The author, Dean Case, makes reading easy, while inviting you to visit with the next character. If you have one of such knives, follow the guide above to narrow down the date or era as much as you can. 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. 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. J. Elliott Case, son of Dean Case, who went on to become President of Kinfolks Inc. was one who joined the Navy and left the cutlery eventually to return when the war was over. Id rather give up now than give you a piece of misleading information anyway. A beautiful little village in a largely agricultural area. Without new collectors, this hobby will slowly atrophy until there are just a few of us left (until we age out). Some say it was the millions of knives produced by other companies for the war effort that doomed Marbles in the long run. They also made some pocket knives but most were belt knives. Kinfolk Collectible Vintage Fixed Blade Knives for sale | eBay The wide, upswept, 4--inch, flat-ground blade was his version of the perfect big game and trapping knife. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. 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. 1 bid. Of all the knives that I have ever tried to date, the Kinfolks remain one of the most beautiful. Thanks for showing, once again learned something. The Story Behind America's First Hunting Knife | Field & Stream by johnburrell Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:49 am, Post There are many flavors to be had and with me it is edged implements more directly associated with aeronautical. One of the most common models today has the 568 TC USA marking on its blade. Dating Kinfolks Knife - All About Pocket Knives Your email address will not be published. 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. KINFOLKS DOUBLE SET KNIFE BUTTERSCOTCH AMBER PLUS UNMARKED BIRD AND TROUT. 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. 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? #3 Speak with Knife Collectors and Dealers. In the years after the Civil War, hunting knives tended to follow one of three patternsheavy-duty folders, traditional Bowie knives, and small utilitarian butchering type blades. by btrwtr Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:19 pm, Post of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism. The model 380 was one of the most popular. The knife was obtained from his family and they stated to the best of their knowledge it had been stored with his memorabilia since he returned in 1946. these are the typical sheaths for the knives in post #1. Maybe you want to buy a knife and you want to be sure its worth the price too? Did Camillus Make Other Brands Knives on Contract? This does not impact the price of the item youre buying and it supports me to keep creating the content that you love. LARGE STOCKMAN - JADE BONE KINFOLK JIG. Fortunately for us, Camillus changed their stamps enough to map each one to different periods. Due to labor issues, Kinfolks was closed in 1957, with another cousin, Emerson Case, continuing production of the brand under Robeson Cutlery in Perry, New York, until 1965. 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. Marbles actually made very few knives during the war as they were given contracts for other needed equipment. The design of the knife was very imposing. Kinfolks used to mark their knife blades, and those markings helped tell what era the knives came from. by XX Case XX Thu Nov 10, 2016 6:38 pm, Post Vintage Kinfolks Fixed Blade Hunting Knife Stacked Leather Handle W/Sheath . This is one of the 6-inch knives that the US Army purchased in 1942, before they went to the M3. | Marble almost singlehandedly turned the hunting knife into a must-have piece of outdoor gear for the well-turned-out sportsman. Although a part of the Case knives family, Kinfolks knives didnt have a long run in the market. In any case, buyers must have questioned the length of the handle too, as, over the years, Marbles steadily increased its length. Steve Pfeiffer, author of Collecting Case Knives: Identification and Price Guide published by Krause Publications. 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. Then came Webster Marble. As stated, I presume mine is a rebuild but find your comment interesting. Need Help Identifying Kinfolks fixed blade | BladeForums.com 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. This is the Kinfolks family. 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. Thank you for sharing. 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. ANTIQUE KINFOLKS U.S.A. MY65 Knife & Hatchet Combo Ax Axe Butterscotch Amber. No matter which it is, there are a series of reasons why you might, Read More How to Determine the Value of a Knife (Vintage, Antiques & Collectibles)Continue, Your email address will not be published. Same for middle knife? and do not appear to have been used! The Marbles Expert (top) and its little brother, the Sports Knife (bottom). Powered by Invision Community, US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY. Others give only a very vague date when the original Kinfolks company was making its knives and nothing more. The Expert would also seem to be perfect for the needs of modern bushcrafters. (159) 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 . Just look at it and you would see the same thing. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When Vietnam heated up, the Camillus Pilot Survival Knife became a standard-issue item for a wide range of units, including Ranger Companies. Your email address will not be published. In that case, this book is also a good investment. Kinfolk Collectible Fixed Blade Knives for sale | eBay If you have a Kinfolks knife of, Read More How to Date A Kinfolks Knife to A Specific EraContinue, If you have spent some time here before, then we have dated some pretty amazing knives together. I know Camillus had the one style sheath for 5"knives that seems to be unique to them, but I kind of wonder if sheaths weren't generally a sub-contracted item and often shared between different manufactures. How yours ended up in navy hands is anyone's guess. One thing you might not have guessed is that two of the founding members J. Russell Case and Dean Case also found the Case Knife company. Marbles halted most knife production in 1976, and the trademark was later sold to a company overseas. It came from the estate of a Navy aircraft mechanic on a carrier, but no other information about it. 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. There are also extensive catalogs on the knife brand, making my work easier. I know that Case was plating some of their knives as early as the 1930's and marketing them as corrosion resistant. $9.85 shipping. 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. 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. Still,, Read More How to Date Klein Knives to A Specific Year or Era (5 Methods)Continue, Of all the knives that I have ever tried to date, the Kinfolks remain one of the most beautiful. Or do you just want to know the value of your knife? Most period cutlery companies also produced close copies of the Ideal for use as survival knives in the various branches of the armed forces. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Location: Central Massachusetts. Part of the great thing about knives is the variety and variation. One strange side note to its history is that it was once the official sheath knife of the American Boy Scouts, from 1933 to 1940. A similar issue occurs when dating the Kinfolks knife, but the chances of that error are slim. 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. ANTIQUE W BINGHAM CO KINFOLKS FISH FISHING KNIFE Fixed Blade Hunting. The brand name has since been resurrected. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Why in the world would ANYONE pay $713.00 for this book? Modern hunters will automatically question the length of the 3--inch handle, but this was intentional on the part of Brooks. I remember when I got the middle knife, him commenting that it looked just like the knives they had in the ETO except for the finish. 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. In 1958, Robeson purchased Kinfolks Inc of Little Valley, New York, which just happened to be Emerson Cases former employer. 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. Imperial Knife Company: 917,894 Kinfolks, Inc: 119,702 Pal Blade Company: 268,000 Utica Cutlery Company: 515,000. If you dont go to knife shows, you might also have some luck with veteran knife collectors in your locale. Please try again. Thank you Steve, did not realize it could be that old, the type of bone and the hammered pins did make me wonder.. The Expert pattern is just a strong as any other knife in its general weight class when used for reasonable field tasks. They also sometimes referred to the blade or overall knife material which is equally helpful in narrowing down the years. Or do you just want to know the value of your knife? Knife collectors and dealers should still have those catalogs if you can find them. In my cousin Dean Elliott Cases book, Kinfolks Knives A History of Cutlery and Cousins, he shows this brand being used from 1928-1933. I note that you say that there is a third variation of the #5679 L 36 that has the black plastic pommel (presumably of the Mark 1 style). . Fortunately for us, Camillus changed their stamps enough to map each one to different periods. Picked this up at a nearby antique festival in NC. Something went wrong. In any case, the knife continued in the line until 1960 when the handle was lengthened, and the model renamed the Campcraft.. The Creedmoor is the hottest cartridge on the Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. As avaliaes no so verificadas, mas o Google confere e remove contedo falso quando ele identificado, John Brown Francis Tint Champlin 18661938, Robeson Catalog 1960 Kinfolks New Era Catalog, Cutlery College and Other Kinfolks SpinOffs, Identification and Dating of Kinfolks Knives, Frequently Asked Questions About Kinfolks Knives, Anomalies and Unsolved Mysteries of Kinfolks, Kinfolks Knives: A History of Cutlery and Cousins. 