Caveat Emptor

I first learned that phrase, meaning “Buyer Beware”, in 7th grade Latin class. Like most of us however, I became acquainted with the concept at an earlier age through a series of “learning opportunities” and “life lessons” that are a part of growing up and gaining experience in the world.

But despite there being “nothing to learn from a second mule kick to the head”, I neglected the lesson this past Sunday at the Pigeon Forge Knife Roadshow when I became enamored with a little 2 blade Jack with nicely aged bone handles. The handles looked right, as did the tang stamp. It had good walk and talk, and I have a fondness for obscure midwestern hardware company knives.

I got burned.

I should have recognized that the bolsters were too polished and the backspring was slightly recessed…

Turns out it is a Frankenknife. The frame and blade, while both old, are not from the same knife. I should have realized that the blade’s tang was not the right size to push the spring flush. And the polish on the bolsters indicate that reassembly work has been done.

This is the second time I have been burned now. My last time was a pantographed tang stamp on an eBay purchase.


I am posting this here, not as a lament, but as a reminder to others to remember their middle-school Latin, or recall one’s own “learning experiences”.

I am going to toss this knife on a shelf at work, since it is of interest to Mark for a potential future article. And I am going to move on. Kipling had the right idea.