Will and Finck

[BWT]

Picked this up the other day. Not what I normally collect, but I couldn't let it go by. The walrus tusk is splitting on one side other than that pretty good condition with original case.

[kootenay joe]

How many thousand dollars did you spend ?
An original W & F in original case in mint condition is close to priceless.
kj

[tongueriver]

I am speechless. Congratulations!

[doglegg]

BWT it seems you have gotten our attention. Tell us about it. Where you got it (if possible) etc. Thanks. An absolutely beautiful knife.

[BWT]

Thanks Roland,Cal, and DL. I actually got it from a friend. I was kinda shocked to get, definitely unexpected. Thanks for the comments.

[Gunsil]

I don't like to rain on parades, but the blade, guard, and mark do not look very "Will & Finck". The handle looks like a carving knife handle of perhaps the proper time frame. I would send photos to Bernard Levine or Mark Zelesky at Knife Magazine to get their expert appraisals, even if it cost a couple bucks. I have handled a bunch of real W&F knives and I am afraid the maker's mark here is not right, nor is the blade shape or the guard. I am afraid this is a modern knife made to deceive.

[kootenay joe]

My post was along the same idea as Gunsil presents. Bernard Levine has said that there are very few authentic Will & Finck knives 'out there' and that nearly all purported to be are fakes. However there are some real ones and i do hope this is one of them.
I have carved ivory handles on Jos. Rodgers Tea knives from circa 1900. Mine are a "Tulip" pattern carving. The OP knife is a different pattern of carved ivory.
Carved ivory handles were made for household cutlery in Britain circa 1900. I don't know if American cutlers were also carving ivory into patterns for knife handles.
It is a beautiful dagger regardless of origin.
kj