Jim Sargent, long-time antique pocketknife dealer and knife retailer, passed away yesterday, Feb. 11.
Along with his wife, Jean, Jim founded J. Sargent Co. in 1968. Today, known as Sarco Pocket Knives and based in Florence, Alabama, the company specializes in new knives, antique knives, reference guides and imported knives from around the world.
Jim authored eight knife books, including several editions of the American Premium Guide to Knives & Razors, and articles on antique and collectible cutlery. He was past president of the National Knife Collectors Association and served on the NKCA’s board of directors. He was also instrumental in the establishment of the National Knife Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
If you believe the story, this is Abraham Lincoln’s pocketknife.
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the December 1996 issue of BLADE. Read more from BLADE‘s archives with this collection.
Abraham Lincoln’s Knife
George Morris is an antique collector in Monmouth, Illinois. His home is filled with treasures from ages past, but one of his most precious artifacts is seldom seen within the walls of his historic home. The little knife with which he is so careful is said to have once belonged to Abraham Lincoln.
Morris acquired the knife about four years ago. His benefactor stipulated that he not tell exactly where he got it and that he not put it on public display. He has twice gotten permission from the benefactor to display the knife and had to ask again before telling the tale.
Origin’s of Lincoln’s Knife
Sumner Phelps, left, was a dead ringer for Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln, after a stop in Monmouth, Illinois, during his senatorial campaign against Stephen Douglas, visited his longtime friend Sumner Phelps in Oquawka. It was there that the benefactor’s grandfather, Bill Boden, is said to have witnessed the passing of the knife to Phelps. Boden’s daughter-in-law, Agnes Boden, later recalled the story her father-in-law had told her in an essay titled, A Little Town Where Old Friends Met:
“There was a striking resemblance between the two men (Lincoln and Phelps). They could easily have passed as brothers. Many had noticed and spoke of it when they sat together in the Phelps carriage. Lincoln must have noted it too for he played a cute joke on his friend day,” Bill Boden said.
“After telling how he had won a knife, to the merriment of all present, especially S.S. (Sumner) Phelps, who was boisterously laughing, Lincoln, with a twinkle in his eye, took the knife out of pocket and said, “Sumner, this knife was given to me to keep until I found a homelier man than myself, so I present it to you.”
The knife was passed down through the Phelps family and eventually was given to Frank Boden, Bill Boden’s son and the husband of Agnes Boden. In 1941, Will Phelps, the grandson of Sumner, signed an affidavit in Rock Island County, Illinois, attesting to the authenticity of the knife Morris now has.
“It’s Not Insurable”
Though he casually slips the knife in and out of his pocket when showing is to visitors, Morris regularly keeps the knife and affidavit secured in a safety deposit box in a bank. He takes such precautions because the knife is a one-of-a-kind.
“It’s not insurable,” he said. “There’s no way you can appraise it. It’s worth whatever somebody will give you. Something like that can’t be replaced.”
Morris said he plans to keep the knife as long as he lives. What will become of it then, he hasn’t decided.
“The state has heard about it and they say they’re not interested,” he said. however, for some strange reason, state officials keep calling him about it, he added.
Skepticism
Read more articles from BLADE’s archives with this collection of 25 years of back issues.
Morris said he wouldn’t consider giving it to the state unless it were accepted as 100-percent authentic.
And there’s the rub.
Kim Bauer, historical research specialist for the Henry Homer Lincoln Collection at the Illinois Historical Library, said more concrete evidence is needed to verify the story.
The joke of giving a knife to someone with instructions to pass it on to a homelier person was a common one in the mid-1800s, and Lincoln’s humble appearance may have won him many a jackknife.
“I’d like to believe (Boden’s story),” Bauer said. “It’d be great if you could (verify it), but too much time has passed.”
Each year, BLADE selects an official knife of the BLADE Show, the annual event each June in Atlanta. The knives are stamped with the BLADE Show logo and serialized, making them instant collectibles.
For BLADE Show 2018, BLADE wants YOU to help choose the knife. It’s simple:
Browse the CRKT knives below
Vote using the form at the bottom of the page
One vote per person
Voting closes Feb. 28
The winning model will be available at ShopBlade.com and at the show. Have fun!
Caligo
Blade Length: 3.185″ (80.9 mm)
Blade Edge: Plain Edge
Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV
Blade Finish: Black Oxide
Blade Thickness: 0.129″ (3.28 mm)
Closed Length: 4.471″ (113.56 mm)
Weight: 3.4 oz
Handle: 6061-T6 Al
Style: Folding Knife w/Locking Liner
IKBS™ Ball Bearing Pivot System
Overall Length: 7.625″ (193.68 mm)
MSRP: $49.99
Designer: T.J. Schwarz
Drip Tighe
Blade Length: 3.106″ (78.89 mm)
Blade Edge: Plain Edge
Blade Steel: 8Cr13MoV
Blade Finish: Satin Finish
Blade Thickness: 0.113″ (2.87 mm)
Closed Length: 4.197″ (106.6 mm)
Weight: 4.2 oz
Handle: Black Weaved Carbon Fiber – 1 Layer & Black G10
Schneider’s art knives remained among the most coveted in the industry right up to his passing. (SharpByCoop image)
Herman Schneider, one of the most talented of the pioneering custom knifemakers of the 1970s and beyond, passed away Jan. 26. He was 87.
