Original Vintage Bob Engnath Nesmuk

[fanninrebel]

I recently purchased at a garage sale an early 1970s Bob Engnath Nesmuk. The gentleman I purchased it from said he purchased it from Mr. Engnath in his Glendale, California shop sometime in the early 70s. The knife measures 8 7/8" in total length and the cutting edge of the blade measures 4 1/2". The front of the blade has Bob's mark of EB (the E is actually backwards on the blade). The backside of the blade is marked HML 26 (House of Muzzleloading perhaps). I have telephoned serveral knife makers (Goddard, Martin, Fowler & Herdon) and each was able to share information regarding this knife. I learned that Mr. Engnath was famous for his blades and early in his career he produced complete knives. Can anyone give me an idea of the value of this early Engnath Nesmuk? I know pictures would be helpful but I have been unable to load them. I am looking at selling this knife online and was hopeful to get a price range. I know nothing about knives; I purchased it to use as a skinning knife, but if it is a collectors item I would rather pass it on to someone who would appreciate it. Thank you very much!

 

[saxon]

Welcome to the forum. I'm surprised that nobody replied yet. Bob's finished knives have never really had a big collector following. He used to grind out lots of high quality blades that he sold through his shop for the "do it yourself" makers. I lived near him in Glendale and learned how to grind my first blades from Bob. He would teach you everything he knew without hesitation because he knew that in order to succeed at knife making you had to just do it day after day.
As far as the value of that knife, it is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. There really is no set market for the blades that Bob sold as finished pieces. I still have an unfinished version of that same Nessmuk pattern from Bob and it is a good one to use as a hunting knife. If I were you I'd just use it and do it justice.