I love that! What a wonderful story! Yes, that would have been an engraved signature which dates the creation of that knife somewhere from 1997 to 2001.Dan In MI wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 6:41 pm Of course!
A fellow AAPK member asked me to forward it to him, and I agreed. The knife had a drop point blade (if I recall correctly) that had a dark coating. "Jay Bigler Anna, IL" was engraved or stamped in script. I'm pretty sure the handles were stag. I really liked the look and feel of it. Now I wish I had taken more detailed notes and/or not deleted the photos I sent to the knife's new owner.
I have always hoped that someday Dad's knives would be true collectibles-- more than just me selling them -- that they would be sought after by "Bigler-knife collectors". Just last week I heard from someone locally who had purchased one of the knives from someone in a nearby town. Stories like that and yours let me know that that dream has come true. Dad is smiling in Heaven today.

I also love hearing about the knives that are actually in use, not just as part of a collection. I know that some of Dad's friends carry the pocket knives that Dad gave them every day. A good friend of mine who has some of Dad's knives sent me a photo not too long ago of a fixed-blade that he uses for cutting up meat when he cooks/grills.