Marbles Sheath Knife- who can help me here please?

Campbellclanman

Campbellclanman

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Mar 10, 2007
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Hi everyone
I have just picked up this Marbles Sheath Knife locally and I admit to knowing very little about Marbles - period.

I always have like these Knives, and simply appreciated the condition, not having one, I have a nice example to fill the gap that really needed filling :rolleyes:, 🤣.

Now before we start, I know this isn't a super rare Marbles and I am not expecting it to be worth copious amounts of money, but I would like to know what I have :)

The Knife seems to show signs of being Vintage, the Brass Guard and Alloy Pommel both show Patina that seems to be relatively old- old enough to be brave enough and call this getting close to Vintage? But certainly not old enough to say that this is one of the Classic old Marbles, I am thinking perhaps 40 years old? I am unsure.

The Knife was not used much at all, The Blade shows fine speckles of the tiniest rust spots, and with that an overall Patina of groups of pre rust Staining - in fact this grouping is nearly closed ( nearly all joined up together) and gives the Blade a nice Patina Look- I will carefully 0000 Steel Wool with Mineral Oil to put to bed any concerns that may be upcoming if not taken care of now.

Some fine extremely surface sharpening marks that would polish out if you wanted, I would prefer the Knife to stay as is, This Knife is a very very Tidy Knife and even better being an "honest" knife.
The Sheath has been stored but not worn, Leather Washer handle is as tight as the day it left the Factory.

So the main question is: Can someone identify the year of manufacture?

OAL = 9 inches, the Blade being 5 inches of that.

And if I may ( I think I can ask with Gold and above?) any idea on value - just so this can be noted down and stored away with the Knife - Mods If I cannot ask this, I am more than happy to remove this question.

Guys and Gals- in advance Thank you ☺️ :thumbsup:

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Well, Duncan -- first of all, congrats on finding a very nice older Ideal Hunting Knife!

I make no pretense of having any expertise in this area, but, as someone who has been interested in the Marble’s line of late, I picked up Arni Dunathan's Encyclopedia of Marble's Knives. One useful piece of information is that the "Marble's mark with right facing serif on the letter "A" was intermittently used from the late 1940's to the late 1950's. It is a positive post WWII identifier." Also: "Marble's familiar roller coaster mark continued in use to circa 1957." So, roughly speaking, perhaps your example is from the 50's?

I am assuming that the pommel is aluminum, yes? Can you tell us the length of the blade? That info may also be useful.

In any event, not sure any of this necessarily pins anything down -- but, at least it may get the party started! :)
 
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Hey Jim

Thank you for the kind comments and for your much needed help- VERY interesting! Yes the Pommel is Aluminium - and the Blade is exactly 5 inches long, total overall length is 9 inches.

Thank you, already there's something I have learnt about this Knife Jim. :) :thumbsup:

So it has a wee bit of age- interesting to see its nearing it's 7th decade!

I am feeling a little self conscious of me asking about price - perhaps if someone does know? shoot me PM may be better that posting on this Thread? Its simply because I have no idea whatsoever of a general price, and no I'm not selling, I'm kind of stoked I have this tidy example.
 
Duncan, in searching "sold" eBay Marbles Ideal knives I found a couple almost identical to yours, and depending on condition they sold for between $150 (not as nice as yours) and $200 (similar condition as yours but with a much more worn sheath and bakelite pommel). Based on that I'd say $200 minimum.
 
Looking at my older Marbles catalog from 1935, the pattern of knife seems to exactly match the #45-5 hunting knife. The "-5" means 5 inch blade, they also had -6, -7, -8 etc. I am not saying the knife is from that era, just wanted to comment that the pattern was shown in the earlier catalogs.
 
Rookie82 said:
Looking at my older Marbles catalog from 1935, the pattern of knife seems to exactly match the #45-5 hunting knife. The "-5" means 5 inch blade, they also had -6, -7, -8 etc. I am not saying the knife is from that era, just wanted to comment that the pattern was shown in the earlier catalogs.
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Yup — the Ideal dates back to the turn of the last century.
 
Everyone!
Thank you VERY much for the help in helping me get to understand what I have here.

I appreciate each one of you coming in and commenting, 😍 :thumbsup:
 
Those Gladstone made Marbles were fine knives indeed. I love how they contoured the handle, they feel just right in hand, and the way they ground those blades sure made them great cutters.
 
I sold a similar late 1940's to mid-1950s Marble's (mine was perhaps a bit more worn) on eBay last year for $200.
 
Thank you Meako! I have always admired the knives from Marbles- who doesn't, they seem to have from the earliest days been strong pioneers within the Knife World, and I have had many opportunities to but many Sheath Knives from Marbles, but this was local, it was in very nice condition so I plucked it up - so that saves me having to glance at another now............................

.....well, I'm hoping so, unless a bigger blade comes up - just to go with this one of course 🤣
 
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