Marbles Matchsafes

Webster Marble formed Gladstone Mfg. Co. in 1892. That company created the first folding Axe in 1893 which lead to the incorporation of Marble's Safety Axe Co. in 1898. The company became Marble Arms & Mfg. Co. in 1911 & enjoyed years of success until succumbing to a shut down of production in 1974. The brand was brought back to life in 1994 & enjoyed a grand rejuvenation that later gave way to another shutdown in 2009. Many great knives & tools were crafted over the company's storied history.
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schmoozer
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Marbles Matchsafes

Post by schmoozer »

Haven’t found a single example in 15 years worth buying, until today!! They were priced as common…
50C98465-5BF4-4D64-958D-2CD050142B6E.jpeg
6D966D5A-14A3-4CFC-AC0A-EDEA5EE0F3E5.jpeg
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

schmoozer wrote: Sun Dec 19, 2021 8:10 pm Haven’t found a single example in 15 years worth buying, until today!! They were priced as common…
50C98465-5BF4-4D64-958D-2CD050142B6E.jpeg
6D966D5A-14A3-4CFC-AC0A-EDEA5EE0F3E5.jpeg
Those are neat! I had an original one years ago but lost it. Now I have to make do with replicas.
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by doglegg »

Cool pick ups.
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Madmarco
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by Madmarco »

I have seen these at Arizona Custom Knives priced in the 00's of dollars, and could never figure out why since I've seen replicas selling for $15., so I guess original is everything! 8)
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by 1967redrider »

Whoa, that one on the right is very old and rare. ::tu:: ::tu::

From 1901, Second model, according to Dunathan.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by btrwtr »

Very nice pick ups! Not at all common.
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by 1967redrider »

Some info from Dunathan's Encyclopedia of Marbles Knives and Sporting Collectables-
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Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
schmoozer
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by schmoozer »

1967redrider wrote: Mon Dec 20, 2021 1:46 pm Some info from Dunathan's Encyclopedia of Marbles Knives and Sporting Collectables-
Thanks for the photo! I have the Marbles vol2 reference.
Still looking for the screw-version…
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by Miller Bro's »

Two nice old ones!

Here's one I just picked up.
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by stagman »

The sure ain't common...that's for certain certain sure !!!
Very nice examples and a great pick-up
It always amazed me how the early ones with the pronounced
shoulder on them work so much more smooth than even the ones from the 1930's when
they changed to the last design models...think it when they changed
from cut threads to the pressed thread design

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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by eveled »

I had an idea to make nice high quality match safes. For my use and gifts. then it occurred to me. I havent found good wooden matches in years.

Nice old Marbles ones guys. They really are treasures.
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by Miller Bro's »

Thanks gentleman! ::handshake::
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by schmoozer »

The one on the left had a recent sale on eBay of $250🤣🤣
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by 1967redrider »

schmoozer wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 6:52 am The one on the left had a recent sale on eBay of $250🤣🤣
Sweet deal! 🤑 🤑 🤑
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by schmoozer »

1967redrider wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 12:16 pm
schmoozer wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 6:52 am The one on the left had a recent sale on eBay of $250🤣🤣
Sweet deal! 🤑 🤑 🤑
I was at a local antique show today and found another example of the one on the left for $12, full of old matchsticks. The plating was completely gone except for a few small spots.
There a number of early knives but the prices were 2-3 times current realized prices on feebay.
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by 1967redrider »

schmoozer wrote: Sat Jul 09, 2022 3:18 am
1967redrider wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 12:16 pm
schmoozer wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 6:52 am The one on the left had a recent sale on eBay of $250🤣🤣
Sweet deal! 🤑 🤑 🤑
I was at a local antique show today and found another example of the one on the left for $12, full of old matchsticks. The plating was completely gone except for a few small spots.
There a number of early knives but the prices were 2-3 times current realized prices on feebay.

I think some "sellers" are really "displayers"- they like showing others what they have and put the price so high no reasonably minded collector would be interested in buying. ::nod::
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by Dinadan »

Cool photos of those old matchsafes, fellows. From about age twelve to twenty I usually had one of those in my pocket. I still have a couple around, but I have not dropped one in my pocket for a few decades.
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by 1967redrider »

Very cool, Mel. 😎👍
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by schmoozer »

1967redrider wrote: Sat Jul 09, 2022 2:10 pm
schmoozer wrote: Sat Jul 09, 2022 3:18 am
1967redrider wrote: Fri May 27, 2022 12:16 pm

Sweet deal! 🤑 🤑 🤑
I was at a local antique show today and found another example of the one on the left for $12, full of old matchsticks. The plating was completely gone except for a few small spots.
There a number of early knives but the prices were 2-3 times current realized prices on feebay.

I think some "sellers" are really "displayers"- they like showing others what they have and put the price so high no reasonably minded collector would be interested in buying. ::nod::
So true, and they get to claim to their spouse that they are trying their best to sell stuff!
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by 1967redrider »

schmoozer wrote: Sun Jul 10, 2022 2:58 pm
1967redrider wrote: Sat Jul 09, 2022 2:10 pm
schmoozer wrote: Sat Jul 09, 2022 3:18 am

I was at a local antique show today and found another example of the one on the left for $12, full of old matchsticks. The plating was completely gone except for a few small spots.
There a number of early knives but the prices were 2-3 times current realized prices on feebay.

I think some "sellers" are really "displayers"- they like showing others what they have and put the price so high no reasonably minded collector would be interested in buying. ::nod::
So true, and they get to claim to their spouse that they are trying their best to sell stuff!

::rotflol:: ::rotflol:: ::rotflol:: ::rotflol::
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by Madmarco »

I've seen this on ebay and etsy quite a bit, the seller doesn't want to ship to your area so the shipping charges are US$550. or something similar, which of course any one with half a brain knows he simply doesn't wish to ship to where you are so they move on. That attitude from sellers usually comes about after they've been scammed too many times, from customers with lost or stolen packages that have actually been seized by Customs, but since most inexpensive shipping has poor tracking capabilities the seller never really knows so they refund the money, and that gets costly shortly. 8)
8)
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by schmoozer »

Madmarco wrote: Sun Jul 10, 2022 10:39 pm I've seen this on ebay and etsy quite a bit, the seller doesn't want to ship to your area so the shipping charges are US$550. or something similar, which of course any one with half a brain knows he simply doesn't wish to ship to where you are so they move on. That attitude from sellers usually comes about after they've been scammed too many times, from customers with lost or stolen packages that have actually been seized by Customs, but since most inexpensive shipping has poor tracking capabilities the seller never really knows so they refund the money, and that gets costly shortly. 8)
Part of that is they are pulling an untaxable profit on the shipping, and the buyer pays less tax on the sales price.
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Re: Marbles Matchsafes

Post by ta50gear »

I bought one along with a pin-on compass awhile back at a gunshow, they go well with my Marble knives
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