Perhaps best known for the spiked dagger in the 1986 Sylvester Stallone movie, Cobra, Schneider made some of the cleanest knives anywhere. Among them were hunters and skinners in his early days to art knives and reproductions of 19th-century dress bowies in the style of Michael Price as Schneider’s style evolved.
Herman Schneider holds the spiked dagger he made for the Sylvester Stallone movie, Cobra. (image from K.L. Byrd’s Facebook page)
The workmanship of Schneider knives was second to none. As long-time knife collector and the headman of the Art Knife Invitational (AKI), Phil Lobred, once noted, “Herman Schneider’s knives lifted the industry up two notches in the fit-and-finish department.” Schneider was among the very first group of elite knifemakers to be invited to the AKI, and exhibited at the premier event for a number of years.
Of all Schneider’s impeccable knife creations, it was his art knives that stood out. “Herm Schneider built beautiful art knives,” observed Dave Harvey, owner of Nordic Knives retail knife store and coordinator of the biennial Solvang Custom Knife Show. “Many of his blades featured complex grinds that many of the most talented makers would not, or could not, pull off themselves.”
An interesting back story about the Tut dagger repro: As part of Lobred’s instructions for the making of the legendary knife, the blade had to be solid gold. Warenski struggled with finding a way to harden the all-gold blade. After repeated failed attempts, he enlisted the aid of Schneider and Jim Hardenbrook, and together they were able to harden the blade successfully.
In a poll of the greatest custom knifemakers from BLADE®’s first 15 years (1973-88), Schneider did not make the top 10, though he didn’t miss by much and made the honorable mention list. And in the Top 10 custom knives from the same time period, Schneider was the only maker Lobred mentioned for his entire body of work instead of just one piece.
An early member of The Knifemakers’ Guild, Schneider not only was a great knifemaker but was also close to many in the knifemaking and knife fraternity. Along with Buster and Joan Warenski, Cutlery Hall-Of-Famer D’ Holder and Bob Gladstone, Schneider was instrumental in helping Dan and Pam Delavan get the first California Custom Knife Show up and running in the early 1980s. Many thought a lot of Schneider, not just for his knifemaking ability but for his friendship and kindness as well.
BLADE®, the world’s No. 1 knife media brand, announces the all-new BLADE Show West in Portland, Oregon—the Knifemaking Capital of the USA. The 3-day show will open its doors at the Oregon Convention Center on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018.
BLADE Show West is presented by BLADE® Magazine, which also hosts the Annual BLADE Show in Atlanta, Georgia June 1-3 at the Cobb Galleria.
Why Portland?
“There’s no better place to have a new BLADE Show than in the backyard of Blade City USA,” said Steve Shackleford, BLADE® Magazine Editor in Chief. “Knife enthusiasm is at an all-time high, and there are many thousands of knife aficionados and knife makers in the West. We’re eager to see and showcase all the great blades out there.”
Reasons to Attend
The new BLADE Show West will feature the works of prestigious knife manufacturers large and small, as well as handmade knives made by skilled custom knife makers. And Portland is the perfect city.
See knives of all types and designs—fixed blades, folders, automatics, swords, daggers, tactical knives, throwing knives, art knives and more
View custom knives designed, forged, and finished by individual knife makers, and new models by renowned manufacturers
Visit knife dealers, purveyors, collectors, and knife enthusiast organizations at more than 200 booths and tables
Shop for knives priced from $10 to more than $10,000, knifemaking supplies and machinery, and accessories from sharpeners to cases
Vote for the Best Knives of BLADE Show West
See knives entered in the Weirdest Knife Contest—in line with the region’s unique Keep Portland Weird! slogan
Does This Change Anything About the BLADE Show in June in Atlanta?
Nope! The BLADE Show in Atlanta that takes place every June will continue as it has in years past.
Editor’s note: This article is the conclusion toMake a Bowie Knife in 10 Steps. Read that one first if you’re interested in making a complete knife from start to finish.
1) Choose the Material
For handle material, I chose olive drab G-10 with a simple red liner for a little flair. The choice for your handle material is up to you.
While the material used, the rasp, is classic and traditional, the handle material will be more modern. I’ve chosen olive drab G-10 with a simple red liner for a little flair. Any material you like would be fine. It’s your knife and the handle is the easiest place to express your personal taste.
