The News from ElephantToenails.com

Knife collecting has several rewarding aspects; one of them is the memories associated with our knife finds- the person you got it from, the knife maker, where you got it, or even an event you are reminded of, like a particular knife show (maybe it was your very first knife show).

As you probably know, I had the fortunate opportunity recently to conduct the auction for the W R Case Cutlery Co. at their Case Collectors Appreciation Day held in Bradford, PA on July 18th & 19th.

The morning after the auction we arrived very early for 200 Club Breakfast. Tom Arrowsmith, the president of the W R Case Cutlery Co., started off the session by talking about how much fun the auction was the night before. I had just started to eat, there with Roger, Ken and their wives, when I thought I heard Tom mention my name. I look up and sure nuf- there he was holding out something and telling me to come up front.

Good grief… while I am an auctioneer and just the night before stood 800 folks, I am basically a shy person. But I walked up to the podium and there Tom presented me with a beautiful toenail in appreciation for helping with their auction. I was honored. (You guys know I’d give my left… big toe to work directly with the oldest knife company in America, especially one that made toenails from their earliest of days).

2008 Case Collectors Appreciation Day Toenail

Yes, my passion is early toenails, and not customs, but I can tell you- this knife ranks among my sentimental favorites. This gorgeous one-of-a-kind toenail sparkles a million brilliant colors. It features bright Abalone handles with Nickel Silver design topped with a Mother-of-Pearl inlay.

This was my second time to be the auctioneer for a Case Event. The first was two years ago at their Case/Zippo International Swap Meet. After that auction the Case folks surprised me with a special toenail too, but out of the blue a week or so later through the mail.

2008 & 2006 Case Event Toenails

The one at the bottom of the photo was made by the talented Mike DuBois. It features Jet Black Onyx handles with genuine Mother-of-Pearl accents and custom wire-cut nickel silver bolsters. While I won’t be posting either of these two knives in The List, I did want to share them with you here in The News.

Granted they aren’t big old fat toenails from days gone by, but to me these knives are priceless. Had they been auctioned at the Case/Zippo or the Appreciation Day auction, either one would have brought over $2500, but now… they are MINE! : )  Seriously, you wouldn’t believe the prices those knives sale for at the Case Auctions. I don’t have the final sales prices (I don’t write them down), but several brought north of $5000.

For the last two days I have been a part of the W R Case Collector Appreciation Weekend in Bradford, Pennsylvania, both as a member of the Case Auction Team and as a collector. I have to say I don’t believe I have ever witnessed the sincere gratitude a company has for its consumers like the Case firm has for its collectors and customers. You see and hear the “lip search” many companies attempt to pay to its customers, but usually it is more of a PR effort and staged than heart felt. Any one there over the last two days will attest, Case sincerely appreciates the folks who support and purchase from this company- from its owner and senior management all the way through its associates working in the factory.

This firm recognizes its responsibility to its customers. Let me give you a small example.  I am amazed at the admiration its customers have for the company and its executive team. I have never seen individuals line up to get autographs from corporate executives before. Most consumers are of the what’s-in-it-for-me mentality- “Give me your product or service how I want it when I want it, and if I don’t like something I’ll let you know.”

One of the most intriguing phenomenon is Case’s customers are more fans than consumers, and the Case firm clearly recognizes and accepts the responsibility that comes with this culture. And I must say, the senior management team spend hours meeting and signing autographs for their fans. And Case spent this weekend expressing through a special event that it wanted to let these fans know- it values and appreciates them too.

I’ll add more about my trip over the next week- about the first meeting of the ETCC club, the auction, significant events and people I encountered while in Bradford, but the truth is of all the events and happenings there, I am most impressed with Case’s sincere appreciation for its customers and collectors.

Do you know what and where The One Hundred Mile Circle is? Well, I am headed there tomorrow and to me it is hog heaven. It is the most historically rich 100 mile patch of territory in the entire United States. I’ve been there only once before 2 years ago, but I felt like I was on holy ground.

If you are a knife collector and into early American cutlery history, and have been in this region, then you know what I am talking about. If you aren’t familiar with this term, it is the 100 mile circle around Little Valley, NY.

