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Outstanding single-owner collection of edged weapons, armor and militaria i ...
Outstanding single-owner collection of edged weapons, armor and militaria is the entire focus of Morphy’s February 25 Fine Knives auction
Custom-made Al Dippold Damascus switchblade liner lock with 18K gold inlay panels, the 12th switchblade knife Dippold made in 1999 for a jeweler in Pennsylvania. Estimate: $2,000-$4,000
Auction highlights: Circa-1920-1940 ‘Case tested XX’ 6391 Anglo-Saxon split-back spring whittler; early 1990s Chris Reeve South Africa field survivor Pre-Project 1 pommel knife
DENVER, Pa. – An outstanding single-owner collection of edged weapons, armor and militaria will be the focus of Morphy’s Fine Knives: A Quality Lifetime Collection auction planned for Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The auction is packed with 956 lots, all from one collector.
“I became interested in knives at about age seven, when my father gave me a Case XX 6318 rough black composition stockman knife,” said the collector, who lives in Pennsylvania but has requested anonymity. “My mother didn’t want me to have the knife, as she thought I would cut myself. Well, knives are tools and made for cutting. I really liked that knife but lost it at some point over the years.”
The consignor was a regular at knife and gun shows across the country, as well as at antique shows, flea markets and auctions. “I got to know all the knife collectors and dealers like Tony Foster – the Case knife king – Jim Parker, Jim Sargent and many more,” he said, adding, “All of them have since passed on.”
Now that he’s older and approaching retirement, he’s decided to part ways with his 50-year assemblage. “I hope it will bless my family and others,” he said. “It’s time for others to enjoy these fine pieces of history.”
A circa-1920-1940 “Case tested XX 6391” Anglo-Saxon split-back spring whittler with green bone handles has a pre-sale estimate of $4,000-$8,000. The extremely rare knife has a closed length of 4½ inches, and all blades open and close with a snap. The regular-pull main blade is tang-stamped “CASE Tested XX” with a long tail “C” on the reverse. Features include nickel-silver bolsters and brass liners.
A hard-to-find early 1990s Chris Reeve South Africa field survivor Pre-Project 1 Pachmayer integral hex head pommel knife is expected to change hands for $2,500-$7,500. The knife is #10 of approximately 90 made; after that, the model became the Project 1. The blade is marked “Pachmayer CR 10 Made in South Africa” on the obverse and “NOEL” on the reverse. It’s made from billet A2 steel and comes with the original Chris Reeve silent-snap sheath.
A scarce circa-1920s Hibbard Spencer Bartlett etched lever-lock stag-handle switchblade should fetch $2,000-$5,000. The blade is tang-stamped “Hibbard Spencer Bartlett” on the obverse and fully etched “Our Very Best” on the obverse blade flat. The blade tip sits below the handle and centered when closed. Features include nickel silver bolsters and brass liners. The knife has a closed length of 4½ inches.
A custom-made Al Dippold Damascus switchblade liner lock with 18K gold inlay panels carries an estimate of $2,000-$4,000. This is the 12th switchblade knife Al Dippold made in 1999 for a jeweler in Pennsylvania. The inspiration for the design came to Al when he was sitting in church with his father and saw a stained-glass cathedral window, hence the cathedral window and vine pattern. Al made approximately 25-30 automatic knives in total. The auction example originally sold in 1999 for $3,500.
A circa 1920-1940 Case XX 5161L small stag-handle lever-lock switchblade is expected to ring up $2,000-$4,000. The blade tang is stamped “Case’s Tested XX” on the obverse; the bottom bolster is stamped “Case Tested XX” in an oval on the obverse. The blade locks open firmly and the blade tip sits deep into the handle and centered when closed. The closed length is 4½ inches.
A circa-1920s-1930s Maniago marked bayonet blade Italian stiletto pick lock switchblade with checkered cow horn handles should bring $2,000-$4,000. The blade is tang stamped “Maniago” on the obverse. Features include fully lined top bolsters, dovetail kick spring and a square hole lock tab. The blade tip sits below the handle when closed. The open length is 13½ inches.
An earlier, pre-1915 Case (Bradford, Pa.) 6346 ½ three back spring whittler with old Rogers bone handles salesman’s sample has an estimate of $2,000-$4,000. The back of the main blade has the “Salesman’s Sample” inking and all blades open and close with a snap. The long pull main blade is tang stamped “Case Bradford Pa” on the obverse; the long SPEY blade is tang-stamped “6346” and the pen blade is tang-stamped “Case Tested XX” in an oval.
A custom-made Reese Weiland Gambler #4 scale release liner lock switchblade with Damascus dagger grind blade, Damascus bolsters and abalone handles is estimated to reach $2,000-$3,000. It’s marked on the inside back strap “R.W. Gambler S R 04”. The knife appears unused and unsharpened and its condition is excellent. The closed length is 6¼ inches.
A custom Jody Samson butterfly knife with a hand-ground kris blade tang-marked with the Bali-Song butterfly logo on the obverse and “Bali-Song USA” on the reverse should finish at $1,500-$3,000. Features include desert ironwood handle inlays, a milled stainless-steel frame and the original Bali-Song leather sheath and leather pouch. The blade length is 4 inches and the overall length is 9¼ inches.
A circa 1868-1920s E.C. Simmons St Louis large two-blade Coke-bottle-shaped folding hunter edged “Tickler” knife with ebony handles, nickel-silver bolsters and brass liners is estimated to reach $600-$1,200. The main spear blade is tang-stamped “E.C. Simmons St. Louis” (as is the long pull clip blade) and fully etched “Tickler” on the obverse. Both blades have square tang half stops and open and close with a snap. The blade is 4 inches long; the closed length is 5½ inches.
The collector remembers in the 1960s and ‘70s visiting a cousin, who lived in Pennsylvania near the knife manufacturers. “In the summer, he and I would go to the hardware stores and look at all the knives in big Case Knife displays, wishing we could buy every one of them,” he said. “Also, when we would go on vacation with my family as a child and teenager, I would visit gun shops and they all had knives, especially Case knives, in big display cases.”
All these experiences growing up and seeing knives and having relatives that liked knives, hunting, fishing and camping all added to his fondness for knives. “As I grew older, I also began to understand and become interested in the manufacturing of knives and the history of the knife companies,” he said. “Growing up, we had a neighbor who actually made custom knives and that also increased my interest in knives.”
He would find a 100-year-old knife and wonder what stories it could tell. “Or if the knife was in mint condition, how could it have survived 100 years and be like brand new. What serious knife collector doesn’t wish they could go back in time with a bunch of money and buy up all the mint knives in the stores in the early 1900’s to 1960’s and bring them back to the future,” he mused.
Morphy’s Fine Knives: A Quality Lifetime Collection auction will be held on February 25 live at their gallery located at 2000 North Reading Road in Denver, Pa. Start time is 9am Eastern time. Preview weekdays by appointment from 9am-4pm local time starting one week before the auction; or on auction days from 8-9am. All forms of remote bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone (please reserve line in advance), or live via the Internet through Morphy Live. For condition reports or other questions, call tollfree 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. Online: https://www.morphyauctions.com.
DENVER, Pa. – An outstanding single-owner collection of edged weapons, armor and militaria will be the focus of Morphy’s Fine Knives: A Quality Lifetime Collection auction planned for Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The auction is packed with 956 lots, all from one collector.
“I became interested in knives at about age seven, when my father gave me a Case XX 6318 rough black composition stockman knife,” said the collector, who lives in Pennsylvania but has requested anonymity. “My mother didn’t want me to have the knife, as she thought I would cut myself. Well, knives are tools and made for cutting. I really liked that knife but lost it at some point over the years.”
The consignor was a regular at knife and gun shows across the country, as well as at antique shows, flea markets and auctions. “I got to know all the knife collectors and dealers like Tony Foster – the Case knife king – Jim Parker, Jim Sargent and many more,” he said, adding, “All of them have since passed on.”
Now that he’s older and approaching retirement, he’s decided to part ways with his 50-year assemblage. “I hope it will bless my family and others,” he said. “It’s time for others to enjoy these fine pieces of history.”
A circa-1920-1940 “Case tested XX 6391” Anglo-Saxon split-back spring whittler with green bone handles has a pre-sale estimate of $4,000-$8,000. The extremely rare knife has a closed length of 4½ inches, and all blades open and close with a snap. The regular-pull main blade is tang-stamped “CASE Tested XX” with a long tail “C” on the reverse. Features include nickel-silver bolsters and brass liners.
A hard-to-find early 1990s Chris Reeve South Africa field survivor Pre-Project 1 Pachmayer integral hex head pommel knife is expected to change hands for $2,500-$7,500. The knife is #10 of approximately 90 made; after that, the model became the Project 1. The blade is marked “Pachmayer CR 10 Made in South Africa” on the obverse and “NOEL” on the reverse. It’s made from billet A2 steel and comes with the original Chris Reeve silent-snap sheath.
A scarce circa-1920s Hibbard Spencer Bartlett etched lever-lock stag-handle switchblade should fetch $2,000-$5,000. The blade is tang-stamped “Hibbard Spencer Bartlett” on the obverse and fully etched “Our Very Best” on the obverse blade flat. The blade tip sits below the handle and centered when closed. Features include nickel silver bolsters and brass liners. The knife has a closed length of 4½ inches.
A custom-made Al Dippold Damascus switchblade liner lock with 18K gold inlay panels carries an estimate of $2,000-$4,000. This is the 12th switchblade knife Al Dippold made in 1999 for a jeweler in Pennsylvania. The inspiration for the design came to Al when he was sitting in church with his father and saw a stained-glass cathedral window, hence the cathedral window and vine pattern. Al made approximately 25-30 automatic knives in total. The auction example originally sold in 1999 for $3,500.
A circa 1920-1940 Case XX 5161L small stag-handle lever-lock switchblade is expected to ring up $2,000-$4,000. The blade tang is stamped “Case’s Tested XX” on the obverse; the bottom bolster is stamped “Case Tested XX” in an oval on the obverse. The blade locks open firmly and the blade tip sits deep into the handle and centered when closed. The closed length is 4½ inches.
A circa-1920s-1930s Maniago marked bayonet blade Italian stiletto pick lock switchblade with checkered cow horn handles should bring $2,000-$4,000. The blade is tang stamped “Maniago” on the obverse. Features include fully lined top bolsters, dovetail kick spring and a square hole lock tab. The blade tip sits below the handle when closed. The open length is 13½ inches.
An earlier, pre-1915 Case (Bradford, Pa.) 6346 ½ three back spring whittler with old Rogers bone handles salesman’s sample has an estimate of $2,000-$4,000. The back of the main blade has the “Salesman’s Sample” inking and all blades open and close with a snap. The long pull main blade is tang stamped “Case Bradford Pa” on the obverse; the long SPEY blade is tang-stamped “6346” and the pen blade is tang-stamped “Case Tested XX” in an oval.
A custom-made Reese Weiland Gambler #4 scale release liner lock switchblade with Damascus dagger grind blade, Damascus bolsters and abalone handles is estimated to reach $2,000-$3,000. It’s marked on the inside back strap “R.W. Gambler S R 04”. The knife appears unused and unsharpened and its condition is excellent. The closed length is 6¼ inches.
A custom Jody Samson butterfly knife with a hand-ground kris blade tang-marked with the Bali-Song butterfly logo on the obverse and “Bali-Song USA” on the reverse should finish at $1,500-$3,000. Features include desert ironwood handle inlays, a milled stainless-steel frame and the original Bali-Song leather sheath and leather pouch. The blade length is 4 inches and the overall length is 9¼ inches.
A circa 1868-1920s E.C. Simmons St Louis large two-blade Coke-bottle-shaped folding hunter edged “Tickler” knife with ebony handles, nickel-silver bolsters and brass liners is estimated to reach $600-$1,200. The main spear blade is tang-stamped “E.C. Simmons St. Louis” (as is the long pull clip blade) and fully etched “Tickler” on the obverse. Both blades have square tang half stops and open and close with a snap. The blade is 4 inches long; the closed length is 5½ inches.
The collector remembers in the 1960s and ‘70s visiting a cousin, who lived in Pennsylvania near the knife manufacturers. “In the summer, he and I would go to the hardware stores and look at all the knives in big Case Knife displays, wishing we could buy every one of them,” he said. “Also, when we would go on vacation with my family as a child and teenager, I would visit gun shops and they all had knives, especially Case knives, in big display cases.”
All these experiences growing up and seeing knives and having relatives that liked knives, hunting, fishing and camping all added to his fondness for knives. “As I grew older, I also began to understand and become interested in the manufacturing of knives and the history of the knife companies,” he said. “Growing up, we had a neighbor who actually made custom knives and that also increased my interest in knives.”
He would find a 100-year-old knife and wonder what stories it could tell. “Or if the knife was in mint condition, how could it have survived 100 years and be like brand new. What serious knife collector doesn’t wish they could go back in time with a bunch of money and buy up all the mint knives in the stores in the early 1900’s to 1960’s and bring them back to the future,” he mused.
Morphy’s Fine Knives: A Quality Lifetime Collection auction will be held on February 25 live at their gallery located at 2000 North Reading Road in Denver, Pa. Start time is 9am Eastern time. Preview weekdays by appointment from 9am-4pm local time starting one week before the auction; or on auction days from 8-9am. All forms of remote bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone (please reserve line in advance), or live via the Internet through Morphy Live. For condition reports or other questions, call tollfree 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. Online: https://www.morphyauctions.com.