The News from ElephantToenails.com

I think the best way to tell you about my last three days is as a photolog, so here goes. The tale begins at Parker’s Knife Show, then a tour through the NKCA Knife Museum and finally, breakfast with some fellow Elephant Toenail Collector Club Members. Then I headed home.

Parker's Show Hall

C Platts Jumbo for sale by Joe Seale

National Knife Collection Museum

Platts History & Jumbo

Case Family Toenail

Case Brothers Toenail

Early Case Toenail

Henry Sears & Son Tear Drop Style

Napanoch Display featuring Toenail

Voyles Knife Auction

Did you get your copy of Knife World yet? I got mine today. How about that killer article on Clay Cutlery by David Pierce? I drank in every word on the first read through. I’ll be reading it a few more times before I file that edition away. It is super rich in cutlery history. David is very thorough and does a good job on his articles.

It covers all the hot points- Andover, NY; Platts Brothers; Killer pictures; Cattaraugus; A J Jordan and even the ol’ Case Brothers got mentioned.

And for us here at ET.com, it even had a picture of one of our favorite knife patterns in all the world

I admit I pretty much do the lazy man’s mining. Smart folks know sometimes you aren’t going to find jewels on top of the ground, so you must “turn some stones” or move some dirt (in other words, you’ve got to dig).

Here is you a toenail on eBay that requires some digging. It was under the heading: “Antique 2-Blade Folding Pocket Knife.” As you will read below the seller discovered the brand and pattern with the help of ET.com. It is a Union Cut. Co (could be a Union Razor) and doesn’t have a reference to the pattern or brand. If you are interested check it out.

Here is his email:

“Hi Scott;  After looking on your website, www.elephanttoenails.com, I think I have identified an old knife that I am currently selling on Ebay [Item#130245439886] as a “UNION etc—-” Sunfish or Elephant Toenail knife. Other than the ON— on the blades that is legible [which I think is the last 2 letters of UNION], I can’t make out anything else, but the pictures on that website of the UNION 4-1/4″ knives with the light brown handles are almost exactly what this knife looks like. This knife and the others that I’m selling on Ebay have been in a plastic bag in my gun case for probably 15-20 years and I just found them again. Funny. Dave”

The description reads: “Part of my deceased Father’s collection is this vintage folding pocket knife with brown bone handles. The blades have been sharpened numerous times, but the knife is in very good condition and works perfectly. It has some lettering on the base of both blades, but it is so old and used that it is not legible [something like NO_ _ _?]. There may also be some numbers, but I can’t make them out. Thank you for looking and bidding.”

GOOD NEWS FOR COLLECTORS!

This auction just confirms what we here at ET.com talk about all the time- there are tons of toenails out there folks have that aren’t officially in circulation. This is a son’s efforts to sale some of his father’s items. The good news too is the son recognized the father’s knives as a collection and didn’t just toss them out.

Did you see the extremely minty Camillus toenail that went off on eBay the other day? It was one fine sample of a toenail and a treasure.  I’ll be posting the results to Recent Sales here at ET.com soon, but had to say something about this knife. While I confess I am not totally crazy about celluloid handles, I wanted this knife.

It sold for the opening bid of $699. While I thought it was a bit on the high side, it wasn’t far off what I would have paid. Rarely will you find an older toenail with the original finish on the blades. It is one killer toenail.

Congrats at due “one old gray mare” the buyer.

Check out the stamp on this knife 

If you missed it here is the seller’s description- 

Up for auction this vintage, circa 1919-1941, Camillus 4-line sunfish/elephant toenail knife is in near mint condition.  The knife measures a full 4 ¼” long and  1 1/16” wide.  Blade measures 2 7/8” long, blade is full and unsharpened, retains it’s original factory finish.  This knife has not been polished.  Spear tip blade features double pull.  There are a few spots of very light pitting, etching on blade ( LITTLE GIANT ) is clear as could be.  Both blades have a very clear and definite stamping.  The fourth line ( U.S.A. ) is rarely visible on knives such as these.  You can see the top of the “A” in U.S.A. in main blade.  Small blade is in similar condition. Both blades snap well, steel bolsters, brass liners, beautiful brown-green celluloid scale handles.  There is some shrinkage.  Very small scratches on handles, one small nick near back spring on brass liner which is hard to see.  This is the real deal. 

I’m starting a new category topic called “I’ve Got a Beef.” It is for me to sound off. So when you see ole Johnny Mac here you know I’m sounding off. (I was a Borg fan actually, but grew to like John McEnroe a lot over the years). If you don’t know John was famous for his on the court tirades.

Unfortunately, my first installment in “I’ve got a Beef” is pretty close to home for us all of us, but I’m sorry….cause I’ve got a beef.

