Data Points to include in your description of a folding knife

Use this checklist to ensure you are including all the important points when describing a folding knife.

YEAR or ERA

Often the year can be found on the knife itself, either on the blade, one of the tang stamps, or the box. For Case knifes made after 1969, the year can be determined by the tang stamp. In other brands, toften a guide can be used to determine the year. YEAR IS IMPORTANT, so if you can't find the year, at least try to provide an era, example: '1980s'.

MAKER / BRAND

Probably the easiest of all the data points. Simply, who made the knife?

KNIFE TYPE

Canoe? Stockman? Trapper? Folding Hunter? The TYPE of knife must be included in the TITLE of the description.

MODEL NUMBER

The model number is usually found on one of the tang stamps, sometimes on the blade etch, and often on the box if you have it.

BOX NOTE

If you have the box, certificate of authenticity, and/or leather sheath, a note to that effect must be included in the general description, and the words IN BOX must be in the TITLE.

TANG STAMP NOTE

In this format: Front tang: 'xxxxx' ; rear tang 'xxxxxxxxx' ; second blade front tang: 'xxxxxxxx' etc.

SHIELD NOTE

Describe the shield on the front handle if there is one.

HANDLE MATERIAL

What is the type of handle material, Stag, Jigged Bone, Wood, Genuine Mother of Pearl, Genuine Abalone?

BLADE MATERIAL

What is the type of blade material, stainless steel, surgical steel, chrome vanadium?

BOLSTER MATERIAL

What is the type of bolster material, usually Nickel Silver (90% of the time)?

LINER MATERIAL

What is the type of liner material, usually brass (90% of the time). Brass is a yellowish metal. If the liner is a whitish metal, it is probably nickel silver or stainless steel (don't guess - research)?

LENGTH CLOSED

What is the length in inches of the knife when closed?

LENGTH OPEN

What is the total length in inches of the knife when measured from the back bolster to the tip of the master blade?

OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES

Limited Edition (1 of nnn)
Blade Etch
These two points are so important they are included in the MAIN TITLE of the knife, so don't skip these points.