KNIFE COLLECTOR FROM THE NORTHWOODS

 Marbles is a familiar brand to many in the knife world, but as with most of my collection, it again sits on the budget end.  No apologies.  As I indicated in another post, inexpensive does not mean cheaply constructed.  Such is the case with this "rigger's knife".  It retails on Amazon right now for around $17. As with many well-known knife brands, this once USA based company began to manufacture their knives overseas years ago. This particular knife is made in China and is so indicated on the blade. The company,  Marble Arms & Manufacturing Company,  technically of Gladstone, Michigan, was founded in 1892.  It manufactures a number of various specialty knives, even a reproduction of the US Army "Demo" Knife I have mentioned before.   At first I didn't have any interest in purchasing a knife with a "marlin spike".  It seemed like a specialty knife geared toward those only in boating and work on ships.  But then I started t...

 In my ongoing search for knives from the WWII era I stumbled upon one in an antique store for $90 and snatched it up.  It is the Cattaruagus 225Q , where the "Q" stands for "Quartermaster".  Sometimes known as the Quartermaster's Knife it was supposed that it was used primarily for opening boxes and crates and other utilitarian needs.  However, it is also referred to elsewhere as a "fighting knife". A truly hefty knife I have no difficulty imagining it in a combat setting. As the pictures below show, this knife is substantial and in remarkable condition considering it may be 80 years old.  I was especially impressed that the leather sheath was in as good a condition as it is.  It is purely a collection item for me, but looking at the knife I can see that it still has years of use.   The blade is thicker and shorter than the more familiar K-BAR.  Here is a nice description of the company and history and description of the knife from Gunmag Wa...

 In a world dominated by Leatherman, Gerber, and Victorinox, not to mention other competitors, I seem to often gravitate to the budget category. And sometimes you actually find a gem.  It was marked down and I was able to purchase it for around $16, a truly 'budget' price in a budget category.  Often, as in any purchase, you 'get what you pay for.'  Yet, sometimes you find a quality item others look down on simply because it is in that 'budge' category.  The Mossy Oak 12-in-1 Multitool is just one of those finds.  It is now a regular EDC for me along with my SOG Powerpint multitool.  It's an all steel construction (the blade is 440C, I think) reminding me of my US Military "Demo Knife".  It has heft and feels substantial, not light and flimsy as you might almost expect at this price point.  The tools fit my needs in a compact package, minus the pliers, which I compensate with the SOG in a separate nylon belt pouch.  The blade and sciss...