2) Lay Out the Scales
Trace the handle profile. I use a black magic marker since the G-10 won’t absorb the ink.
Now that we have our materials it’s time to start laying out our scales. Trace the handle profile. I use a black magic marker since the G-10 won’t absorb the ink.
If you use a natural or unstabilized material, a pencil might be a better choice to avoid staining or permanent marks.
3) Mark the Holes
To help ensure your holes will line up, make a light mark with a hand drill and finish in a drill press to help ensure the holes are square and true.
Mark the holes you need to drill on one side of the pair of scales. To help ensure your holes will line up, make a light mark with a hand drill and finish in a drill press to help ensure the holes are square and true.
4) Sand, Drill and Glue
A simple light sanding will flatten the scales and rough up the surface for a better bond. Drill the holes in one scale, place a drop of Super Glue® on the flattened inside surface, and glue the two scales together.
One important thing to remember when doing anything is to never assume. While the handle scales look flat they in fact are not. A simple light sanding will flatten them and rough up the surface for a better bond.
Using the drill press I drill the holes in one scale, place a drop of Super Glue® on the flattened inside surface, and glue the two scales together. This ensures the scales will stay perfectly matched up as you drill your holes and do the rough shaping.
5) Profile the Scales
Profile the front of the scales while they are attached by the light glue bond.
Another important step is to profile the front of the scales while they are attached by the light glue bond. First, it is very difficult to clean up the front once it is attached to the blade without scuffing and scratching the blade. Second, it ensures that the faces of the scales will match up just like the holes do.
6) Pop them Apart
Place the edge of a blade on the seam between the scales. A light tap will pop them apart easily and you are ready to add any spacer material if so desired.
Once the holes are drilled and the rough shaping is complete, simply place the edge of your everyday carry blade on the seam between the scales. A light tap will pop them apart easily and you are ready to add any spacer material if so desired.
7) Trace, Cut and Glue
Trace the handle shape onto the spacer material, cut to rough shape and then glue to the inside of the scales.
Trace the handle shape onto the spacer material, cut to rough shape and then glue to the inside of the scales. Super Glue or epoxy is fine for this. Different materials will need different bonding agents. I use Super Glue here because the materials are very non-absorbent. If you choose antler or unstabilized wood, an epoxy is probably a better choice.
Once the material dries, clean up the edges and drill through to match the existing pin holes. A hand drill is fine for this as the holes in the scales will guide the bit.
8) Assembly
Now you’re ready for assembly. For pins the author uses two simple brass bolts. Use the pins themselves to clamp the scales in place by simply adding a nut and snugging it down after applying epoxy.
Now you’re ready for assembly. I’m going semi traditional and keeping the build simple. For pins I use two simple brass bolts. The advantage is I can use the pins themselves to clamp the scales in place by simple adding a nut and snugging it down after applying epoxy.
Also, the threads on the bolt help add an extra mechanical bond to the handle assembly.
Once you’ve checked the fit of the parts, give them a good spray with brake cleaner to be sure they are free of dirt and oil and to ensure a clean bonding surface.
9) Get the Pins Flush
Clean off the head of the bolt and then extra length of bolt body on the nut side, and your pins will be flush.
After the epoxy dries, take your angle grinder or whatever you have been using—a file or hacksaw will do as well—and clean off the head of the bolt and the extra length of bolt body on the nut side, and your pins will be flush. When doing this be sure to work slowly! Brass heats up very quickly and that can compromise the bond of the adhesive if you’re using power tools.
10) Clean and Shape
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You’re almost to the finish line. All that’s left is to clean up your handle and shape it to fit your hand. When you do this, again, take your time.
Once you remove any material, you can’t put it back. Go slowly and check the fit often till it fits like a glove, an extension of your hand.
Do some cutting and chopping with the knife—this will let you know what, where and how much material you need to remove.
Work through your sandpaper grits to whatever final finish you desire and voila! Your personal vision of knife perfection is in your hand.
I hope you enjoyed this journey of steel as much as I have. Now get out there and put that knife to work!
Pro-Tech’s new Chris Kyle Frog Collection is anchored by the Model 752, a spin on the Godson Tuxedo. The Chris Kyle “Legend” logo is lasered into the ivory Micarta inlays. Proceeds benefit the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation.
Stubby blades designed for the Golden State may also hold appeal for those elsewhere. That seems to be the thinking behind SOG’s discreet California Special, which could be described as an entry model for new collectors.
This series won’t hit shelves until May 1, but it’s worth keeping an eye out. This USA-made auto is slated to retail for $125.
Final specs aren’t available yet, but the series will offer S30V blades and four style options.
Benchmade Coalition® Family
The models in this series (or family) aren’t necessarily distinct variants. Instead, buyers can choose from plain or serrated edges, and satin or coated finishes. That makes for four possible combinations for this EDC auto.
