Outdoors Balisong?

C

Chad0989

Joined
Feb 16, 2001
Messages
4
I aquired this odd balisong type knife from my grandpa last year. On the off the knife well closed it reads "Saf-T-Sheath Outdoor Knife A Waltco Product". It looks and seems really old. On the blade it also reads "WALTCO Saf-T-Sheath Made in U.S.A".
Here's Some Pics:
knifeopen.JPG
Here's it open. Looks kinda scary IMO.
blade.JPG
Here's a closeup of the blade, notice its serrated on one side, and sharp on the other.
closed.JPG
Here's it closed.

If anyone had any info about it, it would be appreciated. And also would it still be illegal to carry?

[This message has been edited by Chad0989 (edited 02-16-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Chad0989 (edited 02-16-2001).]
 
ouch...i dont think i'd WANT to carry that...looks like it may eat me or something....pretty scary, but a good lookin knife.

I think there is a knife laws part of this forum, you might want to check that out as it is usually pretty helpful.



[This message has been edited by Waktasz (edited 02-16-2001).]
 
first of all I woudl liek to say that is one MEAN mofo... and secondly unless you are in AZ (or maybe OR??) it is illegal to 'carry' the said knife. (if my memoery doesnt fail me - yet)

I am sure I have heard of waltco 'saf-t sheath' but for the death of me I can't remember.. Gollnick can prolly answer it cause I guess Guinessess n black russians are more damaging than the Martinis Gollnick likes
tongue.gif
blik... but if I am not mistaken there is some historical significance to it.

------------------
URBAN.LEGENDS.(BalisongGARBAGE)
ENGEL.DESIGN.ROOM
[FAKE01].[the mirror site](www.rejectionist.com)
If you play with love you will be heartbroken; if you play with knives you will [bleed]
 
Guiness!? I thought I was one of the few people that liked that, my friends all bitch when I bring cans of it to parties because none of them like the taste. It's only good from the tap and from the can with the widget in the bottom that injects the gas into it. The bottles just don't taste right.
 
On Gollnick's Market Watch page there was one that was purchased Jul 4 2000. It went for $37.77. The inserts are celluloid I believe.

The following quote is curtosy of Gollnick:

Here's a bit of balisong history. The Waltco Saf-T-Sheath was one of the earliest examples of an American-made production balisong. Notice the interesting latch.

The latch is spring loaded. It's a pretty scary looking knife but I'd bet cops would still see it as a bali and therefore it would fall under the same laws.



[This message has been edited by BaliLover (edited 02-16-2001).]
 
The Waltco Saf-T-Sheath is, to my knowledge, the second example of an American-Made balisong. They were made by Waltco Products between about 1910 and 1920. (The Hemming Brothers Cutlery Woodsman was the first beginning production in 1908). I have several examples of each, of course, given my love of old and historic balisongs (Oh, and Sniperboy, I'm glad to see you back in town. I've got a job for you and your team... in France...).

I've never seen a Waltco with the serrations on the spine like that. The blade usually has an upturned tip. I suspect that the tip on this one got damaged and the blade reground to a new tip. The serrations in the photo look somewhat "uneven" like maybe they were added by someone later. I could be wrong, of course. Maybe Waltco did make a different blade. Anyway, it'd be interresting to know what stories this old knife has to tell. Of course, grandpa may not want all of those stories told
wink.gif


Keep in mind that those maroon inserts are celluloid. So, you might want to review This article about celluloid.

Nice piece anyway, a true bit of balisong history for you.

------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
Thanks guys! Wow this thing was made along time ago. The tip is upturned, but it seemed to come out flatly angled in the picture, maybe because I used my computers videocamera and my hands arent the stediest. As for the serrations, I'm not sure, I thought they were uneven because someone maybe tried to sharpen them. And the celluloid, after reading that article, im surprised that the inserts are still in such good condition.

[This message has been edited by Chad0989 (edited 02-16-2001).]
 
All of my Waltcos have their celluloid in prefect condition (expect for minor scratches etc, which are to be expected of pieces of such age) except for minor shrinkage which is typical of celluloid of this age. You can probably see on yours that the celluloid seems just a tad bit small for the space. There's probably a small gap between the celluloid and the metal.

All celluloids seem to shrink. In fact, later top quality knife makers who used celluloid and those who still use celluloid today usually bought/buy their celluloid years in advance and just let it "age" before using it.

Some celluloids are much more stable than others. Unfortunately, only age has separated the good from the bad. Remember, the deterioration of celluloid was totally unknown at the time most celluloid-containing knives (especially this one) were made. At the time that these Waltco knives were made, celluloid was a very new material.

Fortunately for us, the material that Waltco used seems to have proven a very stable celluloid.


------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
I saw one similar to this at a gun show a few weeks back. The old man selling it said it was a WWII paratrooper's knife.

It had a hook at the top of the blade "for cutting 'chute lines", a saw back, and maroon celluloid handles. Only thing is, it had no markings at all. Nothing. I was tempted to buy it until the fellow said "$75." I ran away.
 
Yep, I can see the little gap between the metal and the celluloid. Thanks Gollnick and the others. Now, this forum has got me wanting to learn how to manipulate one of these things, If I could only convince my mom to let me get a BM42, Theres no way I could use the Waltco, Id cut myself on the serrations, and its so old I wouldnt want too. Well heres a ? also, how far away does it have to be from my other knives for the celluloid not to mess up the blades?
 
Well, I had to play with it, and I cut myself, ouch, it didnt hurt a first, just bled, but now it hurts. Aww man I wish I had another. Im addicted, I say, Im an adict....damn forum pressure....hehe
 
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