HOW ABOUT A GLO IN THE DARK WEBSITE?

You guys know I am not one to complain BUT my gracious- have you seen the new National Knife Collector Association website? I know I am not web guru myself, but come on….. green and purple GLO colors.

Maybe it is just my browser or something….like my eyes. It looks like Day-Glo fluorescent with an optical illusion as its focal point!? How about instead, maybe…..a knife, or how about people- yes, smiling collectors at a show…… but a never-ending Day-Glo circle? Must be some of that new age stuff at work here, or something…

I know the NKCA is more than for collectors of antique knives- but there is ton of imagery that could have been used on the site. (I realize pics can be slow to load, but..) I also know the NKCA is a non-profit and probably not flush with cash, BUT…… can’t we make our organization’s site look appealing for folks who come to check out this wonderful hobby of ours? Hopefully, the landing page/homepage is just under construction.

Are you interested in toenail memorabilia? You know I am, but I already have two of these books.

Up for eBay auction you have the 1973 edition of Romance of Knife Collecting. Obviously, it wasn’t the contents as to why I wanted this book (although there is some interesting reading)….it is the picture on the cover. It is a Case Brothers pearl 8250 with TESTED XX stamped out on the master blade.

If interested Click Here

Did you see this Marbles 1910 Trade Catalog that sold on eBay recently? It sold for $468 and was only 13 pages.

I’ll do a post on MSA Toenails as a Feature Toenail soon, but we know they did list toenails in the 1905, 1906, 1907 and their 1908/09 editions. Don’t know if this edition that sold on eBay had toenails or not.

You do know that Marbles never made toenails. The toenails were made on contract by Case Brothers, but I don’t want to steal my own thunder by going any further into toenails, as this post was just about this valuable catalog.

Mr. Larry Gagner of Gladstone, MI helped me when I first started to try to get my arms around Marbles catalog and listings of toenails. Larry wrote a good article on Marbles Safety Axe that was published in Michigan Traveler in May, 1996 and possible for other pubs as well.

Old cutlery company catalogs offer a wealth of information and can help us learn tidbits about their toenails. Grab them when you can. If you run across any you think I might be interested in please let me know.

If you remind me one day I’ll do a Page on all the catalogs from the old cutlery companies that do list toenails- that way you can let me know of ones I am not aware of so we can compile a complete for future reference.

There is a rumor shooting through the Knifedom that a crime was committed recently by someone who was obviously a toenail collector. The unfortunate thing is that it has been reported to have been committed by one of our members here at ET.com.

I was contacted by the authorities asking me to cooperate in their investigation. It seems an overly enthusiastic elephant toenail collector committed what is being called a crime of passion and remains at large. I would greatly appreciate it if you have any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator to contact the authorities.

We have all heard the jawboning by some that elephant toenails are hard to find, especially old ones in so-called collectible condition……well is seems one of us has gone to far in their quest.

Here’s the story as reported by the local newspaper after the crime was committed.

“Recently, a Thai elephant attracted worldwide attention when she had to be fitted with a temporary prosthesis.” Since the incident she has hobbled on three feet. Motola, a 44 year old female elephant, is expected to wear it until her leg strengthens and a permanent one can be put on according to her veterinarian.

(more…)

When we mine for nuggests as we have here for going on 10 years now, we (as in ME/I) end up “collecting” other “stuff” (in proper terms it is called Ephemera, which is nothing more than a fancy word for stuff, junk, etc), well anyway, I was mining for nuggests and came across a pretty good one! Let me show you .

I know it is hard to make out what this is, BUT it just so happens to be a page from a Marbles Safety Axe Company (MSA) catalog.

In case you don’t know, this knife was made for Marbles by Case Brothers. I’ll feature the toenail in the upcoming weeks, but suffice to say, that knife today in Excellent condition would be worth probably $8500 to $15,000. Yeah, let’s all catch our breath for a moment now.. I’ve heard rumors of one that couldn’t be bought for $10,000. Heck, my very closest friend in the world (read ME) paid $1500 for a Junk condition stag handled MSA. It is up in the list. It even has a nail holding in one of the blades.Anyway, the point of the post this morning was the finding nuggets, so let’s shake the sick feeling of the value of the pearl handled MSA in the picture for now…..

This is an actual page with a MSA pearl handled toenail. Marbles didn’t make the toenails. Case Brothers did. In a 1904 Marbles catalog there is a Case Brothers stamped pearl toenail pictured.

The page above is dated October 11, 1907. Keep your eyes peeled out there. It is “stuff” like this that can provide us invaluable nuggets.

And we thought what we collected was big……