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. My father-in-laws Case knife he brought back from the ETO. Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2013, This book is an excellent history of a family who lived the American Dream. A legacy that lives on today, Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2018. This is usually where I first look at when dating knives. US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY I think the album link, vs a picture link . Otherwise, have someone who does. The originals stopped being made such a long time ago that the catalogs and materials to identify them might have all gotten lost, or might be unreliable. Premium Online Members can read the whole thing by clicking the blue button below. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identication and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. The CASE 322-5 are suppose to have plated finished blades. Did your Camillus knife go to the war? I am immediately ordering even more books to pass on. And a final rant about the place we all love to hate. Enjoy! From the top is the first production strait tang markings followed by the second production arced tang stamp. Kinfolks | Historic Path of Cattaraugus County 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. My thought was A- at some point the two were mated or B-CASE acquired the sheaths from the same supplier as Camillus, I lean towards A. One of the most common models today has the "568 TC USA" marking on its blade. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. At a time like this, when not all dealers can be trusted, you need to be on guard. Rare & Fine Kninfolks V-44 WWII Era Survival Knife - College Hill Arsenal There is no definitive history of the Kinfolks knife around, but the little we know of them is as interesting. I have covered some of them here for you: Those guides expose you to some insider tips and strategies to get the exact date of these knives, narrow down their era or simply confirm if you have the original thing. For the time that they spent here, though, they came up with some pretty great knives that collectors are after today. This site is maintained by the Cattaraugus County Historical Advisory Committee and the Dept. 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. Certainly the Camillus and the Westerns are just finished bright, I've never seen any examples that were plated, (only referring to the 5in knives here). It's easy! Brain fart I suppose. Collecting Case Knives Identification and Price Guide Even if there is no evidence on that, it doesnt drive down the value of these well-made, vintage knives. Im not sure who made that decision as it seems like the Expert or even the Ideal would have been better for camping chores. Gary I wonder if your knife is a transitional example were the fullered blade transforms into the saber grind variety more like the Mark1. However it looks like your knife has a nickel silver guard which may indicate pre-Kinfolks made by Case. Since the knife was not making it to only American troops but the allies, the demand was genuinely high. 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. 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. Maybe you want to buy a knife and you want to be sure its worth the price too? Did you recently find a Camillus knife, and youd like to know what era it came from? 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. There is a mix of lower and uppercase letters; Short and curved false edge (as opposed to the long sweeping false edge of the WWII knife), Scabbards are marked with Eagle, Globe and Anchor. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Like every other knife Ive dated, the Camillus knives are challenging in their way. You could simply want to know if several Kinfolks knives in your possession are originals before you list them for sale too. Latest Find--6-inch Kinfolks Knife - U.S. Militaria Forum For all that good, though, some bad actors have learned how to make fake Camillus knives and pass them off as vintage. That must not have been a very good marketing strategy as the cautions against hard use were soon dropped from their advertising. He started importing and selling German-made knives to his U.S. audience. The table below shows you different tang stamp designs and when they were circulated.Tang StampDescriptionYear/ Era3-line arch stamp1902-19154-line straight stamp with yearFeatures year of manufacture3-line straight stamp1916 the 1930s4-line straight stampThe 1930s mid-19453-line; non-italic fonts; short underline1946 19503-line; non-italic, full underline; no dots (USA., not U.S.A.)1960 the 1970s3-line stamp; full underline; dotted U.S.A.; italicsThe 1970s 1980s3-line stamp; dotted U.S.A.; mixed caps1989 2007Camillus Knife Tang Stamps and their Eras. VTG RARE KINFOLKS Y330/Y333 Sabre Ground Hunter Knives w/Tooled Leather dustin, all I can say is the guard is not magnetic. You can jump to the following sections if youre in a hurry, but I would advise that you dont skip this part. Picked this up at a nearby antique festival in NC. Camillus was so successful a knife brand that other knifemakers contracted them to manufacture their blades. The Expert is a great all-around outdoor knife, but the handle on the Sports Knife is just too short. From mine and your two they are all slightly different which would suggest the milling process was not precise, however it is distinctive one uses brass spacers and the other does not. Although I don't seriously collect knives I do have a small collection of Camillus sheath knives. Also note the top two with brass guards are with and without brass spacers. 