Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
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Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
Got this yesterday, almost did not pick it up. Blued blade is razor sharp, both sides with needle tip, and handle is solidly mounted. About 7 3/8" overall, nickel silver guard, sterling band, and mop handle. Hmmm, could this be a a ladies dagger? Also, what was the relationship between M. Klaas England and R. Klaas Germany? I cannot find anything on the mark but clearly related with the Kissing Cranes.
- ILikeStilettos
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Re: Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
Letter openers aren't usually sharp, my guess is this was someone's personal weapon.
Dave Sause
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oldandfat@cox.net
(405) 694-3690
"And you're telling me this because, somehow, I look like I give a shit?"
"Let a smile be your umbrella and you're gonna get your dumb ass wet."
Re: Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
This is a very interesting piece,I have only seen this stamp one other time.
Not sure if it is related to the Robert Klaas of Germany,I simply can't say.
Judging by the thick carbon steel blade and design I feel confident this is a dagger but not necessarily a woman's dagger.
Many English daggers were ornate and carried in the belt,sometimes with no type of sheath.
Is the handle genuine MOP? If so this could possibly date it earlier than my first guess of turn-of-the-century.
Not sure if it is related to the Robert Klaas of Germany,I simply can't say.
Judging by the thick carbon steel blade and design I feel confident this is a dagger but not necessarily a woman's dagger.
Many English daggers were ornate and carried in the belt,sometimes with no type of sheath.
Is the handle genuine MOP? If so this could possibly date it earlier than my first guess of turn-of-the-century.
Re: Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
The blade is ~0.125" thick and OAL is ~7.25". The handle is definitely genuine MOP and from a very large shell. It is nearly 0.25" thick.Viking45 wrote:
Judging by the thick carbon steel blade and design I feel confident this is a dagger but not necessarily a woman's dagger.
Many English daggers were ornate and carried in the belt,sometimes with no type of sheath.
Is the handle genuine MOP? If so this could possibly date it earlier than my first guess of turn-of-the-century.
It is a very nifty piece and I nearly passed it up and did not examine it.
Re: Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
cool edged weapon!
Re: Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
Very striking. I wish you good luck in determining the history of the knife.
DonC
DonC
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Re: Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
Looks like a prostitute dagger or gamblers dagger.
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Re: Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
Nice one! I used to troll e-Bay in the letter opener section and found several dirks/daggers that were listed there.Bought several of them too.Got a nice Alfred Williams ivory handled dagger for $15. Got this unmarked ivory handled dagger for $10.Got this dagger made from a file with a Lucite handle for $5.
But the best score was this one that I bought a couple years ago(along with two fixed blade knives)for just under $55(including shipping).Listed as a letter opener(the seller had over a thousand items on e-Bay and these were the only knives), it is actually an unsharpened Case V-42 dagger minus it's original stacked leather handle.
When I got it ,I found that someone had made an ugly handle out of some type of plastic(looked like a bowling ball with all the swirls);probably because the leather had rotted away.
I removed it (luckily they hadn't thrown away the pommel)and temporarily made a handle out of clear Lexan until I decide what to do with it. I showed it to a collector of V-42 knives and he offered me $750 for it.If it had the original handle and in the condition the blade is in it would be worth around $3,000.
But the best score was this one that I bought a couple years ago(along with two fixed blade knives)for just under $55(including shipping).Listed as a letter opener(the seller had over a thousand items on e-Bay and these were the only knives), it is actually an unsharpened Case V-42 dagger minus it's original stacked leather handle.
When I got it ,I found that someone had made an ugly handle out of some type of plastic(looked like a bowling ball with all the swirls);probably because the leather had rotted away.
I removed it (luckily they hadn't thrown away the pommel)and temporarily made a handle out of clear Lexan until I decide what to do with it. I showed it to a collector of V-42 knives and he offered me $750 for it.If it had the original handle and in the condition the blade is in it would be worth around $3,000.
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- CaseV-42MarkSide.jpg (74.57 KiB) Viewed 5677 times
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- NicholsonFileLetterOpener1.JPG (15.69 KiB) Viewed 5677 times
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- 3newbies5.jpg (79.21 KiB) Viewed 5677 times
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- A.Williams1.JPG (13.55 KiB) Viewed 5677 times
- Bill DeShivs
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Re: Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
My thinking is that your dagger was sold by M Klaas (possibly a relative) as the kissing Cranes logo is on the knife, but it appears to be Sheffield made.
Prostitutes of the era could not afford a fancy dagger. If they carried a knife , it was a table knife or a crude shiv.
Prostitutes of the era could not afford a fancy dagger. If they carried a knife , it was a table knife or a crude shiv.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
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Factory authorized repairs for:
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Re: Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
Didn't think you were that old Bill.
2024 candidate for president
- Bill DeShivs
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Re: Another estate sale, another letter opener.....wait a minute...???
Ahem..... Possibly a relative of Robert Klaas.......
I make de modern shivs.
I make de modern shivs.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.