New to the fold Named USN Marbles knife

[Fritz]

Got this from a friend this morning, really nice Marbels knife that is named to a guy that was on the Lexington CV16 and the escort carrier CVE 64 USS Tripoli in WW2, sheath is a replacement but man the knife is great. From what I can find out this belonged to Charles Bleckner who was a local WW2 USN vet, unfortunately he passed away in 2006.

 

Fritz

[camillus]

great find congratulations

[jw517]

Pretty nice! I have both Camillus like that and I'm jealous!

[dustin]

Nice knife, I found a closer match to a Robert Bartley Bleckner Y/2c (Yeoman) who served aboard the USS Tripoli CV-64 and USS Lexington CV-16.

[Fritz]

Thanks Dustin!! Much appreciated. Any info on what years he served on these ships?

 

Fritz

[Bill Walters]

Got this from a friend this morning, really nice Marbels knife that is named to a guy that was on the Lexington CV16 and the escort carrier CVE 64 USS Tripoli in WW2, sheath is a replacement but man the knife is great. From what I can find out this belonged to Charles Bleckner who was a local WW2 USN vet, unfortunately he passed away in 2006.

 

Fritz

 

The sheath is 100% correct.

[Fritz]

 

The sheath is 100% correct.

Thanks Bill!!

[dustin]

Bleckner enlisted 16 November 1942 in Chicago Ill., was aboard the USS Tripoli upon commissioning 31 October 1943 and was still listed as part of the crew as of December 1944. As for the Lexington he is only listed as past of the crew, no further info available.

[ccyooper]

Bill, et-al, since the knife has the left serifed A, according to the Marble's Encyclopedia puts the production prior to 1930, with an additional short run in the 1970's. Do you think this could be a later knife? Years ago, every kids dream in the UP was to have a Marble's ideal or woodcraft knife hanging from his side during deer season.

[dustin]

Cooper, I think either you mis-read that or that encyclopia is incorrect on the serif's. The left facing serif was used from the 1930's through WWII and in the immediate post war era circa 47-48 they switched to a right facing serif. The knife pictured here was introduced in the 1930's as the Ideal Pattern No.45, during the war Marbles manufactured a variant of a plastic resinox pommel, these too have the left facing serif.

[ccyooper]

Thanks for the clarification. I'm traveling so will not have access to my reference material, however, a quick search on the forum indicates that left serif indicates 1919-1930ish according to a few other posters. Not saying that is correct, but just confirming what I thought I read. I've also seen similar comments doing a google search.

[Bill Walters]

Bill, et-al, since the knife has the left serifed A, according to the Marble's Encyclopedia puts the production prior to 1930, with an additional short run in the 1970's. Do you think this could be a later knife? Years ago, every kids dream in the UP was to have a Marble's ideal or woodcraft knife hanging from his side during deer season.

The knife and sheath are a perfect match condition wise. With the veteran's name and other information written in period, this is a great WW2 original knife and sheath.

[dustin]

Thanks for the clarification. I'm traveling so will not have access to my reference material, however, a quick search on the forum indicates that left serif indicates 1919-1930ish according to a few other posters. Not saying that is correct, but just confirming what I thought I read. I've also seen similar comments doing a google search.

 

But none of that makes sense though.In the teens Marbles Arms transitioned to their new tang stamps even inlcuding patent references on the opposite sides. In the 20's these patents expired then deleting them on the knives, maybe that is what they are referencing, If a knife has MARBLES and Patent on the opposite this indicates pre 1930 manufacture. There are many many examples to have been known to be from the 30's and 40's with MARBLES left facing serif's.