OKCA show, and he did not disappoint this year!

The first pic has various handle materials for the ubiquitous Skeleton knife.
The New England area was a center for jewelry manufacturing, and watch-fob type knives were included in the wares offered. So there was a booming trade in skeleton knives to be handled in various plated and precious metals.
Some great companies got their start making skeletons - the core knives.
With the handle picture, there is a Sheffield Skeleton.
SkeletonsA_zpse1a5eba7.jpg


This second pic shows a series of Empire Skeletons, along with descriptive tags. The tags are mostly illegible, having been soaked in oil for up to a century!! The strings are falling apart.
Thanks to the oil, the knives are in very good condition. Safe to say, the blades have never been used or sharpened after manufacture!!
SkeletonsB_zps0fd3d30b.jpg
 
That is a beaut of a 8OT Charlie - looking at the Bone is like looking at an Older Schrade!


I like the look of the flat Bolsters with the Ebony on the Bertram - that style is most typical of the very early Solingen Slippies - what is the age of this knife Charlie?


One would have to slap you Charlie if you walked away from that Schrade Barlow!!!! - I would miss out on that - as I would probably pass out spying it and not believing my luck!!
-then someone else would slip in and grab it :D


I have a real soft spot for old Hakws - these shown are very nice examples-Charlie - I think the OVB is a stunner - I cant quite see the wood on the scales - they usually use either Rosewood - which can be quite dark at times- almost a Mahogany colour -your opinion?
The Bolsters are awesome - Killer Swedge -with the Butt plate-just has everything going on!!

That Saynor is something else-just beautiful condition - oh man.... what a show! tables full of knives! I think I would have to bring a LOT of money with me - Sue could NOT be with me!
 
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waynorth said:
horse traded!!
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Once upon a time at a Rodeo

Mr. Price Bargainhunter buys a Cattaraugus Horse (a Mongrel breed of Cattle Horse) from Miss Pearl InTheRough, for $60 and then turns around and sells it to Mr. Christian Soldier for $200, who then sells it to Mr. Cash Collector for $1,000.

Mr. Cash Collector knows nothing about the provenance of the Horse, and on the way back to the stables, he is smitten by Miss Pearl InTheRough, and falls in Love at First Sight. One thing leads to another, and Mr. Cash drops to one knee and proposes to Miss Pearl, on the spot. Lacking a ring, he offers the Cattaraugus Horse as a token of his undying Love.

Miss Pearl takes it as a sign from Heaven that her horse has been returned, and Exclaims YES, I Will Marry You!

Miss Pearl is so happy to have Met Her Match Made in Heaven, that she invites Mr. Price Bargainhunter to the wedding, as he was Part of the Magic of the Moment.

Similarly Mr. Cash Collector, ecstatic at this change of life, runs over to Mr. Christian Soldier, and invites him to be his Best Man, as he was part of the Magic Too.
 
Campbellclanman said:
That is a beaut of a 8OT Charlie - looking at the Bone is like looking at an Older Schrade!


I like the look of the flat Bolsters with the Ebony on the Bertram - that style is most typical of the very early Solingen Slippies - what is the age of this knife Charlie?

Wish I knew, Duncan! I suspect 1950s-60s.


One would have to slap you Charlie if you walked away from that Schrade Barlow!!!! - I would miss out on that - as I would probably pass out spying it and not believing my luck!!
-then someone else would slip in and grab it :D

You have to be quick if I am there!:D


I have a real soft spot for old Hakws - these shown are very nice examples-Charlie - I think the OVB is a stunner - I cant quite see the wood on the scales - they usually use either Rosewood - which can be quite dark at times- almost a Mahogany colour -your opinion?
The Bolsters are awesome - Killer Swedge -with the Butt plate-just has everything going on!!

It's either a Rosewood, or a brownish version of Ebony. It has fine black streaks at the "pores".

That Saynor is something else-just beautiful condition - oh man.... what a show! tables full of knives! I think I would have to bring a LOT of money with me - Sue could NOT be with me!
Click to expand...

The Saynor sure is a crank-turner! A flat-bolstered, faceted knife!

And you would be hitch-hiking back to NZ, Duncan!! I had to plant myself firmly behind my table to keep from breaking the bank! There were some incredible knives there!!
I am still trying to figure out my Ipad - got a few pics there - knives and people!
 
I didn't know you wrote short stories, Jon!!
Mystical!!
 
Do you happen to have a picture of the other side's tang stamp on the Hen and Rooster, Charlie? I might be able to narrow down the year of manufacture on that one.

-Dan
 
waynorth said:
Ha Ha - only 10 or 11 Randall made knives! That's a big bag in my books! But as they say - Pics or it didn't happen!!!!!
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They're here, so here's a quick pic just to show that it did, indeed, happen... :D



Hope to see you again next year... :)
 
That's a fine Randall collection, M-P!!!
They all look superb from here!
The one in the upper right corner is one I cannot say I have seen before!
Any chance of a closer look, and maybe some info!!
Nice knives!!
 
Ah, looks familiar. I have the same knife at home, but with buffalo horn covers. That knife was built in the era of Hen and Rooster when AG Russell owned the brand, between 1975-1980.

Im curious, though. What pattern would you call yours? I'm at a lost here. It's almost like a reverse sleeveboard, but I think they always have rounded ends. I'm very interested to hear your thoughts!
-Dan
 
Cool to be able to date a knife, Dan Thanks!!
My wife thinks it's a Danish modern. She's got a point!!
 
Charlie, the Randall in the upper right is called the Guardian - a Boot knife I guess would be the proper description,I owned a Mint example 5 or 6 years ago now - fantastic haul of Randalls - I bet Melvins wallet is in tatters now :eek:

Nice shape on the Rooster Blade Charlie - beautiful lines!

Speaking of Ettricks Charlie - you still collecting them? I picked up a couple with you in mind the other day
 
Please show pics, Duncan! I do still collect them, when I can find them.
I'd love to see what you have.
 
Will do Sir-I have just got back from a great Hike - it rained all the time - but it was great - beautiful deep New Zealand bush, with Sue and I and my HJ - we stopped - cooked up a cup of tea whilst taking cover- fantastic feeling of being alive!

Waiting for some sunshine-when it does Sir I will get outside and take some snaps - I need a huge catch up with knife photos post them up - I will awaken the Ettrick Thread!!

This Oregon knife show just sounds amazing! what a amazing Journey it will be when I get over to meet some great knife friends - and see some serious Steel!
 
All I can say is you gotta love it. The show sounded great and typically one of the best knife shows in the country at that. You folks are making me salivate for Blade.
 
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