[Mike SC Hunter]

The box says "Marbles Outdoors" and the address but I'm not seeing where it says "made in" anywhere on the box. Your pics are fuzzy so maybe I'm wrong but those don't make me think those knives were made in the U.S.

They are probably good knives or Marbles wouldn't have put their name on them. Have you tried calling and talking to someone at Marbles?

ALL marbles knives are now and have been for years made in China.

 

[LeverGuy49]

During the Stewart / Lauerman era at Marbles, the spacer colors changed year to year, u until 2002 when Stewart left. After that, I'm not sure how the spacers were placed -
Check this link for the spacer info from 1997 to 2002 if this helps

DATING 1997-2002 MARBLE'S KNIVES-SEWART/LAUERMAN ERA - All About Pocket Knives

Howdy all AAPK members and folk's browsing this great site....Jerry and I were conversing back & forth on the Marble's Woodcraft thread, and he said it would be nice for everyone to know the dates on this era Marble's knives, I agreed with him 10..

www.allaboutpocketknives.com

Thanks for the reply. Always learning from the members.

 

[knifeshark]

2001-2005 Marbles left the USA stamp off their knives. Bobcat boxes are legit USA made in Gladstone, MI. Not the Chinese versions. Hope this helps. Same great quality as the early knives, grab them if the price is right.

 

[Timrekah1]

2001-2005 Marbles left the USA stamp off their knives. Bobcat boxes are legit USA made in Gladstone, MI. Not the Chinese versions. Hope this helps. Same great quality as the early knives, grab them if the price is right.

I'm glad you mentioned that !!! Thanks !

I completely forgot about the Bobcat photos on the box - those boxes say Gladstone USA on them. . . I'm blessed to have several of them. . .

Gladstone made knives also have this box on the larger knives:

 

[.444MarlinMan]

I’m not an expert on the subject for sure but I’ve owned several over the years. If it’s a made in USA marbles they are pretty proudly stamped as such. I’ve heard about some non-stamped USA made ones, but when the truth came out they were made overseas. My rule is if it’s not stamped it should be considered an import. This is one that I picked up last week absolutely NIB, and the Marlin/Marbles I bought last month. Both are stamped as made in Michigan.
Regards,

 

[Burning Petard]

I have a Marbles Ideal I purchased in Holland Michigan in 1968. It was not new then. The knife is not stamped made in USA. I have a much older Marbles Ideal (probably pre-1935) which has been worn down more than a quarter of an inch in width of the blade. it also is not marked made in USA. I wonder if the examples above are scams with the box only truthfully made in USA. Both of my old Marble knives are stack leather washers, with colored spacers. I was told way back when that the spacers were usually just whatever the assembler liked from the assortment on hand. The real Marble knives were made of a carbon steel that sharpened easily. The factory sheath was not very durable. The real Marble match safe is a device that still works perfectly. The reproductions are a sad, flimsy replica. I never liked the pin-on compass.

 

[rsee03]

The vast amount of knowledge on this site is great.

 

[Wain Trotter]

I have a Marbles Ideal I purchased in Holland Michigan in 1968. It was not new then. The knife is not stamped made in USA. I have a much older Marbles Ideal (probably pre-1935) which has been worn down more than a quarter of an inch in width of the blade. it also is not marked made in USA. I wonder if the examples above are scams with the box only truthfully made in USA. Both of my old Marble knives are stack leather washers, with colored spacers. I was told way back when that the spacers were usually just whatever the assembler liked from the assortment on hand. The real Marble knives were made of a carbon steel that sharpened easily. The factory sheath was not very durable. The real Marble match safe is a device that still works perfectly. The reproductions are a sad, flimsy replica. I never liked the pin-on compass.

I have Grampa‘s Marble Ideal and it is stamped “ Gladstone Mich. USA. He probably bought it in 1910 to 1915 when building a campsite in northern Ontario.

 

[knifeshark]

Please post some pictures of your older marbles that are not stamped, and I will probably be able to identify the time that they were made and where they were made. It’s possible that the stamp could be ground off those knives if they are original and they’ve lost that much due to blade wear. I have a lot of marbles stuff and I’ve been collecting For 50 years and would be happy to help you with any questions you might have.

 

[carpy]

I have a Marbles Ideal I purchased in Holland Michigan in 1968. It was not new then. The knife is not stamped made in USA. I have a much older Marbles Ideal (probably pre-1935) which has been worn down more than a quarter of an inch in width of the blade. it also is not marked made in USA. I wonder if the examples above are scams with the box only truthfully made in USA. Both of my old Marble knives are stack leather washers, with colored spacers. I was told way back when that the spacers were usually just whatever the assembler liked from the assortment on hand. The real Marble knives were made of a carbon steel that sharpened easily. The factory sheath was not very durable. The real Marble match safe is a device that still works perfectly. The reproductions are a sad, flimsy replica. I never liked the pin-on compass.

Great info here.
In regard to your vintage knives, there was a time one could assume I certain knife was made In USA. That time has passed.

 

[yooperkat]

Please post some pictures of your older marbles that are not stamped, and I will probably be able to identify the time that they were made and where they were made. It’s possible that the stamp could be ground off those knives if they are original and they’ve lost that much due to blade wear. I have a lot of marbles stuff and I’ve been collecting For 50 years and would be happy to help you with any questions you might have.

Knives aren’t made in Gladstone anymore. ( grew up in “happyrock”). Up to the late 80.’s they were. My mom worked there

 

[cajun56]

Yep!
I drug mine out the safe.

Made in the USA!

 

[Tomray]

Good Post, with Great information, ...............Why do we all keep our Marbles knives in a safe ?..............

Thanks for the info.

Tom

 

[zuckerhuffhines]

If you can convince the seller that these are not US made maybe you can get them for a better price. They are probably decent blades. Steel doesn't care where is was made. Remember some of the German and Japanese steels have excellent reputations. Even our friends in China can make good stuff if the price is right.

I have a short sword made of Soligen Steel and thats some tough stuff. Made in 1917 IIRC. I also bought a Chinese Jian sword and that metal is hard enough that getting a super sharp edge is a work in progress. Also excellent steel. I think I can chop you in half with it now.

I spent way too much time watching Forged In Fire. Those swords are some Bad Mothers if used right.

The only problem I have with buying anything made in China is supporting communism instead of Americans. The Chinese are fine people and quite capable if the communist government will let them. I think the best way to destroy communism is to capitalize them. I would rather feed my fellow Americans first. Companies ran to the slave labor market in China so they could continue to build wealth on the back of the oppressed, very sad.
It never changes, greed will cause people to do some of most horrible things.

 

[ThomasT]

The only problem I have with buying anything made in China is supporting communism instead of Americans. The Chinese are fine people and quite capable if the communist government will let them. I think the best way to destroy communism is to capitalize them. I would rather feed my fellow Americans first. Companies ran to the slave labor market in China so they could continue to build wealth on the back of the oppressed, very sad.
It never changes, greed will cause people to do some of most horrible things.

Well then I suggest you don't buy anything from China. Or Mexico. Or Taiwan or any other place than America. I guess you are going to try and say you never shop at Walmart. Or buy tools from Harbor Freight or Northern Tool. Or most of the tools sold at Lowes or Home Depot.

And all the clothes and shoes you and your wife buy are all made right here in America without exception. And you won't buy a foriegn made car either. America or nothing. Right. I got it.

 

[Magwa45]

I have an old Marbles Ideal knife and it's over 100 years old. It belonged to a relative who was a Civil War veteran. It was probably used when he went to Grand Army of the Republic reunions. It is pretty worn and my father got it when he was a kid. I put a new edge on it. But I am disappointed Marbles discontinued those knives. The ones they make now are not impressive.