According to Giles book, Case, The First 100 Years, there were over 73 different cutlery companies that have at one time been located in this magic circle. I soaked it in when I was there last and hope to do the same this trip.As you probably know, I head out tomorrow on my way into Bradford, Pa for the Case Collectors Appreciation Day. I will be landing in Buffilo and driving down.

Two years ago Case asked me to conduct their auction and they asked me back. On Friday night, we have 10 items that are sure to be treasured among collectors. As you also know we are having our first Elephant Toenail Collector Club meeting at 11:00 Saturday morning in the boardroom of the Case factory. Come be with us.

Last trip in I visited Cattaraugus and Little Valley. I wanted to go over to Eldred, but wasn’t to. I also when on a fun trip with the Case historic tour that takes you up to Little Valley to see the original factor sites and grave sites of the Case brothers and family.I’ll try to post while I am gone but for sure will at least once when I return.

You have probably heard by now of the big auction of Bob Wurzelbacher’s green bone knives. While I doubt they are all he owns, it is reported to have over 100 antique Case knives in it.

Green bone handled knives command a premium. It is a fact. Case green bone knives command a king’s ransom. While some folks may want to argue only Case made green bone handled knives, that isn’t the topic for today.

Bottomline: Green bone handled knives are in very high demand. I must confess to like them too, but green is one of my favorite colors.

Have you ever stopped to wonder why folks like green bone so much? I don’t know all the reasons, but do know, variations are good. Collectors like niche’s. Differences add an element of desirability. In my 2003 interview with Mr. Joel Seale, he told me green bone was one of the most desirable handle materials. He went on to tell me one of the reasons for this- Case lost its formula and couldn’t duplicate it. The story goes: After WWII Case tried to rehire its workers returning from the war. The new hires weren’t able to replicate the formula with the proper mix of dyes and also weren’t able to get the color to hold to the bone. 

In a conversation with Mr. Tony Foster, notable antique Case knife expert, Tony said, “all TESTED XX are green bones, actually, even though some appear brown.” He added that there are several variations of green bone and that the Bradford, TESTED XX and XX are the only eras with green bone. He also believes that neither Case Brothers or early WR Case used green bone.

I am not going to argue with an expert, but opinions differ out there as we have learned over the years when it comes to knives and toenails. So, is this Case Brothers a brown bone??  

Anyway, sorry I wasn’t able to add several of the other green bones toenails I have, including some killer green TESTED XX! Plus, I have several non-Case branded toenails made with green bone handles.When you have the chance to acquire a green bone toenail, grab it. You won’t go wrong, and if you are like me, will develop a special liking for them :) 

Have you seen the t-shirts around with “Life is Good?” Looking on the bright side is a healthy perspective and folks enjoy being ’round individuals with this outlook as it is refreshing.

Well, in an effort to refresh you (and provide an excuse for my long absence the last week), I’ve been taking a Life is Good week. My three daughters, son, wife and I headed to the beach last week and just got back yesterday. Call it a long Memorial Weekend week, if you will.

You won’t believe it if I told you but while I took my trusty MacBook Pro, I never got it out of my briefcase. As unbelievable as that may sound it is true. I will tell you, however, I thought about it (and you here at The News), but elected to have my Life is Good week. I know you thought I may have stabbed myself with a Jumbo, but I didn’t.

Instead, we rode bikes, rode jet ski’s, played freesbie at the breach, watched a really cool air show while at the beach, played games, rode bikes some more, shopped, ATE REALLY GOOD and, did I say we rode bikes (we rode bikes everyday actually). It was really fun.   

 I hope each of you get to spend some quality time with your family this summer. Even though our vacation was right in the middle of our busy season at work, I was able to relax and enjoy the folks most important to me.

I’m going to do my best to catch up at work first and then will jump back in here at The News, but do have to head out of town this week and next.

LIFE IS GOOD 

In case you don’t know we had a major weather day in Alabama yesterday. While some of our area reported damage, our part of the bend fortunately escaped tornadoes and high winds. But as you know part of a tornado event is lightning.

