The News from ElephantToenails.com

Our life is filled with a deluge of thoughts and image impressions. Our memories are, to put it in computer terms, are like a folder on our hard drive. All day, every day, our internal video camera is recording everything our 5 senses are encountering. Think of the shear amount of data our brains filter on a daily basis. Most studies conclude the brain retains this information for your entire lifetime.

Well, while it is interesting to ponder all that I’m just a knife guy who can’t seem to “call up” my kid’s cell phone numbers, so trying to remember what I got for my birthday when I was 10 years old is fruitless.

BUT some things I can remember easily and as if it was just yesterday.

And the day I saw my first toenail is one of those instant recall memories. I’ll never forget it; that knife just jumped out and grabbed me.  It was so different from any of the knives I was familiar. It was so different, unusual, peculiar, and cool, that I knew right then and there I had to find me one!

Long story short- I was “studying” Levine’s Guide to Knives and Their Values 4th edition and when I flipped to the page- those ET’s just reached up and grabbed me ’round my neck.

Here is exactly what I saw

To be honest, it was the C Platts that stood out to me the most.

You gotta love that knife. I mean look at that master blade. It is huge.

I lusted over it for some time (before I turned the page). I was disappointed to see Levine say these knives were popular and expensive. I concluded they were going to be hard to find and really doubted if I would ever actually own one.

So, do you remember your first time?

As an aside, forget the value he had on it at the time (The jumbo had $675 and the pearl MSA at $1200). I’m guessing the book was published close to 25 years ago. That knife today is worth going on… Well that exact knife is owned by the Platts family and is worth probably $10,000 to $15,000! The pedigree of that knife being in the founders family for all these years is what knocks that price out of the park.

I know of two cleaned excellent condition W R Case swellcenters sold a few months ago for $4500 a piece. I know of another one in Near Mint condition offered for a tad under $6000.

I was contacted by a reputable dealer recently making me aware of a super nice Platts Jumbo Swellcenter he had available. He deals in only the best of the best.

Check it out-

She’s a beaut that is for sure! Of course, a minty knife like this has a minty price- just a few dollars under $6000.

If you know where any Jumbos are out there for sale better grab them while you can. If and when they get hard to find, then you will see prices that will take your breath…..

One day I’ll post the prices for Jumbos were for sale for back in the early 80’s. You will be amazed at how affordable they were then (at least to us today anyway). We will probably look back and feel the same way 10 years from now.

If you are interested in this one let me know and I’ll hook you two up.

At the NKCA Show in Dalton, Georgia, I found two jumbo swellcenters for sale for $5000 each. One was a WR Case (Platts production). Nice full blades and great handles. The other was a later W R Case swellcenter with the more “modern” style master blade. It appeared to have a variation of Rogers bone and bowtie shield. It also had the matchstriker in the nail nic. Both of these are up in The List for your review (not the ones I found at the show but the two I have). I would say both were EX + to NM.

This morning, I made one more quick walk through just to see if there was anything I missed and to say goodbye to my old and new friends. I took a stab at getting the swellcenters, but to no avail. Even though I had both of them, I am always willing to have some more .

As I was trying to come to terms on them the dealer asked me an interesting question and one to which I hadn’t really ever thought about before. He was trying to convince me I needed to snatch them up because he felt there aren’t many “out there,” so he asked “So just how many jumbo swellcenters do you think there are out there today?” Now that was an interesting question. He expected me to say something like “…oh, you are right, there aren’t very many.” But you know, after I thought about it I said “dozens.” He was taken back by my response, but the truth is I believe there are dozens out there in collections today.

Heck, I know quite a few folks with one or more. I also know of at least three single bladed Platts floating around. Then factor in the folks who are closet collectors (folks who don’t want anyone to know what they have) and the folks who don’t really know what they have. All you have to do is read the Toenail Q & A to see what I mean. I know of at least two folks who have emailed me asking about Jumbos they either found and didn’t know much about them or inherited.

Anyway, I was pleased to say that I believe there are dozens that have been identified and are being preserved in collections out there.

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.

Hello, I found your website for this knife, and am in need of guidance. (more…)

I heard through the grapevine that the all elusive single bladed easy open Platts Jumbo Swellcenter (what a mouth full) has been spotted.  (more…)