Ruana find

[lambertiana]

Today I went to my daughter's husband's sister's house (what does that make us?) and sharpened her kitchen knives. One of the knives that she pulled out is a knife that she found in the woods as a nine year old girl in Haines, Alaska. On inspection, it turned out to be a Ruana:

How this came to be left laying in the woods in Alaska would be in interesting tale. Can anyone give me more info about this model? The blade is 3 3/4", handle is stag. What might a knife like this be worth? Unfortunately, whoever lost it in the woods neglected to leave the sheath.

 

[Arathol]

Model 13b maybe...cast aluminum handles with American Elk inserts.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Lambertiana, someone would have been absolutely gutted on their return to find that Gone! On the Flip side What a Find!!!!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Lambertiana, someone would have been absolutely gutted on their return home to find that gone! Flip side of that- What a Find!

 

[Jack Black]

Wow!

 

[Ernie1980]

Lucky find! You should buy her a nice kitchen knife for her and make a trade

 

[Georgecatl]

Looks like a 13A with the M stamp dating it to between 1962 and 1983.
The 13A has a slightly longer handle(3 1/2 inches)than the 10A smokejumper and the Elk Scales are double pinned.
A price list from 1962 shows a retail of $6.75 USD.
Nice Find

 

[longbow1968]

It’s too bad more folks aren’t familiar with Ruana knives. They are hand built by 3rd generation craftsmen in Bonner Montana. The 10B Smokejumper is a great smaller knife. It is often the only one I take hunting.

 

[kamagong]

That's awesome. What a find. Even more amazing that she managed to hold on to it after all these years.

Ruana Knives is still around. The contemporary ones being made are supposed to be better, with more consistent fit and finish. Still, there's just something about the old ones.

 

[Sidehill Gouger]

If you go to their website you will find they want some very high prices for their knives these days. I personally don't think they are worth it as actual users rather than collector items. I bought my first Ruana Bowie for around $15.00 in 67. I bought a number of others over years but once they went way past the $100 mark I was out.

 

[cbach8tw]

Would love to just own and use an old one for the pure fun of it!! Makes me wonder what stories that old one pull tell. I think it is great she held onto it for so long.

 

[screened porch]

Wow!

Ditto.

Looks like a 13A with the M stamp dating it to between 1962 and 1983.
The 13A has a slightly longer handle(3 1/2 inches)than the 10A smokejumper and the Elk Scales are double pinned.
A price list from 1962 shows a retail of $6.75 USD.
Nice Find

Wow. But I was five, I wouldn't have had $6.75.

It’s too bad more folks aren’t familiar with Ruana knives. They are hand built by 3rd generation craftsmen in Bonner Montana. The 10B Smokejumper is a great smaller knife. It is often the only one I take hunting.

I had no idea they were still around.
Great find of your kinswoman in law, L lambertiana !