The News from ElephantToenails.com

Talking to a knife collector in AZ earlier this week I learned there is a Platts stamped jumbo pen blade somewhere out there floating around. The collector said it reeked old. The guy who had it wanted $600 for it.

If you know the whereabouts of this blade let us know. And, don’t go taking one off your swellcenter….

Roger Cunningham, the ETCC Vice President, pointed out a Jumbo Swellcenter is being auctioned on eBay right now.

Here’s what the seller has to say about it-

“I have a great old sunfish knife up for bid.  It is a W.R. Case and Sons, winterbottom bone with full blades and excellent condition.  This knife is built on the old Platts frame, and I am dating it at about 1903.  These knives book at 3500 if you can find one .  This one is in great condition.  It takes a thick thumbnail to open it, the backspring is that strong.  Nice winterbottom bone handles make this an extremely rare piece.”

I’m not sure about the date being able to be pinned down to a single year.

Too bad the seller dictated a starting bid of right at $2000 to get into it. Personally, I am convinced an item will bring its worth without forcing buyers to start at a wholesale price. Plus, the market is deep enough (sufficient demand) that it would have brought what it was worth. We may have been willing to spend $2000- $5000 after being caught up in the fever, but he is asking us to commit to spend $2000 cold.

It will be interesting to watch a quality knife sell today via eBay. Before I bid, however, I would ask for additional close-ups of the handles and stamps, for sure. These are my favorite swellcenter handles. I don’t know they are technically Winterbottom. I was told by Joe Seale they called Platts Bone. But, I’m OK with Winterbottom bone if you are.

We jumbo swellcenter collectors know you just don’t run on one everyday, not the vintage variety anyway, so getting one custom made is definitely an option.

Jeff Claiborne continues to keep us informed on the ones he makes.  Today he shows us a jigged peachseed bone handled easy open jumbo.

Jeff Claiborne Custom Jumbo

I’m sure if you want to order one to spec, he’d make one for you.

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

Just got back yesterday from Parker’s Show. Got lots to report, but I need to head out for the morning.

But, if you aren’t a subscriber to Knife World you got to get a copy. A wonderful front page article on toenails is there front and center by our toenail friend, Joe Seale. Also, in full techno-color is that wonderful old C Platts Jumbo he has for sale (got to see it in person at the show too!).

Anyway, you got to get a copy (Dec. 2008 edition), if for no other reason than to add the article to your toenail archive/library.

I’ll be back to report more about toenails, our toenail friends (and fellow ETCC members) at the show and more- later today (unless my honey-do list is real long, which in that case it might be midnight before I can update you on this weekend’s findings and great fellowship).

Mr. Tony Bose

The Tony Bose interview is out of production and is now live. And yes, while the interview is an all around Tony Bose interview, I did ask him specially about his toenails. As you may know, he is one of a few custom knife makers to make toenails of the vintage toenail variety.

Tony is one heck of a gentleman and was a pleasure to talk knives with. I think you will find the interview enjoyable- he has a very dry sense of humor, but is really very funny.

Instead of loading it here at The News, follow the link directly to his interview. Thanks and enjoy the show.

Hope to see you at the Parker Show next week and don’t forget our ET Collectors Club Breakfast Sat. morning.

Due to the rarity of Jumbo Swellcenters (vintage or custom), I have elected to bring you another custom Jumbo that is being finished up right now.

Jeff Claiborne has keep us in the loop on his toenail makes and has another (his second) he is finishing.

He said, it is green mastodon leg bone. The only work left is to “hand rub, then high polish buff.”

We vintage Jumbo purest may jump back at the sur nuff green here, but recognize it is a custom and not a replica… it has grown on me. If you can’t handle it, then you can give it to me for Christmas

I know you probably think I fell off a log and broke my hands, but between my work schedule and family scheduling, I am still here and OK (as far as I know anyway).

Wanted to update you on my interview with custom knifemaker Tony Bose- I’m scheduled to talk to him in the morning…it is going to be good. I know, again, we aren’t into customs much around here, but my gracious, to talk to a knifemaker of the caliber of Mr. Bose who has actually made swellcenters- albeit only a few, is way too cool for me. Again let me remind you of his statement that those knives were there hardest to make of ANY knife he has ever made.

I can’t wait. Plus, with all the technological advances in knifemaking we have today, if today’s makers call it hard, just think how hard it must have been back at the C. Platts factory!

You guys know we have been following the progress of the making of a Jumbo Swellcenter by knifemaker Jeff Claiborne.

Jeff told me it is now finished. And I’m exciting to present the unveiling of Jeff’s excellent representation of this rare vintage pattern. 

This is a stag handled Jumbo Swellcenter. Custom made jumbos are very rare. From my conversations with two knifemakers, both of which have made jumbos, it is a very difficult knife to make, but I’ll post more on that in a later post.

With that allow me to present this handful of a beauty-

If you missed the earlier posts on the stages making this knife, here you go: Part I  and then Part II 

Would you believe me if I told you you could buy a W R Case Jumbo Swellcenter for only $2.00? The one pictured here wasn’t it though.

Well, it is true. Here’s the story. Got a call this morning from a knife friend I met at the Case Collectors Appreciation Day back in July. He told me that he has a friend who bought a knife at a Flea Market who approached him about what it was worth. My knife friend immediately recognized it as a Jumbo.

The long and the short of it is this- his friend bought it for TWO DOLLARS! It sounds like it is probably in at least good+ to maybe VG condition. Aside from the fact that knife may be worth bumping on $1000 (I haven’t seen it, so could be more), the fact that there are rare toenails sitting in a box of knives at flea markets and trade days, just drives me crazy.

So come on guys, let’s not sit on our duff and wait on the next one showing up on eBay, let’s mobilize and scurry the country. I bet we can turn up a dozen or more in unexpected places.

As a side note: I rarely go to trade day down here in my area, BUT two weeks ago, I got up and went. I even went by myself and at the crack of dawn. I didn’t find any toenails, but did buy me two chains