The rare survival of old knives in great shape...

kamagong said:
Not me. Future collectors can look out for themselves. Me, I get a perverse pleasure in uglying up a beautiful knife. Like taking a #73, reprofiling the edge, and turning the stag covers yellow through use and carry.
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Good on you sir! The vast majority of these knives will be kept unused for years to come, so it is best to enjoy the use of them. It is perhaps more of a perverse pleasure not to use them as tools.
 
When there are enough of the knives produced, then it's great that they are used!:thumbsup:
Even uglified!!:D It's a true tribute to the designer and maker!!
But I am ever grateful that this knife - probably pre-WWI - escaped uglification!!
The only one I have ever seen!!
HUDSONSBAYHJCOMPOSITE.jpg
 
Wonderful, Charlie, do you think it's coco or ebony, and have you seen that style of punch on any other brand?
 
waynorth said:
When there are enough of the knives produced, then it's great that they are used!:thumbsup:
Even uglified!!:D It's a true tribute to the designer and maker!!
But I am ever grateful that this knife - probably pre-WWI - escaped uglification!!
The only one I have ever seen!!
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Right you are. Or as Pinnah so aptly put it.

"Original mint tells the story of the manufacturer.
Used and worn tells the story of the owner.
Restored tells the story of the mechanic."

I can appreciate them all.
 
I think it is Ebony, likely Macassar, Jeff; I see subtle brown streaks.
I have seen very similar punches on old Valley Forge and Boker knives, and another German brand. I cannot remember which. None are identical, but all are quite close.
 
waynorth said:
But I am ever grateful that this knife - probably pre-WWI - escaped uglification!!
The only one I have ever seen!!
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Nice! One wonders if the Hudson Bay Co. had them made for their teamsters, it looks like just the ticket for hauling freight back when hauling meant horses! If so, a very fortunate survivor indeed!
 
Bartleby, being a he!!-bent-for-profit organization, I imagine HBC made a few for sale too!!
But who knows for sure. Bernie Levine owned the knife before I bought it. He offered it to the HBC Museum for a price, but they didn't want to pay for it at all.
 
waynorth said:
Bartleby, being a he!!-bent-for-profit organization, I imagine HBC made a few for sale too!!
But who knows for sure. Bernie Levine owned the knife before I bought it. He offered it to the HBC Museum for a price, but they didn't want to pay for it at all.
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It certainly is an excellent example of a real work knife! An amazing survivor!
 
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