Marbles Knives

[Renaissance Man]

Do old Marbles knives in used but very good working condition have much in the way of collectable value?

I have one from when I was a much younger fellow, it is tarnished on the blade, I never tried to polish it,only kept it oiled over the years,  but not rusted or pitted at all. The handle is very nice
I believe it was called the Wood Crafter. It is the original sheath and it has the Boy Scout Emblem on it.
Tell you one thing about these knives for sure, I have not sharpened it for at least ten years and almost sliced myself open with it, they hold an edge and get extremely sharp.
Anyhow some pics

 

 

 

 

 

[Shaun]

They are regularly sold on the bay, you can search and find what they are going for. That looks like a gem and I would keep it and skin deer with it.

[Bjorn]

Very nice knife and sheath. Those are popular in the knife area on ebar.

[Wade Phillips]

The old Woodcraft is a great all purpose knife. It was introduced over 90 years ago. Leather handle models are not lookers by today's custom knife standards, but it is still a very functional blade shape. Many of the original stag handle models in excellent condition will appeal to even the most discriminating knife user's eye. This old steel is easy to sharpen and has a remarkable ability to hold a keen edge. Your Boy Scout model was first introduced in the 1930s. It shows some good use but should still bring a nice price at auction with the Boy Scout sheath. You will have enough for a nice down payment on a 59 Kodiak...

I have several old Marbles including a few Woodcrafts. My favorite Woodcraft is an original 90+ year old model with the old stag handle and the 1916 patent date stamped in the blade. I carry it in my pack and use it every season to gut and skin several animals. It is one of the true Old Time Classic Knives... I like to use great old functional equipment, that is part of the reason I collect and use old Kodiaks.

Caution, the newer Marbles are not worth having... Buy, collect and use the old ones.

[d. ward]

Super good knives thats the only brand of knife I carry.bd    

[JavelinaHink]

Bill.......The Boy Scout...was made between 1930 to 1935 but the blade would show a Boy Scout etching and/or stamped  emblem , If you have a etched blade it may be gone now from use. It came out right before the Girl Scout Sport knife.

Like Wade pointed out they have some of the best steel used in knives and seem to get better with age...just like us. I too still use the models I have you can do alot of animals before the need of sharpning.

It would bring some good money if it showed the emblem on the blade but someone might need a good sheath , I have had some without before and would have wanted one back then so there should be a market for it.

If you need to sell I can look up some numbers of the members of the Marbles+ Club , they have a meeting/show every year in Rapid River, Mi.(U.P)in March that's a good place to look for certain  Marbles made knives and guns. Alot of people don't know they made two models of Guns 1908 and 1921 over and under with foldup stock for the traper to carry in a shoulder holster with 18in. barrels. I have both models and they are nice to use. Cal.44/40 and 22 on top

[JavelinaHink]

Don........ Nice looking set, your knife is the Sportsman's Knife No.62 made between 1976-77

[Wade Phillips]

Doc - Your Sportsman's is a BIG functional improvement over the "Western 648".. Smart man...

The Cutmaster is kind of a hotdog twist to the little sheath you have. With a file, the cutmaster seems to just be taking up space.

The "yuppie" etched/printed file handle is too much for me...

Surprised that you don't use one like Fred's original pre-1957 file handles which were much better in any hand and seems more like your style.

Have used the pre-1957 file handle for years in my RARE 1940s BEAR Knife File and Stone Set...

[d. ward]

Bill you are correct about the No.62 1976-77 great knife and as Wade mentioned way better then the Western.
I use the cutmaster to sharpen the bleeder blades it works great on those.But not worth a crap on the broadhead I only use the file on those.The file handle is from a 1965 Polar that broke.The transfers were when Al first made the Signuture decals for yew wood core.I needed to test them out and did not want to try them on the limbs so I used the file handle.
Hey Wade my first choice of files would be this one.But do to the value I hardly ever carry it...bd  

[Renaissance Man]

I think I will post if F/S in the knife section and see what happens. I prefer seeing good things go to like minded people if you know what I mean.
Thanks for the info guys.

[reddogge]

Interesting knife.  I like its lines as a skinner.

[Tom I.]

About two or three years ago I bought one each of every currently manufactured Marble blade style, all with the stacked leather handle.  I consider my Marble collection complete.  I don't have any of the real old ones, and probably won't use the new ones I do have.  I bought them primarily because of the constant rumors among collectors that Marbles was moving their knife production to China.  A good many of their folding knives are made there now, as well as ther axes.  All of the fixed blade models I have are made in Gladstone, MI.
Tom I.

[JavelinaHink]

Tom....you got it...thats why I got out of buying there knives, first when they changed they had the blades cut in Pakistan and put together in Gladstone, the blades are marked just Marbles then they moved to China. Its to bad they use to have some nice stuff. They even made a Bow compass at one time that you would tape to the limb. They cut out alot of workers when they made the move.

[Tom I.]

Here's a pic of my COMPLETE collection.  Translation: I ain't buying no more.

 

The Trailmaker at the bottom is a huge knife.  I can't imagine any really carrying it and using it unless you have firewood to gather. The dern thing is heavy too, but it was in production a couple years ago so I had to include it....
Tom I.