Basically, this was the Ideal with a 6-inch sawback blade, fully sharpened false edge, steel crossguard, and a heavy steel nut as a pommel. The sheath has been stamped U S N but again I don't know by who or when. It maybe that some knives with the chrome plating were used to fill orders, but I just don't know. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Id rather give up now than give you a piece of misleading information anyway. Slowly at first, but with increasing momentum, the folding hunter once again became the favorite field knife of most hunters, and the Marbles patterns were considered old fashioned. By 1992, Buck had produced 11,000,000 Model 110s and was adding more at the rate of 400,000 a year. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. So, whats unique about the history of the Camillus knives? I did have to do a little searching for the right picture link from tou album post. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. Just look at it and you would see the same thing. Your email address will not be published. We are all connected through Job Case, all kin, and this book may be the history of only one of thirty-two different cutleries our family has started over our 140+ year history in the industry, but it is much more. He started importing and selling German-made knives to his U.S. audience. If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. . US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY Some extremely valid points! While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. KNIFE Magazine July 2021 issue Sneak Peek, Weekend Open Thread: Stupid is as Stupid Does Edition. Be prepared to take clear pictures of the knife, but never send the knife to anyone to have it dated for you. In most of the places that Ive come across a Klein knife, it was either a military electricians knife or for another handyman. Theyre not like the other vintage war knives Ive dated because theyre not fighting knives. Turner Manufacturing, Imperial Knife Company, Conetta Tool and Die, and Bren-Dan Inc. received the contracts for this run of M4 bayonets which finally ended in 1970. Robeson continued to make knives until 1965, the year that Emerson Case . Camillus was on contract to make Buck knives from 1968 after Schrade stopped making them. Why in the world would ANYONE pay $713.00 for this book? They show only very minor age/handling related wear, surface scratches, etc. by knifeaholic Tue Nov 08, 2016 5:39 pm. These RARE KINFOLKS Y330 & Y333 Fixed Blade Sabre Ground Hunter Knives w/Original Tooled Leather Sheath are in EXCELLENT overall vintage condition! I have written different guides on how to date different knives to a specific era but this one is different. This forum is for discussing and sharing pictures of anything that relates to fixed blade knives. Interesting,educational,and nice knives too. Your email address will not be published. The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Okay, maybe not fakes. The third production not pictured has a black plastic pommel. Add that to some shady collectors taking advantage of this fact to fabricate the fakes of these knives, and we have another challenge on our hands. Read Next: The Total Outdoorsmans Guide to Knives. If you dont go to knife shows, you might also have some luck with veteran knife collectors in your locale. This is an interesting if somewhat fragmented collection of recollections from people who have a direct family connection to the Case Knife company and the companies that came and went before it. I paid a reasonable price on this knife given it's condition. or Best Offer. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. It's easy! If you dont have both the repro and original side by side, you might not be able to tell the difference sometimes. Location: Central Massachusetts. This may be evolution, but where will this hobby go? Still,, Read More How to Date Klein Knives to A Specific Year or Era (5 Methods)Continue. Where neither is possible, its best to stay away. Marbles pattern sheath knives ruled the market for decades, but the introduction of the Buck 110 lockback design in 1965 was a turning point. Required fields are marked *. . They also sometimes referred to the blade or overall knife material which is equally helpful in narrowing down the years. This is usually where I first look at when dating knives. However it looks like your knife has a nickel silver guard which may indicate pre-Kinfolks made by Case. As long as the treatment passed the series of tests that were required of it it would been accepted. Providing rare insight into Kinfolks and the families involved in its creation and development, Kinfolks Knives is intended to be the most accurate history of the cutlery compiled to date. or Best Offer. View cart for details. The Expert. This does not impact the price of the item youre buying and it supports me to keep creating the content that you love. I can never really be sure where or when a blade gets it's cover unless I open the box from the factory that the knife came in. Some time back I picked up one of the curved marking version with the plastic pommel and no colored washers in the grip. The sheath looks like the one you show from Camillus. Camillus was also notorious for sometimes mixing up the tang stamps. Enjoy! Also note the top two with brass guards are with and without brass spacers. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. If I am honest, theyre not the only ones to make this mistake. Blades: CLIP, SPEY AND SHEEPFOOT Length Closed: 4 1/4 MFG List: $102.70 Our Price: $69.99 Limited . Can you post a picture of the end of the pommel? The mystery of the Jean Case Cutlery Company is at last explained, and many family photographs and recipes are included. Read Next: Five Best Hunting Knives Ever Made. CASE has one other variation only prevalent at end of the pommel. There are many flavors to be had and with me it is edged implements more directly associated with aeronautical. Sorry, you have Javascript Disabled! He felt the proper grip when field dressing was to choke up on the handle with the base of the blade between your fingers. The consensus is that the Kinfolks knife company was established around 1924 from when they made these really fine knives till the 1950s. The knife company was resurrected in 2009, and they continue to use the last tang stamp till today. Marble's hunting knife. Did your Camillus knife go to the war? $274.99. As popular as the Marbles line was with outdoorsmen, it was their impact on the rest of the cutlery industry that really made a lasting impression. Ending Jan 29 at 8:05AM PST 1d 10h. $9.85 shipping. There are also extensive catalogs on the knife brand, making my work easier. Danny. All About Pocket Knives is a knife related resource center for buying, selling, researching, and discussing all things knives, Post (159) The two with fullers or blood grooves are the known AAF procured types. For this topic I thought I would zero in on the 5" hunting knives that are known to have been procured by the USAAF. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. You could simply want to know if several Kinfolks knives in your possession are originals before you list them for sale too. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. The CASE 322-5 are suppose to have plated finished blades. If you can find old knife catalogs, theyre one of the best ways to date and identify your Camillus knives. Now, we know already that this, Read More How to Tell If A 1918 Trench Knife Is Real (5+ Unique Methods)Continue, The kissing crane knives are some of the most well-made, long-lasting, and historical knives that we can still find around today. Something went wrong. Around 1915, Marble made what some consider his greatest contribution to outdoor cutlery, the Woodcraft sheath knife. This is the Kinfolks family. If you happen to have, Read More How to Date A Case Kodiak Knife by Yourself (Expert Advice)Continue, Do you have a knife that you want to have sold? Kinfolks Inc. and World War II by Frank Trzaska. Top is pre-war procured knife blade tang stamped Kinfolks INC. followed by the two war time procured knives illustrating the use of alternate materials first switching to a plastic guard with aluminum pommel then plastic guard and plastic pommel tang stamped Kinfolks USA. 4 bids. Kinfolks Founded by Dean Case, Russ Case and Tint Champlin Little Valley, New York 1925-1957 Literally founded by kin - cousins Dean and Russ Case, and Tint Champlin - the venture was to help W.R. Case & Sons and Cattaraugus Cutlery meet production demands for fixed-blade knives. Alternately, you can look for Facebook groups or other social media gatherings where you can find such knife experts. Camillus was so successful a knife brand that other knifemakers contracted them to manufacture their blades. Stockman knives have two backsprings, which support at least three blades. A 4-inch blade would seem to be a very practical length for hunters, but the 3--inch leather-washer handle made it a little difficult to grip for many field tasks. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. I have no idea how it ended up in the hands of an aircraft mechanic on an aircraft carrier. Today, you and I are going to go through a journey that should, hopefully, help us estimate the founding date of your Kinfolks knife or what era it came from at the least. #1 Check the Tang Stamps This is usually where I first look at when dating knives. I know of examples of the fullered Camillus 5" knife missing the thin brass spacers too. The third (bottom) one is interesting as it seems to have a fuller but barely and steel guard, Always assumed the pommels were secured like the MK1s. All of these make the recipe for a truly great knife that deserves our attention. While some other companies have taken over the design and started to make modern versions, there is simply nothing like the older units that first came out under the original Klaas company. The Western "V-44" offered here is in about FINE condition. Thank you for sharing. September 30, 2018 in EDGED WEAPONS. Read More How to Date a Camillus Knife Effectively (1902 2007)Continue, The Case Kodiak is one of the most interesting exports from the company and continues to command a high price today. I know my knives - maybe not as well as my mother - but enough to write helpful guides for you. Steven Dick It is not a particularly rare blade (but in very good to excellent condition); there are several like this for sale on ebay most times I look (which is about 3-4 times a week). This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. Marbles halted most knife production in 1976, and the trademark was later sold to a company overseas. Does the one you mention have the colored spacers at each end of the grip like the ones you illustrate? Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Required fields are marked *. CustomizedGiftStore. There is no definitive history of the Kinfolks knife around, but the little we know of them is as interesting. Thanks! This is the Kinfolks family. All that can contribute to making it harder to know when these knives came from. The specific one you asked about is the one on the top or the left. Outdoor writers of the period all ridiculed the Bowies as being strictly, Billy the Kid, dime-novel fantasies. As for the butcher knives and the folders, they got the job done, but they didnt have much flash. You can jump to the following sections if youre in a hurry, but I would advise that you dont skip this part. Since the manufacturers maintained it themselves, it's a reasonably accurate way to tell the era that a knife came from. Picked this up at a nearby antique festival in NC. There were six manufacturers: Kinfolks, Queen, Williams, Case, Ka-bar, and PAL. H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. One of the most common models today has the 568 TC USA marking on its blade. Its now rare to find a Marbles pattern hunter in any of the major cutlery lines. Klein knives are clear vintages, and theyre one of those knives that went to the war. This article appears in the July 2021 issue of KNIFE Magazine. But there are clever reproductions that can fool you into thinking its the real thing. Camillus knives are one of my most favorites knives to date. Vintage Kinfolks Fixed Blade Hunting Knife Stacked Leather Handle W/Sheath . Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. dustin, Re: Dating Kinfolks Knife. You may receive a partial or no refund on used, damaged or materially different returns. Way cool! Copyright 2004-2023 allaboutpocketknives.com, Collecting Case Knives: Identification and Price Guide, "If there are no Dogs in Heaven, then when I die, I want to go where. Also, for the rst time, the For the time that they spent here, though, they came up with some pretty great knives that collectors are after today. The brand name has since been resurrected. By Vintage Kinfolks Knife Bakelite Pommel with Sheath. Some say it was the millions of knives produced by other companies for the war effort that doomed Marbles in the long run. I've pretty much assumed that it is likely not a War production piece, but whether it's pre or post war I have no idea as Case used the chrome plating for a long time. TreasuresbyMoStore. I have presumed that it was a 5679 L 36 that some one had replaced the grip and pommel with those from a USN Mark 1. Also, for the first time, the personal memories of multiple branches of this . It is believed that some of these tactical knives made it to WWII but there is no concrete proof of that anywhere. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. While this may sound fairly conventional, no one else was making a similar hunting knife at the time. With these prices it will be hard for a new collector (with limited funds) to acquire nice knives in the future. March 26, 2014 in EDGED WEAPONS. All of these make the recipe for a truly great knife that deserves our attention. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. It's easy! Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. Show me your knife, and I'll tell you who you are. Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout. Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2023, I like it I use it to verify the age of my knives, Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2022. by JohnR Tue Nov 08, 2016 5:09 pm, Post Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Great information on a very overlooked fighting knife. We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. Dept. It is knives like these that make some people on the outside question why Case knives are so expensive when they are just a great value for their money. Kinfolks were granted the patent to use tungsten carbide on their knives in 1955, and the knives went into production afterward. Also, for the first time, the personal memories of multiple branches of this American cutlery dynasty are included, as well as a foreword by Brad Lockwood. The M3 was originally designated for issue to soldiers not otherwise equipped with a bayonet. Still, Read More Knife Dating This is a pity, as the Woodcraft still remains one of the best big game processing knives ever designed. by Miller Bro's Sun Dec 25, 2016 8:07 pm, Post Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Kinfolk Collectible Vintage Fixed Blade Knives. When Vietnam heated up, the Camillus Pilot Survival Knife became a standard-issue item for a wide range of units, including Ranger Companies. I appreciate you writing this post and the rest of the site is very good. Marble first marketed this model as not being up to the same kind of hard use his Ideal was. This is so ridiculous, it's laughableyet, assinine. The company closed shop in the 1950s and they have since been resurrected in other capacities. There is also no proof that Case made any fixed blades before 1923, and by 1926 and up to 1932-33 all their fixed blades were made by Kinfolks. The Case has two variations which are the details in the casting of the pommel. If you are vastly interested in the story of how three cousins came together to found a knife company that we still know today, check the book out on Amazon today. The original building was blown away by wind, yet Dean Case was able to buy-out his related partners through product by the 1930s, supplying fighting knives and the M4 bayonet during World War II, refocusing on hunting and household knives afterward. This refers to the Flame Edge Super Hunter model which was made in the USA. thorin6, Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club thats right for you for free. Instead, he sought out a smaller cutlery brand in Camillus and joined the management team. Is it a genuine vintage or merely a reproduction? After decades of feuding and parting ways to start yet another Case-related cutlery, Kinfolks saw three cousins come together to help one another. The middle knife has the chrome plating on the blade that Case was known to do. After decades of feuding and parting ways to start yet another Case-related cutlery, Kinfolks saw three cousins come together to help one another. 