The News from ElephantToenails.com

I learned through the Rumor Mill there was a really great jumbo swellcenter in circulation (for sale) for $6500 at a recent show. Believe it or not, this price really doesn’t surprise me.  

Jumbo Swellcenters are highly sought after among collectors for several reasons:

• There are enough in circulation so that collectors know they aren’t counterfeits. 
• There are still many in EX+ to NM original condition.
• The handles are huge (one of the desirable traits we like about toenails to begin with).
• The master blade is gigantic and very appealing (unusual).
• They are different (in a good way) from the “standard” style toenail. 
• They have the highest demand level. 
• They represent some of the oldest known cutlery companies, namely Platts & W R Case, two pillars of American Cutlery firms.

I’ll see what I can run down to learn if it is a Platts or W R Case stamping and its handle (I’m sure it would be in NM condition). I got a lead about the name of the collector who left the show with it. I understand he bought it. Hang with me and I’ll get back with y’all.

My name is Derek Smith and I live in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I’m relatively new to knife collecting, only 4 or 5 years. My primary interest is with anything that was made by Cattaraugus Cutlery or the Champlin family. The big folders are of course my favorites.

One of my first purchases was a Catt toenail.  As a new collector (new, green and uneducated) I was was thrilled to obtain this cool old knife that was in really great shape. 

Some time later when I was considering selling it in order to “trade up” for something else I wanted, I thought I should get acquainted with Scott.  I put a few unsolicited photos together and emailed them off to him, of course he responded very quickly. 

As it turns out Scott seemed more interested in my photographic skills than he was in the knife. 

To make a long story short, the knife was a little “too good to be true” and was not authentic.  Whaaaa, that’s the bad news.  The good news is, I got a new friend out of the experience.  Thanks to Scott, I won’t be buying any more fakes.  You can see the knife at:  http://www.dereksmith.com/el_toenail

I am a professional photographer by trade and I help businesses with their marketing. What ever folks need to sell or promote, It’s my job to make it look good. You can take a look at my work at: http://www.dereksmith.com

I have three wonderful kids who have a mild appreciation for their dad’s kooky obsession with old pocket knives.  They and their mother are direct descendants of JBF Champlin who of course started Cattaraugus Cutlery in Little Valley, NY.

Utah is a long ways from the knife shows so I’m still looking forward to attending my first one. I have however had the pleasure of visiting with older members of the Champlin family who grew up in Little Valley and hearing first hand their own accounts of what took place all those years ago.  

It may come as a surprise, but they are not very interested in collecting knives.  Accurately preserving the family history is what’s important to them.  

If you have any questions or comments I can be reached at:

ds@dereksmith.com 

And we thought what we collected was big……

If you like 1) Knife folks, 2) Knife Auctions and 3) W R Case, then mark your calenders now for the Big Event for 2008! The date of the upcoming W R Case Collectors Appreciation Day is July 18th/19th in Bradford, PA.  I was honored to have been asked to be the guest auctioneer for the 2006 Swap Meet. I had a blast and guess I did an OK job because they have asked me to come back. I can’t wait. 

I first met Bernard from Angoulême, France a few years ago when he emailed a catalog page from a 1906 French manufacturer showing their toenail (little did we know at the time toenails were an international pattern). We have some challenges with our language barrier. I speak southern, he speaks french. Tough combo. I have taken the liberty to attempt to reword some of his profile and hope I didn’t misinterpret any of Bernard’s meaning. With that, please meet a fellow knife enthusiast and toenail collector, Mr. Bernard Givernaud.

 I am Bernard Givernaud. I live at Angoulême, the France chief town of strip cartoons since 1999, but I was born near Paris in 1968 (I’m 40 this year!).

I have collected knives since 1994. I have beginning with french regionnal’s knife. I would like to do a book of them, but others people have done before me! I also collected old invoice and catalogue about french cutlery.

In France we have two magazines of cultery. In 2005, I proposed to do a first article in “La Passion des Couteaux” about the french ET: “le bouledogue” (The Bulldog).This knife was made in Thiers for “La manufacture d’arme et de cycles de SAINT ETIENNE”. This firme all year had a new catalogue which was very interesting about arms and manufactured objects with their price. I did not know your excellent site (ET.com) then and after the article publication I found it and was very surprised. I was especially surprised by the Jumbo swell-center, and I hope I find one someday.

Since I have concentrated my research on three subjects : the Nontron knife (Nontron is a town 40 kilometers from my house, and we say it’s the most elder knife in france). I send you the eldest I have a nontron about 1855. I have write 4 articles about this knife.The second is Opinel : I have try to find N°1 and 11 (see picture) which are not made since 1930’s and I am writing an article about.The third are figural knife (like the pig). I have made two articles about them. I would like to do a book, not only with my collection and then if US collector have it, I will be very proud to share pictures.sophie.givernaud@free.fr

 Here is the 1928 toenail from the manufacturer of Saint Etienne. 

