The News from ElephantToenails.com

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).

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

 As I shared with you in my last post- you know the one about the many branches of the tree trunk, my interest in bringing knife news and interesting tidbits to knife collectors has branched out. I have published a new weblog called Cutlery News Journal. 

You guys have supported me greatly here at The News and I appreciate the encouragement expressed to me in this effort. One thing I have learned during that time is while I have a tremendous interest in all things related to elephant toenails, I have experienced a growing interest in knives and cutlery history on a broader scale.

The Cutlery News Journal will provide me an avenue to share with all collectors, of all types of knives, news relating to all of knife collecting. You know I have worked very hard to keep The News as toenail specific as possible. I have intentionally passed up on other topics in an effort to stay true to my original goal here at The News. 

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Got a bunch of projects going on at the moment. One just went out the door and should be published in an upcoming edition in Knife World soon. Even though it is on the broader topic of early pocketknives, it is related to toenails, of course.

Also, I’m burning the midnight oil, on a big project related to cutlery around the turn of the century. I’m still in the research stage now, but hope to have it to Knife World by the end of August.

I don’t want to give all the details away, but will share this much with you. You know I am a modern-day Commercial Traveler (commonly referred to as a traveling salesman, or road warrior), so I have an intense interest in life as a traveling cutlery salesman (sometimes called Drummers) around the time of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

If you don’t know, many of the founders of early American cutlery companies were at one time traveling cutlery salesmen. As a side note here-  my great-grandfather was a traveling salesman (back in the early 1900’s), as was my grandfather and my father, so, “life on the road” goes back in my family at least 4 generations.

If you don’t already know Mark, you don’t have to talk to him very long before you clearly see he has the collectors’ interest at heart and does not mince works when talking to the “establishment” that we are the lifeblood of the knife world. Mark has always encouraged me with ET.com and trying to use technology to advance our hobby.

One of the things I like about Mark is he is not shy about his editorial comments, which is why my favorite “section” of Knife World is his editorials. You can find “Irons in the Fire” now on page 4 of each edition.

If you don’t already know Mark, next time you are at a knife show look him up as he will probably be there based on the number of shows he attends. 

I have made Mark Zalesky our first honorary ET.com member (I can do that, can’t I?).  With that I’d like to introduce my friend and fellow cutlery enthusiast Mr. Mark Zalesky. 

Hi Scott,
I’d be happy to accept, thanks very much for thinking of me. Will do my best to answer your questions…

General geographic area you call home (country, state/province)

Knoxville, TN

What first got you into collecting toenails?

I’m not precisely a toenail collector, though I’ve owned quite a few over the years. I think Scott has a couple of them…

How long you have collected toenails?

A second-generation knife collector, I’ve been collecting & trading antique knives since roughly 1974… age 5 if you can believe that. Going to gun shows with my Dad was a lot more exciting than staying home and baking cookies with Mom!

Do you collect other patterns in addition to toenails?

My primary interest these days is in pre-Civil War bowie knives by American makers, but I collect or have collected over the years a number of different things… pre-1875 American made lockbacks, Marble’s knives, American made exotic pearl handled knives, wharncliffe patterns, straight razors with patriotic or political motifs, 19th century cutlery related ephemera, and so forth.

Do you collect old or newer toenails?

I’m definitely a rusty blade guy, though I will admit to owning a few modern handmade pieces.

What is your favorite toenail?

I only own one “keeper” — a stag handled M.S.A. Co. that is one of very few holdovers from my Marble’s collecting days. It’s badly worn, but absolutely authentic… and I just can’t bear to part with it.

What is your profession?

Editor of Knife World magazine.

Do you attend knife shows? If so about how many a year?

Roughly 20-25 knife shows or other knife related events a year.

Are you currently looking for any particular toenail to purchase?

Not really… but actively collecting lots of other stuff on the list above.

Any other information you would care to share with the members here at ET.com.

Kudos to Scott King for the fabulous collecting resource he’s created… here’s hoping that he can find time to pen more KNIFE WORLD articles in the future!

Are you willing to share your email address to the membership?

I’m easy to find… just go to http://www.knifeworld.com
Mark

How about that article by Gary Moore in the the July 07  editon of Knife World? 

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David Anthony delivers yet again, this time with Tidioute: A Town with an Edge.

If you haven’t gotten a copy of David’s book yet, do yourself a favor and buy it for yourself for Valentines Day. 

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As reported in the December edition of Knife World, Camillus has gone out of business. I can imagine it is hard to compete against the foreign makers.

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