2023 Cuts & Carves - Designed by O. Christopher, How to Date A Kinfolks Knife to A Specific Era, How to Tell If A 1918 Trench Knife Is Real (5+ Unique Methods), How to Date a Kissing Crane Knife (Both Old and New), How to Date Klein Knives to A Specific Year or Era (5 Methods), How to Date a Camillus Knife Effectively (1902 2007), How to Date A Case Kodiak Knife by Yourself (Expert Advice), How to Determine the Value of a Knife (Vintage, Antiques & Collectibles). In short order, virtually every major cutlery company in the U.S., England, Germany, and Sweden began offering their own versions of Marbles most popular knives. Or do you just want to know the value of your knife? Here are the markings on the sheath and blade. Also, for the first time, the personal memories of multiple branches of this . I have noticed over the past two or so years that the prices of decent WW2 knives on ebay have more than doubled what I was paying back in 2016 and earlier. I know my knives - maybe not as well as my mother - but enough to write helpful guides for you. In that case, this book is also a good investment. Kinfolks WWIIvar option_df_159643 = {"outline":[],"forceFit":"true","autoEnableOutline":"false","autoEnableThumbnail":"false","overwritePDFOutline":"false","direction":"1","pageMode":"0","source":"https:\/\/www.knifemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/blogpost\/KM-July-2021-Kinfolk.pdf","wpOptions":"true"}; if(window.DFLIP && DFLIP.parseBooks){DFLIP.parseBooks();}, HistoryKinfolks Inc.Knife Magazine ArchivesKNIFE Magazine July 2021WWIIWWII Knives. You just think these companies would be in cities. It is the aluminum guards that define Kinfolks made Case fixed blades. This isn't just a book for knife collectors. 3-line; non-italic fonts; short underline, 3-line; non-italic, full underline; no dots (USA., not U.S.A.), 3-line stamp; full underline; dotted U.S.A.; italics. To see this page as it is meant to appear, please enable your Javascript! However, when I went on to see what prices were being asked for Kinfolks in this condition, I saw the prices in the $125 range (over twice what I paid). Marbles next gift to the sporting cutlery world was the Expert sheath knife (5- and 6-inch blade lengths), introduced in 1906. $12.00. ${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}. There seems to be a problem serving the request at this time, Hunting Collectible Vintage Factory Manufactured Fixed Blade Knives, Bowie Collectible Vintage Factory Manufactured Fixed Blade Knives, Hunting Collectible Vintage Fixed Blade Knives, Camillus Collectible Vintage Fixed Blade Knives, Stainless Steel Handle Collectible Vintage Fixed Blade Knives, Stainless Steel Handle Collectible Vintage Factory Manufactured Fixed Blade Knives. The top two you have are right as rain for war time production AAF knives. Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2011. Great Knife Collection. I believe youre more interested in dating the vintage ones, though, so the other era guides on that list are best suited to your needs. The knife featured here was manufactured by the Kinfolks company. The company got a short reprieve in 1957 when its survival knife design was selected for use by all Air Force and Navy pilots. This was a straight-backed, sheath knife with a slight . Clays primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). The book does not just contain biographies of the companies founders but also comes with up to four catalogs to aid your dating. This is one of the 6-inch knives that the US Army purchased in 1942, before they went to the M3. While stag slabs were available at extra cost, most were handled in a feature pioneered by Marblestacked leather washers. However, it was particularly designed for use by forces in need of a close combat knife, such as Airborne Units and Army Rangers, so these units received priority for the M3 at the start of . The CASE sheath is not pictured as I do not know what it looks like so if anyone does please share. Powered by Invision Community, US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY. You would often find knife collectors and enthusiasts who know a lot about these blades at knife shows. | Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. It is knives like these that make some people on the outside question why Case knives are so expensive when they are just a great value for their money. Germany, as well as several other European countries, also flooded the country with massive quantities of low-priced sheath knives (most of them based on the old Marbles patterns). Saunders knives; and a few more knives under contract. If you have a Kinfolks knife of your own to date, you probably know that already too. Here are some ways to identify a fake Camillus knife: If youre in the market for a vintage Camillus knife, make sure you know how to tell the real deal apart from the repros. A German himself, and having spent enough time in the U.S.A. to know the market landscape, this business venture was not difficult for him. From then until 1965, Robeson produced Kinfolks brand knives in addition to its regular line, using many of the same features and handle material. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. $6.30 shipping. This was where he first got a taste for cutlery, which would later shape the man he became and the company he launched. THX SKIP. The knife you have is the third pattern manufactured under amendment 5679 L36A eliminating the aluminum pommel replacing it with a Resinox plastic type and eliminating the spacers to reduce cost making this model a late war expedited lower costing knife. $14.59. of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism. The Camillus Cutlery company also produced: Their production capacity was expanded during the second world war when they had to manufacture a lot of high-quality knives to meet the needs of the soldiers shipping off to war. Literally founded by kin cousins Dean and Russ Case, and Tint Champlin the venture was to help W.R. Case & Sons and Cattaraugus Cutlery meet production demands for fixed-blade knives. by knifeaholic Tue Nov 08, 2016 5:39 pm, Post Of course, the safety razor was soon to make the old cut-throats obsolete, and the Marbles fuller became more of a trademark than a design feature. dustin, here are 3 similar Case knives. With decades of experience under his belt, Adolph spearheaded the growth and expansion of the Camillus knife company into what we know it as today. Gary I wonder if your knife is a transitional example were the fullered blade transforms into the saber grind variety more like the Mark1. Besides showing you how to date a Camillus knife properly, I also give some tips to avoid falling into the fake vintage Camillus knife scam. Pictured are the 5 principle pattern types and manufacturers for the USAAF. of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism. The TC marking shows that the blade was made of Tungsten Carbide, a material that Kinfolks started using in 1957. During the 1950s, there were huge numbers of sheath knives available for next-to-nothing in every military surplus store. The good news is that I found multiple ways to determine how old your Camillus knife is. Thanks for showing, peaked my interest. Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. ANTIQUE KINFOLKS U.S.A. MY65 Knife & Hatchet Combo Ax Axe Butterscotch Amber. The Western procured knife by the USAAF was only known to have the brown bakelight guard and pommel but there are two variations in the sheath with a low and high throat retaining strap. Suggestions, Questions, Comments, Concerns, Alerts, Etc Member Store Tips, Tricks & Instructions, https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/btrwtr. All had clip-point blades and a deeply-fullered edge grind (not a blood groove). these are the typical sheaths for the knives in post #1. My guesstimate would be about 1925(IIRC the founding year for Kinfolks, but I could be wrong) up to WWII. I've talked to other collectors who are convinced that a few of the Case models are correct for WW2 with a chromed finish, but non of them were sure about the 322-5 being one of them, before now. I love to read a book that sticks with me even after I have put it down. This is one of the 6-inch knives that the US Army purchased in 1942, before they went to the M3. In most of the places that Ive come across a Klein knife, it was either a military electricians knife or for another handyman. KINFOLKS USA 1925- 40's RARE PERFECT BONE VINTAGE KNIFE $104.99 $5.55 shipping Vintage Kinfolks 330 And 333 double knife set with Sheath . Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. When WWI and WWII came along, Adolph shifted the focus of the company to cater to U.S. soldiers and the Allied Forces. After looking at the lead filler on the pommels of yours it is even tough to say that they could make those variations. After more than two decades (1897) in this business, importation costs for the knives were getting higher and wiping out Adolphs profits. I have a 1970 Ontario marked JPSK I got from a reconnaissance pilot I was stationed with in Texas in 1976. LARGE STOCKMAN - JADE BONE KINFOLK JIG. They also sometimes referred to the blade or overall knife material which is equally helpful in narrowing down the years. However, that beauty does come with some challenges in telling the exact era that the knife is from. Try these methods to determine whether your Kinfolks knife is an original, or to know when it was made: One of the most comprehensive dating instructions for Kinfolks knives has been put together by Dean Elliot Case. One of the most common models today has the "568 TC USA" marking on its blade. A timeline of the family and related cutleries is included for quick reference, as well as answers to the most common questions about the company from www.KinfolksInc.com. Today, they have become a favorite of collectors, so much that we are interested in dating them to know whether we have the real deal or a fake. by TexasRed Sun Apr 18, 2021 5:56 pm, Powered by phpBB Forum Software phpBB Limited. Of all the knives that I have ever tried to date, the Kinfolks remain one of the most beautiful. The Creedmoor is the hottest cartridge on the Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. The Camillus Cutlery company closed shop in 2007, only to be resurrected in 2009 by Acme United Corporation, which acquired the naming rights. In 1929, Marbles added a 4-inch-blade version of the Expert to its line called the Sports Knife. The Girl Scouts of America adopted it as their official sheath knife in 1930, and the Boy Scouts made it an alternative to the more expensive Woodcraft. Fortunately for us, Camillus changed their stamps enough to map each one to different periods.