This is one of the 6-inch knives that the US Army purchased in 1942, before they went to the M3. So, whats unique about the history of the Camillus 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 Your email address will not be published.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. This is usually where I first look at when dating knives. 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Show me your knife, and I'll tell you who you are. $6.30 shipping. But there are clever reproductions that can fool you into thinking its the real thing. By Also note the top two with brass guards are with and without brass spacers. Enjoy! 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. Starting in 1918, the English cutlery company, Wade and Butcher, began offering pretty much exact copies of Marbles Ideal pattern. Your email address will not be published. Marble tended to know his customers well, and if he thought a double guard would sell better than a single, then that was the way it was going to be. Looking for a particular book or back issue? In my cousin Dean Elliott Cases book, Kinfolks Knives A History of Cutlery and Cousins, he shows this brand being used from 1928-1933. Latest Find--6-inch Kinfolks Knife - U.S. Militaria Forum Picked up this Kinfolks the other day with its original sheath, tang reads Kinfolks Incorporated, anyone have a date range for this knife. It's easy! US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY and do not appear to have been used! Suggestions, Questions, Comments, Concerns, Alerts, Etc Member Store Tips, Tricks & Instructions, https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/btrwtr. 5" Air Corps Knives - EDGED WEAPONS - U.S. Militaria Forum Kinfolks Inc. and World War II by Frank Trzaska. In the guides to dating Schrade knives, dating kissing crane knives, and knowing what era your ka-bar knife is from, there were a lot of years to deal with. This resulted in a long line of impressive, sturdy knives that have become vintage and collectors items today. After looking at the lead filler on the pommels of yours it is even tough to say that they could make those variations. 4 bids. ANTIQUE W BINGHAM CO KINFOLKS FISH FISHING KNIFE Fixed Blade Hunting. This may be evolution, but where will this hobby go? For this topic I thought I would zero in on the 5" hunting knives that are known to have been procured by the USAAF. They also sometimes referred to the blade or overall knife material which is equally helpful in narrowing down the years. Stockman knives are said to have originated from the Cattleman's knife, since they are similar in character, but less bulky. 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. Kinfolks were granted the patent to use tungsten carbide on their knives in 1955, and the knives went into production afterward. Some say it was the millions of knives produced by other companies for the war effort that doomed Marbles in the long run. Check out local knife forums where you have experienced knife collectors, enthusiasts, and users too. By 1876, after his uncles company had to close shop due to poor sales figures, Adolph charted out a new path for himself. Challenges with Dating the Kinfolks Knife. Kinfolks Knives By Dean Elliott Case - iUniverse 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. My guesstimate would be about 1925(IIRC the founding year for Kinfolks, but I could be wrong) up to WWII. Dustin, thanks for the information about my third pattern knife. 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. There were six manufacturers: Kinfolks, Queen, Williams, Case, Ka-bar, and PAL. #3 Speak with Knife Collectors and Dealers. As stated, I presume mine is a rebuild but find your comment interesting. Same for middle knife? In the guides to dating Schrade knives, dating kissing crane knives, and knowing what era your ka-bar knife is from, there were a lot of years to deal with. Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. It is the aluminum guards that define Kinfolks made Case fixed blades. 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. Save big on firearms, accessories, tactical gear, clothing, and ammunition from now until March 29. This is the Kinfolks family. 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. 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. 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. Im not sure who made that decision as it seems like the Expert or even the Ideal would have been better for camping chores. Kinfolks Inc. and World War II by Frank Trzaska - Knife Magazine His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Blades: CLIP, SPEY AND SHEEPFOOT Length Closed: 4 1/4 MFG List: $102.70 Our Price: $69.99 Limited . Picked this up at a nearby antique festival in NC. VTG RARE KINFOLKS Y330/Y333 Sabre Ground Hunter Knives w/Tooled Leather 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. To see this page as it is meant to appear, please enable your Javascript! $9.90 shipping. Instead, he sought out a smaller cutlery brand in Camillus and joined the management team. The company closed shop in the 1950s and they have since been resurrected in other capacities. 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. There was a problem loading your book clubs. However, the Case dating system also adds to the appeal and collectibility because the knives can be easily identified and dated. 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. | 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. With these prices it will be hard for a new collector (with limited funds) to acquire nice knives in the future. This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. 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. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Can you post a picture of the end of the pommel? I have no idea how it ended up in the hands of an aircraft mechanic on an aircraft carrier. Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt. Maybe it was the Woodcraft name that sold them. Also, for the rst time, the Marble's next gift to the sporting cutlery world was the Expert sheath knife (5- and 6-inch blade lengths), introduced in 1906. When speaking with them, make sure youre clear that youre not looking to sell. I agree that he probably was the person who hand stamped the USN mark on the sheath. If you, Read More How to Date a Kissing Crane Knife (Both Old and New)Continue, Klein knives are clear vintages, and theyre one of those knives that went to the war. I wish I could help more but this is as far as my limited knowledge can take me. The middle one is the other variant with oval shaped liked filler. Or do you just want to know the value of your knife? Does the one you mention have the colored spacers at each end of the grip like the ones you illustrate? 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. All of these make the recipe for a truly great knife that deserves our attention. Otherwise, have someone who does. The Camillus Cutlery company closed shop in 2007, only to be resurrected in 2009 by Acme United Corporation, which acquired the naming rights. Klein knives are clear vintages, and theyre one of those knives that went to the war. 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. Please try again. The Marbles Expert (top) and its little brother, the Sports Knife (bottom). The third production not pictured has a black plastic pommel. Didn't know they were filled that way. It looks like WhatsApp is not installed on your phone. These fakes are even made with materials that age fast, tricking you into thinking that the knife has indeed seen a lot of years. Do you think that the Government would have specifically requested the chrome plating, or that the manufactures supplied them from their existing stock to fill orders? After more than two decades (1897) in this business, importation costs for the knives were getting higher and wiping out Adolphs profits. Did you recently find a Camillus knife, and youd like to know what era it came from? Published Oct 28, 2019 6:08 PM EDT. Tang Stamps Case has become the undisputed favorite of knife collectors for a variety of reasons including the rich heritage, quality and variety of knives. 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. After decades of feuding and parting ways to start yet another Case-related cutlery, Kinfolks saw three cousins come together to help one another. But that changed at the start of the war with the adoption of the legendary USMC Fighting/Utilitya knife that was basically a militarized version of a Marbles Ideal. Overall very cool ID'd item, The sheaths were indeed a sub-contracted item manufactured by Mosser Leather , however made to AAF specifications. Read Next: The Total Outdoorsmans Guide to Knives. 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. 1 bid. Still,, Read More How to Date Klein Knives to A Specific Year or Era (5 Methods)Continue. This guide to dating Camillus knives is focused on the Camillus-stamped knives only. $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 We work hard to protect your security and privacy. 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. Thank you for sharing. You can also check much larger forums such as BladeForums, AllAboutPocketKnives, or such other relevant picks. You may receive a partial or no refund on used, damaged or materially different returns. Thank you Steve, did not realize it could be that old, the type of bone and the hammered pins did make me wonder.. 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. They also made some pocket knives but most were belt knives. 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. I presume the stamp USN was added by the individual as personal enhancement. The company got a short reprieve in 1957 when its survival knife design was selected for use by all Air Force and Navy pilots. 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. ${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}. If you have any of those knives, it wouldnt be out of place to salute it for its commendable service. There are variations within each manufacturer. is intended to be the most accurate history of the cutlery compiled to date. One of the most interesting things about this company is that they were founded in Little Valley, New York. (159) KinfolksFounded by Dean Case, Russ Case and Tint ChamplinLittle Valley, New York1925-1957. Others give only a very vague date when the original Kinfolks company was making its knives and nothing more. 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. 2023 Cuts & Carves - Designed by O. Christopher, How to Date a Camillus Knife Effectively (1902 2007), How to Date Klein Knives to A Specific Year or Era (5 Methods), How to Date A Kinfolks Knife to A Specific Era, How to Date a Cattaraugus Knife (5 Methods Explained), How to Tell If A 1918 Trench Knife Is Real (5+ Unique Methods), How to Date A Case Kodiak Knife by Yourself (Expert Advice), How to Determine the Value of a Knife (Vintage, Antiques & Collectibles). Of course, they were sharp and most of them are older than us, but that doesnt mean we lost interest. Thanks for showing, once again learned something. Robeson continued to make knives until 1965, the year that Emerson Case . Without new collectors, this hobby will slowly atrophy until there are just a few of us left (until we age out). If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. It is believed that some of these tactical knives made it to WWII but there is no concrete proof of that anywhere. Brain fart I suppose. Sign up for a new account in our community. 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. All had clip-point blades and a deeply-fullered edge grind (not a blood groove). offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.