Dave Shirley Marbles

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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Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by kennedy knives »

I have wondered how many Patterns of Marbles that Dave Shirley has made by Queen any more info
would be great add your Queen Made Marbles
Thanks Gary Kennedy
(1) First is a Ivory Mini Trapper 1 of 350 made year 2001
(2) Mini Sun Fish 1 of 150 year 2003 It has a note in the box from Dave wishing Happy New Year 2004
(3) Stag Mini Trapper 1 of 350 Year 2002 also with a note in box from Dave
(4) Stag Small Doctors Knife no total on Knife ? Year 2002
(5) Rare Stag 1Blade Damascus Prototype of 11 Made in Stag, 6 made in Ivory, 1 Made in Buffalo Horn & a note no more will be made . Year 2004
(6) Easy Open Stag Tear Drop Jack no total ? Year Made 2001
(7) Stag Canoe Whittler 1 of 450 Made Year 2002
(8) Stag English Jack , No total ? Year Made 2001
(9) Large Stag Stockman ,No Total Year Made 2001
(10 Large Mastadon Coke Boke 1of 350 Made Year 2002
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by Sharpnshinyknives »

kennedy knives wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 3:16 pm I have wondered how many Patterns of Marbles that Dave Shirley has made by Queen any more info
would be great add your Queen Made Marbles
Thanks Gary Kennedy
(1) First is a Mini Trapper 1 of 350 made year 2001
(2) Mini Sun Fish 1 of 150 year 2003 It has a note in the box from Dave wishing Happy New Year 2004
(3) Stag Mini Trapper 1 of 350 Year 2002 also with a note in box from Dave
(4) Stag Small Doctors Knife no total on Knife ? Year 2002
(5) Rare Stag 1Blade Damascus Prototype of 11 Made in Stag, 6 made in Ivory, 1 Made in Buffalo Horn & a note no more will be made . Year 2004
(6) Stag Tear Drop Jack no total ? Year Made 2001
(7) Stag Canoe Whittler 1 of 450 Made Year 2002
(8) Stag English Jack , No total ? Year Made 2001
(9) Large Stag Stockman ,No Total Year Made 2001
(10 Large Mastadon Coke Boke 1of 350 Made Year 2002
Gary, I kept this information from a seller on Ebay last year. Can’t remember the name of the seller and I can’t vouch for the accuracy of this information. But he does seem to know a lot about them. I would be curious to find out if this is right or not. I will post the two I have later.

Marbles MSA history. This beautiful Marbles was made in Gladstone, Michigan, stamped '01; now very hard to find when they are "MSA" knives & assembled in Gladstone, MI. The reason is that in 2001, Marble Arms selected Queen Cutlery Company's Schatt & Morgan Division to manufacture components for 6 patterns of pocket knives. After the components were produced, they would be sent to the Marble Arms factory in Gladstone, Michigan for final assembly. The 6 patterns that Marble Arms chose for the first year (2001) of the pocket knife project were: 1. Large Stockman, 2. Large Congress, 3. Doctor's Knife, 4. English Jack Knife, 5. Easy-Open Jack Knife , & 6. Wharncliffe Whittler. The total production of each of the 6 pocket knife patterns was 400; however, the total production of each of the 6 pocket knife patterns with stag handles was only 25. The pocket knives were made with 1095 high-carbon, non-stainless steel blades. The 400 pocket knives of each pattern breaks-down by handle material as follows: 100 Water Buffalo Horn, 100 Jigged-Bone, 100 Imitation Pearl, 25 Stag, 25 Tortoise-Shell Celluloid, 25 Smooth-Bone, And 25 of another celluloid. Marble Arms planned to offer a different group of 6 patterns during each of the following years. However, due to severe financial problems, Marble Arms decided to abandon the pocket knife project after its inaugural year.
SSk Mark “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.” Ronald Reagan
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by kennedy knives »