 Here are two of the other knives he references.

The first is the Nontron 

 The N 11 Opinel

In case you have heard the rumor let me confirm it is true, so at the risk of appearing to be opportunistic. I know I would be in deep trouble from some of you here at ET.com if I didn’t at least tell you what I have going on over on eBay. (more…)

Have you seen the “rare” Case XX USA 6250 Pearl going off on eBay?

Let’s chat here about this….first off from a collector’s perspective can a “rehandled knife” still be NM? I plan on posting about reworked and repaired knives very soon here in The News, but for now, let’s set that aside…..

If you are new to toenails or Case dotted series toenails, I need to point a few things out- (more…)

Roger Cunningham.

I live in southern Ohio. I look out the backdoor at the Kentucky hills.

I`m a life long farmer and own and operate a small insurance agency. I`m married for 17 years and have 2 boys 16 and 14.I have always liked knives, growing up on a farm. I always had one in my pocket. As a small kid I can remember Dad buying knives by the dozen on a card(metal handle imperials with colored plastic coverings).

My 1st knife that I put up was a Remington repro. 1988 muskrat, that I got at a gun shop.I didn`t get interested in collecting knives until about 2000. I picked up this and that for a year or so, then settled on Drs. knives. I got some Case classic Drs. and really liked the quality. I got some other classic patterns, and one day bought a classic toenail. I found out I really liked that big knife. I picked up 40 or so of them.,

One day while reading Knife World I saw this ad for a web site for elephant toenails. I looked up the site (it was ET.com) and did some reading and learning. I didn`t think a lot more about old toes until going to a gun and knife show in Lexington KY and a dealer I knew had a Robeson swellcenter on his table; it was love at first sight. I bought it and have been hooked every since.

I have since sold or traded most of my other knives. I pretty much just collect old toenails and have for last 3 or 4 years. I like them all, but mostly in very good to better condition.

I love knife shows and go to 8 or 10 a year. I`m a member of the NKCA, Fort City,Oregon, and Case collector clubs and a life member of the NRA.

I read anything I come across on old knives; you can`t learn too much.  

As I now begin to receive short bios/profiles from individuals from all over (I was sent one from a gentleman in France a little bit ago), I wanted to say how good it is to finally get to “see” you.

Putting a face with the name really changes things for me. You and I have never met and receiving your photo sure makes what I am doing here at ET.com much more personal.

“Talking” to faceless names by email (and especially writing to the “masses” through this website) is one thing, but finally getting to “see” you sure brings perspective….to me anyway. It is like we have finally really met.

I know this post may be uncharacteristic for a “web-host,” but as I get older, I am coming to realize some things about life and how important people are. So, at the risk of being too sentimental, please excuse me, but I wanted to say thank you for your support and participation. I can promise you this- if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t do it.

One final note: I have received several emails from folks who don’t feel they warrant a “profile,” because they are either new collectors, or don’t have many, if any toenails. Please, the point of the profile is for us to get to meet you. Just the fact that you come ’round here is indicative of the fact that you share in this same interest as we do. My goal for us is simply to put a face with the name and a brief “this is who I am” - not to prove who had the most knives or the most valuable. We are just individuals who have a common interest. 

Scott 

Scott, I have attached photos of a Case knife that I have not be able to identify.  The knife is clearly marked CASE BROTHERS - LITTLE VALLEY and also has the XX marking on the blade.  I found this knife in a storage box when my father closed a General Merchandise country store he operated for 50 yrs and been in business in total over 100 yrs.  Any insight into the pattern, date of manufacture, and value would be much appreciated.  Additional photos are available if needed. David 

David, your hunch is correct. It is a 5250 Case Brothers stag handled elephant toenail, some call it a sunfish knife.  CB was from Little Valley, NY. It was made somewhere between around 1900 to like 1911, but you can verify that on my site. www.elephanttoenails.com search in The List for Case Brothers, plus you can see other stag handled ones like this. The XX on the blade was their trademark double stamp that the knife was tested and passed their approval. It was their claim to fame. Later they actually stamped the blade where the XX is with TESTED XX.

My guess is it is probably worth $200- $350, maybe up to $500. It is really hard to say, because some collectors really like knives in “used” original condition, plus it is affordable to a wide range of folks.. The stag handles are the best thing it has going for it. Stag ranks higher than some other handle materials among collectors. Did you take the knife apart? The pin holding the master blade in is sticking up which is not normal and will cause some collectors to question the knife. Don’t try to hammer it down if you are going to sell it just leave it as is. Scott