- Joined
- Dec 22, 2007
- Messages
- 990
Hi all,
A little over a week ago, my company decided to send me to Las Vegas for a couple days on business. If you're not so much the gambling type, and the wife can't get off work to join you, Vegas is pretty dull when you're all by your lonesome. So I do some wandering.
On day number one, I had about four hours between the time my plane landed and my first appointment, and decided to check out the local Bass Pro Shop. It was fun for about an hour, and I did fondle the offerings of Case, Hen and Rooster, and Boker. I discovered how large the normal Sodbuster truly is, and how its size belies its weight. However, the store is nigh identical to the one in San Bernardino, which is closest to my home, so it was nothing new to write home about.
Fast forward to that evening. I decided to peruse an antique mall that I had seen driving up LV Blvd, about 3 miles south of the Strip (I was staying at South Point, which is about as far south in Vegas you can get and still call it Vegas). The parking lot was absolutely empty, and I thought the place was closed. Fortunately, it wasn't
As I wandered through the aisles and stalls, I couldn't help be surprised at what some people call antiques. Star Wars toys from episode two, which is circa 2002. Half-melted VHS cassettes. Dr. Seuss book reproductions from the nineties. People were willing to sell anything, it seems.
I notice several stalls with knife paraphernalia: a Boker peanut, not unlike the one that was offered as a giveaway not too long ago, a Buck Prince, various specialty cigar knives, and company sponsored SAKs. And lots and lots of no-name crap.
Toward the end of my counterclockwise tour, I struck up a conversation with a very nice gentleman named Don. He asked what I was looking at and what I collect, and I mentioned antique pocket knives. He came back with a box full of stuff. Some was junk, although there was a Leatherman PST II w/ sheathe in great condition that I'm kicking myself for not picking up. There were also a bunch of SAK knock offs, and some Imperials with more sideways play than back and forth motion, and other random stuff. One that really caught my attention was an M Klein & Sons coping blade, which I originally mistook for a sheepsfoot.
He's an old feller, but in great condition. Great walk and talk, a very handsome patina, well worn wooden handle, a bail (which I absolutely adore), and no corrosion to speak of whatsoever. Whoever owned this one obviously took good care of it. The tang reads "M Klein & Sons", over "Chicago", over "Made in USA".
I had never heard of this cutler, so I employed a little Google-fu on my part. I found out that the company itself was founded in 1857, and is now Klein tools. These types of knives are still available on their website, along with a couple others. There was an equally aged hawkbill, but I opted against it. I don't think the wife would have liked me bringing home more knives than I need to
All in all, it's a nice knife that has already seen some pocket time since it's light, with a blade style that is unique among my other pocket knives. I like it a lot
Here it is next to my Case large stockman (sheepsfoot extended) and GEC 3" Barlow for comparison:
A little over a week ago, my company decided to send me to Las Vegas for a couple days on business. If you're not so much the gambling type, and the wife can't get off work to join you, Vegas is pretty dull when you're all by your lonesome. So I do some wandering.
On day number one, I had about four hours between the time my plane landed and my first appointment, and decided to check out the local Bass Pro Shop. It was fun for about an hour, and I did fondle the offerings of Case, Hen and Rooster, and Boker. I discovered how large the normal Sodbuster truly is, and how its size belies its weight. However, the store is nigh identical to the one in San Bernardino, which is closest to my home, so it was nothing new to write home about.
Fast forward to that evening. I decided to peruse an antique mall that I had seen driving up LV Blvd, about 3 miles south of the Strip (I was staying at South Point, which is about as far south in Vegas you can get and still call it Vegas). The parking lot was absolutely empty, and I thought the place was closed. Fortunately, it wasn't
As I wandered through the aisles and stalls, I couldn't help be surprised at what some people call antiques. Star Wars toys from episode two, which is circa 2002. Half-melted VHS cassettes. Dr. Seuss book reproductions from the nineties. People were willing to sell anything, it seems.
I notice several stalls with knife paraphernalia: a Boker peanut, not unlike the one that was offered as a giveaway not too long ago, a Buck Prince, various specialty cigar knives, and company sponsored SAKs. And lots and lots of no-name crap.
Toward the end of my counterclockwise tour, I struck up a conversation with a very nice gentleman named Don. He asked what I was looking at and what I collect, and I mentioned antique pocket knives. He came back with a box full of stuff. Some was junk, although there was a Leatherman PST II w/ sheathe in great condition that I'm kicking myself for not picking up. There were also a bunch of SAK knock offs, and some Imperials with more sideways play than back and forth motion, and other random stuff. One that really caught my attention was an M Klein & Sons coping blade, which I originally mistook for a sheepsfoot.
He's an old feller, but in great condition. Great walk and talk, a very handsome patina, well worn wooden handle, a bail (which I absolutely adore), and no corrosion to speak of whatsoever. Whoever owned this one obviously took good care of it. The tang reads "M Klein & Sons", over "Chicago", over "Made in USA".
I had never heard of this cutler, so I employed a little Google-fu on my part. I found out that the company itself was founded in 1857, and is now Klein tools. These types of knives are still available on their website, along with a couple others. There was an equally aged hawkbill, but I opted against it. I don't think the wife would have liked me bringing home more knives than I need to
All in all, it's a nice knife that has already seen some pocket time since it's light, with a blade style that is unique among my other pocket knives. I like it a lot
Here it is next to my Case large stockman (sheepsfoot extended) and GEC 3" Barlow for comparison:
