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Help me value this hand made obsidian/ antler knife

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2022 12:05 pm
by John E Davies
Another knife question. My wife bought this at a street fair 20 years ago for $75. I call it the “fish knife”, and it is in 100% pristine condition. It has always been stored in bubble wrap.


F944C6E9-CD46-4CCF-AF19-71CE063916B0.jpeg


The maker is:

Joseph and Robin Park
Swanfield Horncraft and Flint Knapping
Marysville WA

They used to have a retail store in Pike Place Market, downtown Seattle, but it is now permanently closed. I can't find any current info, are they still making knives? Got a link? How can I value this, short of an open ended eBay auction? It is a pretty little knife, and it would make a great display item inside a glass case.

I did look here, and could not find the name. …. https://blademag.com/wp-content/upload ... ectory.pdf

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA

Re: Help me value this hand made obsidian/ antler knife

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2022 12:20 pm
by JEBar
interesting collector's knife .... first time I've seen one like this, looking forward to following this thread

Re: Help me value this hand made obsidian/ antler knife

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2022 12:29 pm
by markiver54
20221119_122521.jpg
John, It looks very similar to these. I think it's an Arrowhead knife. ( check out Tom Oar handmade products). Might help with your search.

Sorry for the bad pic. I took it with my phone off of my tablet.

Re: Help me value this hand made obsidian/ antler knife

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2022 1:09 pm
by John E Davies
markiver54 wrote:
Sat Nov 19, 2022 12:29 pm
20221119_122521.jpgJohn, It looks very similar to these. I think it's an Arrowhead knife. ( check out Tom Oar handmade products). Might help with your search.
Those are flint. The obsidian versions on etsy seem to be at the higher end of pricing.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/133594915 ... ch_click=1

Also, in looking at pictures, most of the cheap flint knives seem to be of poor quality. This is more finely crafted.

Thanks.

John Davies
Spokane WA

Re: Help me value this hand made obsidian/ antler knife

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2022 2:20 pm
by markiver54
I see what you mean.

Re: Help me value this hand made obsidian/ antler knife

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2022 3:45 pm
by markiver54
Glad you posted this thread today John. Please excuse my ignorance as I didn't even know what obsidian was before now. You inspired me to research it. Pretty interesting that it was used by cave men and is still used to make surgical instruments because it is the sharpest material known to man. I guess there is some good from volcanos.

Re: Help me value this hand made obsidian/ antler knife

Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2022 6:42 pm
by Mags
markiver54 wrote:
Sat Nov 19, 2022 3:45 pm
.. that it was used by cave men...
Native Americans, at least here in the west continued to use obsidian for quite awhile overlaping with steel knives, axes and rifles.

Re: Help me value this hand made obsidian/ antler knife

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 2:12 pm
by John E Davies
Posted it at a starting bid of $55, who knows? Thanks for the comments.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/134344187656

John Davies
Spokane WA

Re: Help me value this hand made obsidian/ antler knife

Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2022 2:34 pm
by RanchRoper
Very nice for sure. I read somewhere that obsidian is very brittle (?) but I have no experience with it.

Re: Help me value this hand made obsidian/ antler knife

Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2022 8:42 am
by BrokenolMarine
Rewatching Game of Thrones.

Obsidean, aka: Dragonglass. If the Whitewalkers come, you might wish you kept it. Just saying. :D