Mark Makes perfect sense to me I have hear some of what your post said .
Glad to know that they only made 6 Patterns for 2001 and only 25 Stags for each Pattern that would make the Stag pretty Rare .I wonder if that holds true with the other knives I listed that states 1 of 150 was the total count for the pattern not the handle material ?
Also looks like they only made Marbles for 4 years 2001 to 2004 .
Any more info would be great we may be able to find totals for all of Dave Shirley Marbles that would be great ::ds:: ::ds::
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by kennedy knives »

Mark he is the first question ? I have 4- 2001 Marbles listed
(1) Ivory Mini Trapper it states 1 of 350 so I don't think that fits in your guy description of 400 of each pattern
(2) Stag Easy Open Tear Drop Jack
(3) Stag English Jack
(4) Stag Large Stockman
(5) Stag Congress
(6) ????

I think one was a Congress don't know for sure what the other 2001's are any help would be appreciated
Gary
Found the Congress it was one I had and sold now I wish I had it back :D
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by Sharpnshinyknives »

kennedy knives wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 4:45 pm Mark he is the first question ? I have 4- 2001 Marbles listed
(1) Ivory Mini Trapper it states 1 of 350 so I don't think that fits in your guy description of 400 of each pattern
(2) Stag Easy Open Tear Drop Jack
(3) Stag English Jack
(4) Stag Large Stockman
(5) ???????
(6) ????

I think one was a Congress don't know for sure what the other 2001's are any help would be appreciated
Gary
I have a blue bone Congress so I know that for sure. Not sure about the other.
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by Quick Steel »

Gary, Your knives all look extra impressive to me. Liking them very much.
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by Sharpnshinyknives »

The only two of these that I have. These are two that as a collector I never intend to sell. With that said, everything is for sell in my collection at the right price. I bought the EO Jack back in 2005, I wish I had bought all they had at the time. I acquired the Congress a couple of years ago. This Jack has been one of my favorites ever since I bought it. I have held onto it because I liked it so much, never considered selling it.
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by kennedy knives »

Mark those are top notch the easy open is like the stag easy open I have & the Congress is very nice also . I know now that they did a Stag , A Blue Bone , & A Red Bone for sure let's see what else pops up.
Thanks Garry I like the Marble By Dave Shirly also they are very well made the fit and finish is top notch . ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by Quick Steel »

Lordy Mark, I must try to contain myself. Those blue bones are wonderful and the herringbone jigging is awesome. Great acquisitions.
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

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Sharpnshinyknives wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 9:16 pm The only two of these that I have. These are two that as a collector I never intend to sell. With that said, everything is for sell in my collection at the right price. I bought the EO Jack back in 2005, I wish I had bought all they had at the time. I acquired the Congress a couple of years ago. This Jack has been one of my favorites ever since I bought it. I have held onto it because I liked it so much, never considered selling it.
Mark, this blue bone EO is a great looking knife.
David
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by Sharpnshinyknives »

kennedy knives wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 4:45 pm Mark he is the first question ? I have 4- 2001 Marbles listed
(1) Ivory Mini Trapper it states 1 of 350 so I don't think that fits in your guy description of 400 of each pattern
(2) Stag Easy Open Tear Drop Jack
(3) Stag English Jack
(4) Stag Large Stockman
(5) ???????
(6) ????

I think one was a Congress don't know for sure what the other 2001's are any help would be appreciated
Gary
Wharncliffe whittler was another produced in stag back in 01.
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by kennedy knives »

Thanks Mark :D Now I need to find one of those ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by Eye Brand Man »

Here’s the jumbo stockman. 4-1/4” closed. I picked this one up at a Gun show several years ago. Don’t know why the pics load sideways, but give them a click and they turn right side up.
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by hardman »

I personally have a four blade Large Stag Congress, a Stag Swell End Jack, and a medium sized (3 3/4") Stag Folding Hunter Liner Lock.

Sorry, I see now you already had the Large Congress. My Swell End Jack does not have the EZ Open cut out.
Gary

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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by stagman »

Well I don't know much about the folders that Marble's made and had made..
and the early facts spoken above are all accurate best I recall..
but I did have the pleasure to know Dave Shirley...I swear, all you had to do was
speak of a old Marble's Woodcraft, Ideal and he would just light the room up
with an oratory of said knife spoke of, he loved em...quite a guy he was and if
their was ever a Michigan knife hall of fame...Dave would be in it..........

