All About Pocket Knives

A good friend's 93 year old Landlord passed away so he had to find a new home. The planets were lined up for him. Another friend knew of a caretakers cottage available. I went over to see his new digs, a beautiful 2 story log home built about 15 years ago. As I was leaving he asked if I wanted this Marbles Knife? Hell yes! It looked as though it has never been used, definitely never sharpened. No sheath. The next day I shot a deer and field dressed it with the knife. As soon as I finished I washed it in the snow and wiped it clean on an old T shirt. Got home and before I took the rifle in, I washed the knife with Palmolive. Ran my fingers over the steel and it was smooth, no blood, no fat, and the finish looked pristine. Left it on the drying rack in the sink. Next morning I got up and the steel on the blade was discolored. I've seen lots of Marble's knives on Ebay with the same discoloration, but they are well used. Am I going to just have to live with it or can I polish it off? Let me see if I can post a pic?

Doesn't seem I can use Imgur. I'll have to figure out how I used to post pics?

See if this works off my cell?

A little Simichrome, Flitz or similar metal polish on a cotton rag won’t hurt it I personally like Mother’s Mag Polish.
Air drying wet carbon steel can invite flash rusting.
Nice knife. Congrats on both the deer and acquiring the knife.
Froe

Simichrome contains an abrasive and should never be used on antique knives. Of course there are many who would not use an antique unsharpened knife either.

Cool Woodcraft, hope you can clean the blade. I've seen some post that Mother's Mag Wheel polish works well, but I have not tried it.

If its original factory finish left fine lines from the final grit of polish then metal polishes will remove its like new collector finish. This comes up with new and excelent condition stainless steel guns. Some owners think they can improve their stainless gun's factory finish with metal polish. They can make it smoother and shineyer but doing so reduces collector value. If Marbles buffed the blade bright than polish without worry.

Fine bronze wool will polish fouling and light rust off steel without altering its factory finish. Bronze wool is available in Ace Hardware Stores' paint departments and yacht stores near large marinas. A pack of 3 pads was $7. They last a long time.

Alternatively you might get more enjoyment out of the knife over your life time by making it your hunting knife. In that role a thin patina inhibits red rust. There is much written on the topic here. It looks like a great classic hunting knife. Congradulations on your deer.

Gunsil wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 1:51 am Simichrome contains an abrasive and should never be used on antique knives. Of course there are many who would not use an antique unsharpened knife either.

Amen. Flitz also contains an abrasive. I have used both. I’m amazed by how many don’t think of them as abrasive but both contain aluminum oxide, the same abrasive ingredient used for making most sandpapers.

Ken

Thanks all, my friend wanted me to hunt it. He didn't have a sheath with it. If he had the sheath and it looked NOS I wouldn't have used it. It makes one heck of a good prop with my old Savage 99's. I got as many reply's about the knife as I did with the deer. I use Marbles sights on some of my pre WWI Savages. It takes a good eye to notice both Marbles.

I love Savage 99s & 1899s. I used to collect shooter grade examples.Then, during the 1990s, the Blue Book of Gun Values, which was the most widely used pricing tool at the time, hired an expert to reprice them. He trippled their values. That ended my buying of 99s. Even the early advocate of bolt actions, Jack O'Conner, wrote he often hunted deer with his Savage 99. While the action is not ideal for reloaders many of the rifles are very accurate.

A pictue of your 99 together with your Marble's would be great.

Well, right now the only picture of the knife and rifle are on the deer. I was carful not to show lots of red stuff. Ill post it and if it upsets anyone ill take it down. One of my 99 buddies is an old member here. If you have a ball park date on the knife i'll stage it with a period 99. I have 15 or so of them.

rarefish383 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 8:59 pm Well, right now the only picture of the knife and rifle are on the deer. I was carful not to show lots of red stuff. Ill post it and if it upsets anyone ill take it down. One of my 99 buddies is an old member here. If you have a ball park date on the knife i'll stage it with a period 99. I have 15 or so of them.

Knice knife, Buck and 99. If red stuff offends you your probably not a sharp knife collector.

rarefish383 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 8:59 pm . . . If you have a ball park date on the knife i'll stage it with a period 99. . .

If you have front and back pictures of the ricasso (above the brass guard but below the sharpened part ), we might be able to give you a ballpark date. Nice buck and rifle too. We have Outdoors and Gun threads specifically for hunting and firearms if you're interested.

doglegg wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 10:02 pm

rarefish383 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 8:59 pm Well, right now the only picture of the knife and rifle are on the deer. I was carful not to show lots of red stuff. Ill post it and if it upsets anyone ill take it down. One of my 99 buddies is an old member here. If you have a ball park date on the knife i'll stage it with a period 99. I have 15 or so of them.

Knice knife, Buck and 99. If red stuff offends you your probably not a sharp knife collector.

Good point.

I like that photo and I like 99s. I do like the 1899s mo better tho. loved thos perch belly stocks. Had a bunch at 1 time.

I found the OT page so this will be the last gun I post in the knife forum. This one is for robpa. 1902 special order 1899A. Factory engraved by Enoc Tue, Special Order Pistol Grip, S.O. checkering, S.O. shotgun butt plate. S.O. rear sight, removed for 1925 Fecker 10X target scope. The mounts for the scope were custom made No Drill mounts. No extra holes ever drilled in wood or metal.

rarefish383 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 23, 2025 12:57 pm I found the OT page so this will be the last gun I post in the knife forum. This one is for robpa. 1902 special order 1899A. Factory engraved by Enoc Tue, Special Order Pistol Grip, S.O. checkering, S.O. shotgun butt plate. S.O. rear sight, removed for 1925 Fecker 10X target scope. The mounts for the scope were custom made No Drill mounts. No extra holes ever drilled in wood or metal.

Special order! A very special old gun.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 11:08 pm

rarefish383 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 8:59 pm . . . If you have a ball park date on the knife i'll stage it with a period 99. . .

If you have front and back pictures of the ricasso (above the brass guard but below the sharpened part ), we might be able to give you a ballpark date. Nice buck and rifle too. We have Outdoors and Gun threads specifically for hunting and firearms if you're interested.

The ricasso says Marbles
Gladstone
Mich. U.S.A.

I'm regretting using this knife, even though my friend wanted me to. It's a little on the big side. I have an Edge mark, Soligen Germany, two knife set. I use the small knife to open the deer up, and the bigger one to skin it. This Marbles is about the perfect size for skinning. It did a good job field dressing. Might just take some getting used to.

I'm regretting using this knife, even though my friend wanted me to. It's a little on the big side. I have an Edge mark, Soligen Germany, two knife set. I use the small knife to open the deer up, and the bigger one to skin it. This Marbles is about the perfect size for skinning. It did a good job field dressing. Might just take some getting used to.

rarefish383 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2025 5:15 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 11:08 pm

rarefish383 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 20, 2025 8:59 pm . . . If you have a ball park date on the knife i'll stage it with a period 99. . .

If you have front and back pictures of the ricasso (above the brass guard but below the sharpened part ), we might be able to give you a ballpark date. Nice buck and rifle too. We have Outdoors and Gun threads specifically for hunting and firearms if you're interested.

The ricasso says Marbles
Gladstone
Mich. U.S.A.

Thanks! But I would need clear front and back. Don't regret using a knife, but never abuse one.

I might have to get the 35MM out. The cell is usually pretty good at close ups but not in the poor lighting in the gun room.

Better light upstairs.

According to Arni Dunathan's book, Encyclopedia of Marble's Knives and Sporting Collectibles, this looks like a late 1940's to late 50's stamp.