What is the difference between the RR Elephant Toenail and the Sunfish

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Butcher1

Joined
Mar 15, 2008
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Hi guys, I was wondering if someone could tell me what the difference is between the Elephant Toenail and the Sunfish?

I've only seen a few pics of them and I cant tell if they are just named different or if there is a size difference.

Also can you tell me the history of these knives is? I'm sorry if this has been done before but I would like to get one of thes for camping/outdoors/everything knife.

Thanks for any help.
 
They do come in different sizes lately, but typically the names Elephant Toenail and Sunfish are both used to describe the pattern.
I always have thought of them as a larger 2 blade pattern with an enlongated oval (or in the case of Platts a slight swell center oval) hand filling shape at over 4 inches, but during the last few years there seems to be a lot of down-sized versions.

I have read several articles (some of them may just be stories) calling them everything from Toenails to Sunfish to Rope knives used on drilling rigs to boats in carpentry and linemen. I am not sure which is true. Maybe smiling knife can help on this, but I think it is a pattern than was developed in the us.

gotta have some pics of some Sunfish/Elephant Toenails in here. :D

These all Case Classics from 94 to 96. They were very well made.
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I've heard that it was developed in the oilfields in the late 1800's for cutting the heavy rope they used in drilling back then. The wide blade could be driven through the rope with a wooden mallet (or other handy object). I wasn't there, so I don't know that to be true.

A couple of years ago, I bought some Rough Rider Toenail/Sunfish pattern knives. They were making what I call the Case pattern (equal end handle) and what I call the Fightin' Rooster pattern (tapered handle). All were decent knives for the money. Fit and finish were fair to good, the blades came reasonably sharp, the edges held up as well as I expect from a twenty dollar knife. All in all, they make pretty good beaters, with no reason to cry if you lose it or break it.

They also make a small Toenail pattern, but it is fairly obviously smaller when you see it.

If pix would help, I'll dig the knives out a snap a couple for you.
 
Thank you guys for the replys. I guess I'll get the RR and if I like the pattern I'll find better quality ones.

Can anyone tell me which brand will make a good Elepant Toenail/Sunfish that wont cost too much? (maybe $60 and under?)
 
Butcher1 said:
Thank you guys for the replys. I guess I'll get the RR and if I like the pattern I'll find better quality ones.

Can anyone tell me which brand will make a good Elepant Toenail/Sunfish that wont cost too much? (maybe $60 and under?)
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60 bucks and under if you find a manufacturer that has them let me know. Ebay routinely has case and bulldog going above 100 bucks sometimes way above:mad:
i picked up a Schatt and morgan wildcat driller, while not technically a elephant toe its similiar really big knife big honking blade, love it! it was 79 bucks
good luck
ivan
 
why doesnt case bring theirs back? and why doesnt queen offer an accurate toenail?
I love this pattern, probably my favorite which figures as its almost impossible to find them, vintage ones fetch crazy prices, far above anything i'll be able to rationalize. Ive seen a couple of old camillus ones pop up on ebay almost like they are taunting me, and they finish at around 400 bucks
now i'm depressed:(
cheers
ivan
 
Here's my small Sunfish knives and what I have always heard called a Wildcat Driller pattern on top.

sunfishdrillerpo5.jpg


The Elephant Toe Pattern to me was always equal ended same as a Sunfish Pattern while the Wildcat Driller was tapered. It is not at all unusual for a pattern to have several names.
 
IVANKERLEY said:
why doesnt case bring theirs back? and why doesnt queen offer an accurate toenail?
I love this pattern, probably my favorite which figures as its almost impossible to find them, vintage ones fetch crazy prices, far above anything i'll be able to rationalize. Ive seen a couple of old camillus ones pop up on ebay almost like they are taunting me, and they finish at around 400 bucks
now i'm depressed:(
cheers
ivan
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I can't speak for Case. The last I heard all of Queen's "accurate toenail" dies were owned by Bluegrass and all of their "a.t." knives are (have been?) made for that company.
 
thanks, so they produce lines of branded knives, i.e. winchester, etc., rather than a bluegrass brand, ive actually seen those and always wondered who was producing them, cool now i know
but the prices are more than a little steep for me, so i'll have to be content to dream and gawk over the beauties that get posted on the forums.
cheers
ivan
 
Could anyone tell me if the marbles brand sunfish/elephant toenail is better than the RR? If they are how much better are they?
 
In the picture I posted, the upper right knife is a Marbles, the other two are Rough Riders. They probably all came off the same production line. There isn't a nickel's worth of difference between them.
 
Thanks for all the replys guys. I,m probaly going to get both of the Rough Riders and if I really like the design I'll fined a better quality knife.

This is why I like RR. You can try out a bunch of different types of knives for cheap and then figure out if you want to invest in a better blade. They also seem to stand alone pretty well. I wish more places did this.


Thanks again!
 
Butcher1 said:
Could anyone tell me if the marbles brand sunfish/elephant toenail is better than the RR? If they are how much better are they?
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I have one of each and the quality is exactly the same on both. As previously stated, It looks like they were made at the same factory. Good value for the money if you want to own a sunfish or elephant toenail and you can't afford the more desirable brands. The blade steel holds an edge remarkably well and both of mine were shaving sharp right out of the box. Wish Queen would put a little more effort into their edge like a $10 Chinese knife. The main thing I don't like about the Chinese knives is the composition of the nickel-silver bolsters. It tends to be a bit yellow instead of white. The yellow darkens considerably as it tarnishes. A bit of Flitz or vigorous rubbing with your thumb will bring back the shine and lighter color, but it's still a bit too yellow for my taste.
 
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