Ruana Knives

N

Nrthfce

Joined
Sep 17, 2014
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Coming from a new users POV... Most the Ruana threads are very old and out-of-date with little new info/stories/pictures out there (maybe for good reason). The story has been told too many times, but with it finally hit me within the last year when I acquired a knife that belonged to my pa who passed away many years (15) ago. This has sparked an unrelenting search and curiosity into Ruana Knives and their story. While this might hit a little closer to home as I grew up and still live in the big sky state, I cant help be own and purchase a few of my favorites.

Anyway, the knives may have shot up in value in the last years over what they truly should be worth, maybe there are better knives and steel from different companies on the market today, and maybe I just buy into the hype and connect with the nostalgic story of Ruana, but I just can't get them out of my head.

Whelp, here is what I have now purchased at what I believe was a good deal... and by the way, they might be collectible, but when hunting season comes around none of these are above getting used and whichever one I randomly grab that day gets put and exceeds all my tests and expectations.

Cheers


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and these two I recently scored at a local gun show...

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Thanks!
 
VERY NICE!! Some nice old SQUARE CUT SHEATHS date them back to the vintage years...


The MOST OUTSTANDING RUANA BOOK IN MY OPINION IS by Frank Towsley "The HAMMER STILL RINGS"

OMG What a book and the knives that are in the book truely show you whats RARE!! I am lucky enough to know someone who has an outstanding array of C-Guards and all sort of 1940-60s Ruana GEMS.. I have seen them sell for 5k to 13k per knife.... Point i am making there are collectors who dont troll these sites who have most amazing collection.. That book will blow your mind.. I use to have a Ruana 36C HAMMER BOWIE.. Non catalog stag handle.. I ended up selling it for a ton... I am always hunting for a Ruana deal.. Love Rudys stuff! Actually Don, Dave, and of coarse Vic/sons all make a awesome knife, but the Rudy Ruanas will be the only ones to increase in value in my opinion

Thanks for showing your collection.. Here are a few i have had the joy of owning, handling, buying, selling... and rebuying..lolruana book2.jpg1940s ENGRAVED HATCHET 1.jpgRuana engraved knife set 2.jpg
 
Awesome stuff dax!!! Thanks for sharing.

Actually the square cut and sheath I possess are also pictured in Frank Towleys book... the knife appears on page 107, I think third or second from the bottom, along with its original sheath pictured on the very bottom of page 178. They turned up at a gun show and I bought them as always wanted a square cut. Maybe unknownly, the seller ever mentioned them being in the book. I only noticed after I went to look in Franks book just to get more of an idea of the exact model and dates of what I had purchased. Markings and imperfections were identical. While it is probably far and away the most valuable knife in my small collection and some may frown, I randomly grabbed it this year while heading out on a quick hunt and it performed beautifully field dressing out a 300+ bull for a knife twice as old as its user! :)

I like the look and usability of the sticker much more than the skinner IMHO, and my collection reflects that.... still want to get my hand on a Rudy made hatchet, but this is proving to either be very difficult or crazy expensive.

Closer look:
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VERY AWESOME!! Great catch tooooo... You can find a hatchet on feebay usually around 600 rudy made.. not square cut sheath, but still a m stamp...

i know someone with 3 1940s hatchets, but u are right he wants about 8k each

Nrthfce said:
Awesome stuff dax!!! Thanks for sharing.

Actually the square cut and sheath I possess are also pictured in Frank Towleys book... the knife appears on page 107, I think third or second from the bottom, along with its original sheath pictured on the very bottom of page 178. They turned up at a gun show and I bought them as always wanted a square cut. Maybe unknownly, the seller ever mentioned them being in the book. I only noticed after I went to look in Franks book just to get more of an idea of the exact model and dates of what I had purchased. Markings and imperfections were identical. While it is probably far and away the most valuable knife in my small collection and some may frown, I randomly grabbed it this year while heading out on a quick hunt and it performed beautifully field dressing out a 300+ bull for a knife twice as old as its user! :)

I like the look and usability of the sticker much more than the skinner IMHO, and my collection reflects that.... still want to get my hand on a Rudy made hatchet, but this is proving to either be very difficult or crazy expensive.

Closer look:
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Click to expand...
 
