Buck - Town Made hawkbill, and old "head knife"

[nozh_scrap]

I was at an antique shop in my town getting my father a birthday gift, when I ran across some old blacksmiths tools that were a little out of my price range that day.

Hidden with the tongs and various objects I found a couple of OLD knives. One was a crescent shaped leather knife. I have Bob Loveless' how to make knives book, and in the section featuring Bill Moran it shows a picture of him using one. It's called a head knife. This one had a rosewood handle with a brass collar and pin, and stamped on the blade was "C.S. Osbourne".

(They both had reasonable pricetags, but I just laid down a Benjamin for my dad there and couldnt afford much else. If I had them here I'd be able to describe them better, but I'm going strictly by memory, so the makers name on the head knife could be slightly different.)

The second knife really didn't surprise me all that much because I've seen alot of old hawkbill knives kinda similar. The blade shape was just a little different though...the point dropped steeply. Almost at a right angle, and the point was long. The top edge was sharpened more than on the bottom edge, which seemed like a gut-hook. The blade stamp is what really caught my eye. It said "Buck - Town Made".

These knives were OLD. When I get the money, I'm gonna purchase them and post some pics.

Anyone know what the "Buck-Town Made" thing means?

Here's my artist rendering of both knives.

[hammerdownnow]

The Osborn head knives are quite collectable. I have been trying to pick up one up for a reasonable price for years. They don't go for cheap. I just saw one on ebay yesterday, but it had been sharpened down pretty low.

Buck Town knife is a new one on me. A good close-up of the mark might help.

[hammerdownnow]

ebay item(clickhere)

Well used one

[nozh_scrap]

REALLY.............

That Osbourne head knife was in PERFECT condition like the first picture only with a pitina...It has a more simple stamp though....just straight across, no other markings.

I can get it for 15 bucks... I had the lady set it back for me.

How collectable are we talking? What kind of prices do knives like that fetch?

Thank you hammerdown. You've stepped up and helped me out twice now. You rock!

[nozh_scrap]

well...it's like me to post and ask questions before realizing there was an ebay link....

$80 bucks! no way.... I'm buying both of them tomorrow...


The hawkbill is just like In the drawing. Just a simple stamp

Buck
Town Made

it goes horizontally with the spine.

[hammerdownnow]

Here is one in reasonable shape. Let's watch the bidding and see what it closes for. Altho ebay is not the beat all on knife values, you can get an idea by watching what an item goes for on the average.
ebay item(Osborne head knife)

[hammerdownnow]

Did a search on Osborne tools. I have a square point and a sloyed knife. The sloyed always reminded me of the Mora's.
Osborne tool

[hammerdownnow]

I notice your Buck Town Knife resembles a linoleum, carpet or roofing knife. That falls into the catagory of "Industrial" knives, as does the head knife, I think. There is collector interest in the industrial knives. Values are, of course, dependent on condition and rarity.

[nozh_scrap]

Thanks again hammer... that new Osbourne you posted looks more like it.

Most industrial knives I've seen are really shoddy. When I saw the hawkbill I was really surprised by the craftsmanship. The knife was made with some quality materials. (the osbourne too) The handle was almost like a ball, and the wood was heavy and had a super nice figure (not that good a good wood detective, so I couldn't tell...maybe walnut?)

The name is what got me. When I saw "Buck" my eyes got wide. We all know about Buck knives, and I was wondering if that knife had anything to do with the family and company's early history..... may be a coincedental seperate knifemaker's name.....?

interesting.

[hammerdownnow]

About an hour of searching for the Buck Town lead me nowhere. When you get it, take a good clear scan and we can go from there. Most old industrials, like many things were made with pride back in the day, when quality was number one and companies staked their reputations on that quality. I have an old industrial knife handle that was made so you could replace the blade without having to go tru the expense of buying a whole knife when the blade wore out.

Thanks for partisipating on this forum.

[TexasJack]

Buck is still a family run business, so they have some rememberance of their past. Why not just ask them?

Buck's original plant was in the Old Town district of San Diego. I don't know if that's the answer or not.

[hammerdownnow]

Old Osborne head knife closed at $62.11

ebay item(clickhere)