Stag
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by kennedy knives »

stagman wrote: Tue Mar 10, 2020 5:20 am Well I don't know much about the folders that Marble's made and had made..
and the early facts spoken above are all accurate best I recall..
but I did have the pleasure to know Dave Shirley...I swear, all you had to do was
speak of a old Marble's Woodcraft, Ideal and he would just light the room up
with an oratory of said knife spoke of, he loved em...quite a guy he was and if
their was ever a Michigan knife hall of fame...Dave would be in it..........

Stag
Thanks for sharing I have some of his business cards that he would put in with knives he sold and just from his writing on the rear of card he was quite a guy some he was real nice others he was mater-fact take it or leave it . :D :D :D
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by stagman »

He was pesky at times but always straight forward and honest...it was during his
time in Okemos Mich when he founded Bowie Corp knives I had contact with him..
Dave was also the Founder of Northwoods Knives...as well as working with
Mike Stewart of Bark River knives when he was the president at Marble's (before Bark River)
and...doing work for the Marble's Custom Shoppe LLC
He also gave a lot of info & pics to Arni when he was writing his Ency. of Marble's sporting collectibles
I used to talk every year with famed Michigan sheath maker Jack Mosher every year at the WKCC show in Novi, Mi
He told me when Dave moved up to the UP him and Mike Stewart were jawing and that is how the name Northwoods came about
Them were shinning knife time's for me back 1996-2002...and all eye to eye in person yacking, no internet !!!
Bet I sold better than 400 Marble's knives on my Clear Creek Knives store I had on AAPK for 13 1/2 years !!!
And we ALL got one man too thank for that...Mr Bryan...founder of AAPK

Stag
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by kennedy knives »

Hi Stagman have you read the article on Knives Ship Free The Interview with Davy Shirley It states most of what you said just added a little bit more about the Bowie Corp., Marbles & Northwoods . Good read Thanks for your input .
Gary ::handshake::
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by stagman »

No, I have not but I am gonna give it a look, thanks....I checked it out..
They got a really nice piece on Dave they do
and wow, they got the knives on that site, specially Bark River knives
ain't really been in buying mode last 2-4 years
My wife died 2 years ago, and needed a lot of care for a couple years before that..
We were together 50 yrs, 1 month

Stag
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by kennedy knives »

stagman wrote: Thu Mar 12, 2020 5:32 am No, I have not but I am gonna give it a look, thanks....I checked it out..
They got a really nice piece on Dave they do
and wow, they got the knives on that site, specially Bark River knives
ain't really been in buying mode last 2-4 years
My wife died 2 years ago, and needed a lot of care for a couple years before that..
We were together 50 yrs, 1 month

Stag
I have no way of knowing your pain . I have been with my wife for 50 years also and could not understand if she wasn't here only God could help .
I think the Dave Shirley Marbles will be a keeper for a long time . There as good as it gets . I hope to post a few New ones as they come in hope you do the same ::handshake::
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by pauldrnc57@gmail.com »

I read your post on 2001 marble folding knives. I have 3 marble folding knives english jack jig bone 71151281, tear drop jig bone 71155281 and whittler jig bone 71156381 all were made in 2001 with the stamps on the blade. all are in the boxes and never used. let me know if your interested. thank you for your time.
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by Sharpnshinyknives »

Here is an updated photo for my Blue Herringbone handled Marbles knives. Added a new one to the collection today. Got the stockman. So I got out the English Jack and the Congress
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by kennedy knives »

Outstanding Mark ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by edge213 »

Sharpnshinyknives wrote: Sun Aug 23, 2020 1:42 am Here is an updated photo for my Blue Herringbone handled Marbles knives. Added a new one to the collection today. Got the stockman. So I got out the English Jack and the Congress
Very nice looking knives.
David
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Re: Dave Shirley Marbles

Post by Doc B »

That's a great looking shade of blue, Mark! ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
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