Nrthfce: Nice set of knives!! All the better that you believe in using them. Holding one does seem to give ya some sort of fever. The one I'm holding looks like the second down on the left of yours. M is straight to the right rocker stamp. Handle grips match yours. I've been looking for a while and have only found one other he made with this grip. It was a military larger Bowie or fighter I think. Mine has the the same sheath as yours, with the stone and flat top copper rivets. From what I've read the rocker with M on the right dates it between 1962 or 64 to 83. The copper rivets on the sheath was used from 1960 to 70 ? I think! If you have any other info you might have (like if I'm even close since I've most always have an opinion, but often wrong. Or the value since I got priors for buying high and selling low!) Any way I'm just happy to see yours, I was starting to get that itchy feeling as in mine might not be real. Put an edge on it and return. Any info you I would be very thankful for. Any way nice set of knives you have everything I have nothing we'll not much - that fever. Marlan from the land of Jefferson So. Or. No. Cal.
 
I had the occasion recently to view the Towsley collection....at least what he displayed at a recent Gt Falls gun show. In a word; unbelievable!

I just gently cleaned up an M stamped "sticker" that a neighbor found, 15+ years back, while hunting out of Drummond, MT. Found the knife on a rock, the sheath was missing. The evidence suggests the knife had been used the season before , probably to gut an elk and left behind. It was a bit rusty so he had it sharpened at the factory in Bonner, maybe 10 yrs back. And they sold him a sheath at the same time.

He wants to sell it. I'd love to buy it...But a gun show "expert" told him it was worth $600.

Anyone here a Ruana value expert? I'll take a few pictures and post them. either tonight or for sure tomorrow evening.

FN in MT
 
FN in MT said:
I had the occasion recently to view the Towsley collection....at least what he displayed at a recent Gt Falls gun show. In a word; unbelievable!

I just gently cleaned up an M stamped "sticker" that a neighbor found, 15+ years back, while hunting out of Drummond, MT. Found the knife on a rock, the sheath was missing. The evidence suggests the knife had been used the season before , probably to gut an elk and left behind. It was a bit rusty so he had it sharpened at the factory in Bonner, maybe 10 yrs back. And they sold him a sheath at the same time.

He wants to sell it. I'd love to buy it...But a gun show "expert" told him it was worth $600.

Anyone here a Ruana value expert? I'll take a few pictures and post them. either tonight or for sure tomorrow evening.

FN in MT
Click to expand...

I am by no means a Ruana value expert, but will take a shot in the dark as I am constantly buying them, watching them on ebay, etc...

In my purchases... I kinda generalize and figure the "m" stamp puts the knife right at the $400 mark... Original sheath add $50... Original condition (Not Refurbished, no polishing) and dependent upon what that condition is, add anywhere from $0 to $150. At the knife shows I have been to around here (BZN) they have the Ruanas WAY WAY over priced (similar m stamp knives to what I have will be $200 more than what I could buy the same knife on ebay) and I honestly don't see them selling since I see the same knives year after year at the show from the same so called "sellers".

Now this is where the market gets fuzzy and confusing... if you polish, even with what Ruana themselves recommends Flitz, I think, or refurbish... subtract $50 off of that $400 mark... not original sheath... subtract another $50... So that puts you right around the $300 value imho...

However, you put that knife on ebay, I bet it brings anywhere $330-$380 ish... If you saw it at a gun show around here, they would ask around $500 but I don't think it would move very fast. If you tried to trade or sell it at a show, they would rip you apart for the refurbishing and replacement sheath and probably offer you $250-$300 in trade. Kinda strange also, refurbishment or polished knives don't seem to bother or effect values of Ebayers nearly as much as the sellers at the gun shows...

The story makes it sound like the refurbishing was vital and of-course it needed the sheath. I think what you have is an awesome knife that will last forever and gut out a mosquito if sharpened right... I wouldn't purchase to make a quick buck, but I would buy to use... over and over again. Great quality knife.
 
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hardtail1 said:
Nrthfce: Nice set of knives!! All the better that you believe in using them. Holding one does seem to give ya some sort of fever. The one I'm holding looks like the second down on the left of yours. M is straight to the right rocker stamp. Handle grips match yours. I've been looking for a while and have only found one other he made with this grip. It was a military larger Bowie or fighter I think. Mine has the the same sheath as yours, with the stone and flat top copper rivets. From what I've read the rocker with M on the right dates it between 1962 or 64 to 83. The copper rivets on the sheath was used from 1960 to 70 ? I think! If you have any other info you might have (like if I'm even close since I've most always have an opinion, but often wrong. Or the value since I got priors for buying high and selling low!) Any way I'm just happy to see yours, I was starting to get that itchy feeling as in mine might not be real. Put an edge on it and return. Any info you I would be very thankful for. Any way nice set of knives you have everything I have nothing we'll not much - that fever. Marlan from the land of Jefferson So. Or. No. Cal.
Click to expand...
Hi,

Sounds like your right on as far as guessing the age of your knife... as far as the value I will shoot for the hip again so this is completely arguable...

So this is a continuation off my last post to FN in MT... going with that "m" stamp $400 mark I mentioned, you can also add $50 for a contoured finger grip (buyers on ebay fight after those), add $50 for sheath with original stone as this also denotes them as deluxe models with thumb notches on the top of the blade. Add all that up with original stone pouch sheath, original condition "good used" and not polished your looking at getting anywhere on ebay from $500 to $600... trade at a gun show around here, probably $400 to $450 ... IMHO

Any unique or rare qualities of the knife increase the value significantly... customizations by Rudy for the buyer that wasn't catalog or standard, longer "blood groove" than normal, rare pin arrangement on grip, etc...

It is fun to look at these older deluxe Ruanas as they put the thumb notches on the top of the blade with a bandsaw, so imperfections were common. Before the "m" stamps and on older knives, I believe Rudy used just a hacksaw for the thumb rests. Fun fun
 
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Thanks Nrthfce.

I agree on MT prices for Ruana's. In a word, unrealistic. Then again most MT Gun Show prices are crazy. I collect older S&W revolvers with High Standard .22 target autos as a secondary interest. I buy very few guns in MT. the prices simply do not coincide with the condition. I blame the internet sites like GB, GunsAmeica, etc. They see a model that is absolutely new in box. I00% CORRECT, with original box, in great shape along with ALL accessories, sell for $X amount. Now they feel their gun, which is USED, has NO box or other accessories, as well as missing the original stocks....Is now ALSO worth $X amount. Possibly something in Montana tap water?

I have done FAR better on Smiths at Reno, Vegas, SLC or shows in Idaho. Far better prices, more in line with the actual condition of the gun.

They are just as out of touch with the Ruana prices I think.

Last November in Reno I bought an as new, current Ruana 20B skinner, for $295. Same knife at any MT show would be OVER list price.

I'm not a collector, have a few that I either got in trades, or they appealed so I bought one. Have half a dozen older Bucks, A Dan Denehy from 30+ years back. A pair of Randall's; a 4" trout and bird that I use and a big skinner I do not.
Have a Kaufman from Montana City #15 and a Chris Reeve Sebenza. So hardly a big collection.

Appreciate the input on my friends Ruana. I was going to offer $300 and I thought that was fair and generous. I may list it for him on E bay or simply list it here for $400 and see if I get any bites.

FN in MT
 
Couldn't agree more FN... I think the MT guns shows have become more of a novelty to show off your collection, have others envy you, and list stuff with astronomical prices in case someones willing to pay that ridiculous amount. Last two times I went to the GVF's, found a rifle I was interested in, no price was listed and after I got the guys attention he told me none of his guns were for sale, just to look at! :confused: I didn't know that these people were now taking the title of a "gun show" so literally.

I don't travel much to look for knives, mainly just to places for relaxation and golf. That may need to change! I like Ruana knives to use and frankly nothing compares to field dressing an elk with a knife that was around before WWII. It certainly does freak out the collectors :D , Of course the same goes for the bow, rifle, pickup I use... I like stuff from that era for hunting cause is was the best and certainly far better than what I can get at the sports store today. The same cannot be said about my fly rod... :)
 
WHY I travel out of state for shows...One seems to see the SAME stuff show to show here.

Regarding the flyrods.....yeah tough to beat Carbon fibre or boron!
 
Wow, I never realized these knives had a serious following. My parents bought me a Ruana (Bowie style with jimping) in 1977. We were travelling through Jackson Hole, on our way to Yellowstone for the first time. Kept it pristine all of the years, tucked away in the gun cabinet, as a keepsake.
 
Depending on the model and rarity... your looking anywhere from $2000 and up in today's market :thumbup: I'd guess on the up and up side... btw, I'd love to see a picture!
 
The little knife on the right I bought at a gun show from a Ruana dealer about 22 years ago for $60. That book The Hammer Still Rings is amazing. Good to see Ruana knives talked about again. I sure like them.
 
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Love the collection!!! What do you use them for? (if at all) Do you prefer the skinners or stickers? Why? Just asking...
 
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