Knife talk: Marbles' 'military' picket knife

[wecsoger]

Had vacation days, wife and I spent some quality time in Pigeon Forge, TN. For those who don't know, Smoky Mountain Knife Works is in the area, one of the ultimate 'guy' stores. Name a knife brand, they probably carry it.

Sad state of affairs though, so much is now stamped or laser engraved with 'made in china'.

This is the Marbles copy of the famous military 'demo' knife. I'll leave it for you to look up the 'demo' part.

It's a good copy. Reasonably sharp out of the box. Haven't had a chance to try the bottle opener or can opener. As far as the last, need to put an edge on that for better can cutting. The awl point was boogered from incorrect grinding and I touched that up. Scales on this one seem a little thinner than my old classic Camillus.

$6.99 plus tax and title out the door.

It will go in my carry bag, with a braided up paracord lanyard, looped to a firesteel. For that, it works perfectly.

[Blaine]

Those are handy...Marbles is a high quality item.... I've got a Camillus.

[wecsoger]

Camillus is the 'gold standard' maker of these types of knives. I was heart broken when they shut down the American side and now they're all over seas.

I don't know if I would say Marbles is 'high quality', but at least as far as this knife, more than worth the price.

Rather than have one very good, very expensive knife, I'm content with having several pretty good, less expensive ones.

One of the deputies I used to work with came in at shift change almost cryiing, he had lost of the those hundred dollar plus special survival/law enforcement/survival pocket knives out on a traffic stop on the interstate.

I gave him the one I had, quick open serrated blade, rips through a seat belt like wet paper, got a huge handful for three dollars apiece at a gun show.

[Blaine]

Camillus is the 'gold standard' maker of these types of knives. I was heart broken when they shut down the American side and now they're all over seas.

I don't know if I would say Marbles is 'high quality', but at least as far as this knife, more than worth the price.

Rather than have one very good, very expensive knife, I'm content with having several pretty good, less expensive ones.

One of the deputies I used to work with came in at shift change almost cryiing, he had lost of the those hundred dollar plus special survival/law enforcement/survival pocket knives out on a traffic stop on the interstate.

I gave him the one I had, quick open serrated blade, rips through a seat belt like wet paper, got a huge handful for three dollars apiece at a gun show.

Indeed.....I have some that never leave the house, too...but, I take moderately priced for EDC....

[ollogger]

Yes I was pretty blue when Marbles shut down in Gladstone but dang happy that I have
a bunch of their USA knives, have not tried the china brand



Brad

[Blaine]

Yes I was pretty blue when Marbles shut down in Gladstone but dang happy that I have
a bunch of their USA knives, have not tried the china brand



Brad

I sadly concede that Chinese Old Timers, Schrade are pretty good.....I still don't like it....

[Lefty Dude]

I carried one just like that when I was Air Crewman in the Navy. I brought mine home from Guam in 1960, when I was Discharged. A few years later, I snapped the main blade in half.

I see them in the catalog, I guess I'll have to buy one. Mine was stamped USN. This one most likely is stamped, "Marbles".

[mikld]

I sent one (wasn't made in China) to a friend in Viet Nam in the late '60s. He said it came in real handy many times and didn't rust...

[2571]

Live in MI. Word here is that Marbles failed to keep up with modern marketing. For instance, they kept putting bottle openers on pocket knives 10 years after twist-off caps became universal.

[wecsoger]

This picture is the other side for the previous poster wondering what was stamped there.

And yes, the utility of a bottle opener isn't what it used to be. But don't discount the "cool factor" when you have to pop open a bottle of craft beer and you whip out your classic looking pocket knife.

Also works well as an FN FAL gas tube nut wrench.

[Blaine]

Live in MI. Word here is that Marbles failed to keep up with modern marketing. For instance, they kept putting bottle openers on pocket knives 10 years after twist-off caps became universal.

Every so often, I run into a bottle top that won't yield to arthritic fingers....

[1894]

Live in MI. Word here is that Marbles failed to keep up with modern marketing. For instance, they kept putting bottle openers on pocket knives 10 years after twist-off caps became universal.

Every so often, I run into a bottle top that won't yield to arthritic fingers....

I just use a bic lighter.

[Blaine]

Live in MI. Word here is that Marbles failed to keep up with modern marketing. For instance, they kept putting bottle openers on pocket knives 10 years after twist-off caps became universal.

Every so often, I run into a bottle top that won't yield to arthritic fingers....

I just use a bic lighter.

Not many smoke....

[JB]

I've got a couple of Navy Camillus dated in the 60's.

[AJMD429]

[The bottle opener] also works well as an FN FAL gas tube nut wrench.

All they needed was a Marketing Guy to put "gas tube wrench" on the box, raise the price a dollar, and put "New Tactical Finish" in front of the color...then they would have stayed in business.