Well I am very sad to report, (more…)

For Immediate Release:

Online knife collectors club announces first-ever meeting on Saturday, July 19th at 11:00 at W R Case Cutlery Co., Bradford, Pa.

The Elephant Toenail Collectors Club (ETCC) officially announced it will hold its first membership meeting around the W R Case Collector Appreciation Day weekend, July 18th & 19th in Bradford, Pa. Knife enthusiasts with an interest in elephant toenails / sunfish knives are invited to attend.

“We are excited about meeting our members for the first time” said organizer Scott King. Case has arranged to allow the club to use their boardroom at the corporate office for this historic meeting. One of the interesting aspects of this meeting is the ETCC is not just another knife club. They were founded in 2003 and have never had a membership meeting. It is an online collectors club for antique toenails. The online club originated with the launching of ElephantToenails.com and has now grown to over 300 members worldwide. Scott began the community to provide a forum for collectors to access information on the popular knife pattern.

“I never dreamed we’d ever actually have an off-line meeting” Scott said. “It was a natural event timing for us to get together while we will be in Bradford for W R Case’s event. Our members are from all over, so I don’t know at this time, how many will attend, but we are excited about meeting. Plus to think we will be calling our first meeting to order in the boardroom of the oldest remaining American cutlery company is just the icing on the cake!“

The ETCC is unique in that it is an online knife collecting community. There are no membership dues, no bylaws and its newsletter, The News, is only available online.

“One of the interesting things about our community here at ET.com is about one third aren’t really toenail collectors, per se. They like knife collecting and the community we have built, another one third are moderately active toenail collectors and the rest being hard-core. We have a good cross section of knife collectors, which is healthy for a community. We really are but a small group of niche collectors of old knives.”

Meeting date and location: Saturday, July 19th at 11:00 in the boardroom at W R Case Cutlery Co.

For additional information contact Scott King at scott@elephanttoenails.com

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I pride myself on keeping up with knife auctions and must tell you these guys only allowed 6 days notification…..there was no ad in Knife World that I saw either. I just got this email of the auction today by virtue of the fact that I am an auctioneer through the National Auctioneers Association, not because I am a knife collector….go figure.

I’ll digest this more and let you know. I’m sure it will be a historic event- the final chapter of Camillus.

Earlier today I was doing a little tweaking of ET.com’s keywords for those all important search engines (sorry for the geek talk) and ran across a timely bit of info. A real live old time public Auction. But not just any ole auction (like what I do) but this one’s got Toenails in it!

On March 30th, there is an auction with a fair amount of toenails/sunfish. The Auctioneer bills the sales as a “PRIVATE COLLECTION of at least 500 knives, such as: at least 15 Antique Sunfish knives, plus more than 100 newer collectible Sunfish knives; over 100 collectible pocket knives and more than 150 Antique pocket knives.”

Here is the link to the Auctioneer’s website. There you will find an inventory and pictures. The auction is being held in Liberty, PA at 10:30 AM. I don’t think they are putting these online for bidding but may allow phone or proxy bidding.

There are newer ones, like Case (from the ’70’s & ’80’s), S & W, Primble, Bulldog, Canal Street, Fight’n Rooster and maybe some others. Plus there are some old ones too, like Case Bros. Camillus, Harris Bros., Union Cut. Co, Hammer Brand (NYKC), HSB, OVB, Cattaraugus, etc.

There are lots of varieties and because it is an “on-site” auction I would guess some bargains are to be had. If you are going shoot me an email I may get you to check a couple out for me

It was snowing when I left The Northwest Ga Convention Center earlier today, but the blustery day only added to making this a memorable trip for me. For you newer collectors who have yet to attend a knife show, you must make every effort to get to one.

Attending a knife show, for me, is about 1) scoping out the toenails for sale, 2) seeing the prices being asked for those toenails, 3) meeting knife folks, 4) visiting with the knife folks I know, 5) finding out the latest talk on the goings on in the Knifedom, And 6) having the opportunity to handle a lot of toenails and testing my learning on identifying the good ones from bad ones.This show was all of that and more! (more…)