SCAGEL CANOE or CROOKED KNIFE, MOCOTAUGAN, WITH SHEATH
| Start Price |
USD 2,400.00 |
| Current Price |
USD 2,400.00 |
| Time Left |
- |
| Bid Count |
1 |
| Buy It Now Price |
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| Reserve Price |
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| Start Time |
Thursday, July 24, 2008 |
| End Time |
Sunday, August 03, 2008 |
| Location |
Eugene, Oregon |
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See more about 'SCAGEL CANOE or CROOKED KNIFE, MOCOTAUGAN, WITH SHEATH'
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Description
WILLIAM WALES SCAGEL was the premier hand maker of sportsmen's knives in the United States in the 1920s (see below). This Scagel knife is a traditional Indian-style Mocotaugan -- crooked knife, or canoe knife, used for all types of wood carving. This knife belonged to John Malaguerra of Lexington, Massachusetts. After John passed away, in 2000, the knife came down to his nephew, who has now asked me to sell it for him. Mr. Malaguerra purchased this knife at a Massachusetts antiques show in 1979. CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE NATIVE AMERICAN MOCOTAUGAN Carved wooden handle. Forged steel blade approximately 4-3/8 inches long, marked W SCAGEL/ HANDMADE next to Scagel's kris dagger logo (marking partially obscured by sharpening -- this knife was made to be used, and it has been). Leather wrapping with brass screw. Tooled and stitched leather fitted sheath. I discussed this knife with Dr. James Lucie, who became Scagel's physician and friend more than 50 years ago, and is now the pre-eminent Scagel collector in the world. Mr. Malaguerra showed him this canoe knife in late 1980 or early 1981, and Dr. Lucie told me he has never seen another Scagel canoe knife before or since. Neither have I. Dr. Lucie has just sent me a letter to him from Mr. Malaguerra, dated February 9, 1981, along with other papers and photos (all of which WILL BE INCLUDED with the knife in this sale). The letter states this knife--it is so recent an acquisition and so interesting to me that I am not yet ready to part with it. This statement contradicts the story that Mr. Malaguerra told me and others at that time, that he had bought the knife on the way to Canada in 1927 or 1928. Perhaps this had been the original owner's story that came with the knife when he bought it. I do not know. Here is that letter, along with a photo of Mr. Malaguerra holding this knife. Included with knife. Included with knife. Use of the crooked knife, 1899 drawing (for reference only, not included in the auction). About William Scagel William Wales Scagel (1873-1963) was the link between the great American cutlers and surgical instrument makers of earlier generations -- men like Henry Schively, Daniel Searles, John Chevalier, Charles Reinhardt, and Michael Price, who supplied fine custom made Bowie and hunting knives to mid-19th century American gentry -- and the great custom knifemakers of our own time. William Scagel began making knives in 1903, when a handful of the mid-19th century cutlers were still alive and working. Like Robert Loveless a half-century later, Scagel made some of his first knives while at sea in the merchant marine. After coming ashore and settling in Muskegon, Michigan, Scagel established a new pattern that was to be followed by more than a thousand knifemakers in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The great custom cutlers of the 19th century had lived in major cities and owned retail cutlery stores. They made only the top-of-the-line and special-order knives that they sold, the rest coming from factories around the world. Scagel, by contrast, lived in the country. In this, he might have been like any of the thousands of "crossroads" knifemakers who have supplied very localized markets throughout American history (there are still hundreds of such makers, most of them not even listed in any collector's directory). What set Scagel apart from all the crossroads knifemakers was, that although he lived off in the woods, he sold his knives to a national, even a world, market. His knives first reached this market through a distinctive early 20th century phenomenon: the gentleman's sporting outfitter. Scagel sold his one-of-a- kind knives through Abercrombie & Fitch of New York; Von Lengerke & Antoine of Chicago; Pacific Arms Corporation of San Francisco; and Alcock, Late, & Westwood of Toronto and London. Avid and well-to-do sportsmen first learned about Scagel in their favorite stores, but it was then an easy transition for them to start ordering knives from him directly by mail. Today few collectors, whatever their resources, own even one Scagel knife. Indeed Scagel is now best known, not for his own work, but for his direct influence on another knifemaker: W. D. "Bo" Randall, Jr., of Orlando, Florida. The story of Bo Randall's first encounter with a Scagel knife in 1938 has by now been told more times than the story of James Bowie's 1827 knife fight at the Vidalia sandbar. The Randall family owns extensive summer property in northern Michigan. Bo Randall and William Scagel became friends; under Scagel's guidance, Randall became a knifemaker. (From The Knife Collection of Albert Blevins by Bernard Levine ©1988.) Offered AS IS. Guaranteed to be as described. All Sales Final -- refund only if item is not substantially as described. Please email me with any questions BEFORE bidding. LOOK AT THE PICTURES. Shipping: Registered and Insured Priority mail (USA): $24.95. Other countries: actual air or surface Registered Mail cost + $1: See USPS rate calculator Approximate shipping weight 2 pounds. Check my other auctions. Multiple lots save on shipping, pay actual postage and insurance only; overpayments refunded. For lots of free information about knives, knife history, and knife laws, visit BERNARD LEVINE's WEBSITE
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