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. Fortunately, we dont have that with Kinfolks, but there is a unique issue. So, whats unique about the history of the Camillus knives? This is so ridiculous, it's laughableyet, assinine. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. Okay, maybe not fakes. Kinfolks Knives : A History of Cutlery and Cousins by Dean - eBay There are variations within each manufacturer. Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2021, Kinfolks Knives: A History of Cutlery and Cousins, Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2010. September 30, 2018 in EDGED WEAPONS. This American heritage contributes to the high-value craftsmanship and quality control that ships with these knives. In 1962, the design was shortened to 5-inches to make it easier to carry inside aircraft cockpits. Ending Saturday at 5:06PM PST 3d 20h. If you can find old knife catalogs, theyre one of the best ways to date and identify your Camillus knives. Yep, more nice eye candy and good story thrown in for free. or Best Offer. While Marble never gave him credit, a hunting writer named George W. Brooks claimed to have designed the first Woodcraft in 1914. I know my knives - maybe not as well as my mother - but enough to write helpful guides for you. Required fields are marked *. Read Next: The Total Outdoorsmans Guide to Knives. Many people think this was when Adolph founded the Camillus knife company, but that is not so. If you have already guessed from the name, this company was founded by entrepreneurs who were related to one another. The Western "V-44" offered here is in about FINE condition. 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. The M3 trench knife or M3 fighting knife was an American military combat knife first issued in March 1943. Dustin, thanks for the information about my third pattern knife. He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine. Adolph Kastor immigrated to the U.S.A. when he was 14 and worked in his uncles hardware company. M3 trench knife - Wikipedia 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. This is a book for anyone who would like to spend some time with a family who pursued the "American Dream". Steven Dick Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. On my variant note the filler in the shape of a cross, on the other variant it is in the shape of an oval. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. The good news is that I found multiple ways to determine how old your Camillus knife is. I work hard so my Dog can have a better life AAPK Tips and Tricks -- An Illustrated FAQ Forum on Steriods, Knife Lore - Traditional Knives From the Old Days, Canal Street Cutlery Collector's Forum, Cattaraugus Cutlery Collector's Forum, Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC) Collector's Forum, Robeson Cutlery Company Collector's Forum, Schatt & Morgan Knife Collector's Forum, Knife Related Creation, Modification, And Restoration Forums. I have written different guides on how to date different knives to a specific era but this one is different. While this may sound fairly conventional, no one else was making a similar hunting knife at the time. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well. Sign up for a new account in our community. Overall very cool ID'd item, The sheaths were indeed a sub-contracted item manufactured by Mosser Leather , however made to AAF specifications. Blades: CLIP, SPEY AND SHEEPFOOT Length Closed: 4 1/4 MFG List: $102.70 Our Price: $69.99 Limited . Sign up for a new account in our community. Back to one of your earlier posts. Kinfolk's knives were made by the Kinfolk company from about 1924 until the early 1950's. They are very hard to date the exact time they were produced. Kinfolks Knives : A History of Cutlery and Cousins - Google Books During WW2 I believe Kinfolks was in Little Valley in Western NY. The two with fullers or blood grooves are the known AAF procured types. excellent! While none are stamped Marbles, the knife remains in wide use even today. I purchased 2 books to give as a gift to some of the men in my family. Kinfolks Knives : A History of Cutlery and Cousins Tang Stamps - Case Collectors Club You would often find knife collectors and enthusiasts who know a lot about these blades at knife shows. Kinfolk Collectible Vintage Fixed Blade Knives. $200.00 $10.20 shipping 12 watching Antique 1925-1948 Knife Kinfolks Fixed Blade With Original Leather Sheath Rare $195.00 $9.85 shipping or Best Offer WW2 Kinfolks USA Mk 1 Commando Combat Bowie Knife $129.99