Robert Van Adestine
is an unsung knife maker from 1895 - 1959. He and his father before him,
made fighting knives for U.S. Soldiers for WWI , WWII , and the Korea
war. Robert Van Adestine's hand forged hunting knives served hunters throughout
the U.S. right along side Scagel, Marbles, Randall, and others.
A complete story
about the rare Van Adestine knife has been long awaited.
Here is the official release
information per the Library of Congress listing:
Abstract:
135 pages - 50 color photos - 165 b&w photos
A Collecting Guide and Detailed Study of hand forged U.S. Military Fighting Knives and hand forged Hunting Knives made by Robert Van Adestine, of Little Wolf, Wisconsin. Van Adestine is an unsung knife maker who fabricated knives in a small blacksmith shop located on his farm near Manawa, Wisconsin. Many of his fighting knives found their way into the hands of U.S. soldiers during WWII either through direct purchase from Van Adestine or through the purchase by caring family members of the soldiers.
Van Adestine's knife production spanned over 65 years from about 1895 until his death in 1959. Color Photographs show dozens of examples of his craftsmanship and details of the innovative construction methods he pioneered.
Much of the information contained herein is the result of direct interviews with living Van Adestine friends and family.
About the Author:
Helmut W Sakschek was a close friend of Francis
(Frank) Binder III, the grandson of Robert Van Adestine. He has been an
author / collector since about 1979 with articles appearing in Gun Digest,
Handloader's Digest, Guns Illustrated, American Handgunner, Cartridges of the
World, and others.
His Van Adestine knife collection is the largest
in the United States and his detailed study of their history and fabrication
has brought the Van Adestine name to the forefront of Custom Hand Forged knife
makers.
Much of the information contained in the book
herein is the result of direct interviews with living Van Adestine friends and
family.
order
from:
Order on-line. Author is autographing and
numbering books as orders are received. This first printing is
limited to 100 copies.
VAN
ADESTINE KNIVES: Treasures From Little Wolf Wis.
By Helmut W. Sakschek - 2008,
Instant Publisher.com - Softcover, 133 pp.,
$27.95 plus $7.95 shipping; signed copies available from the author, POB 3,
Neenah, WI 54957-0003 or email buckstix@aol.com
Ask a group of collectors about the pioneering knifemakers of the
20th century, and you're likely to hear the same names over and over again -
Scagel, Ruanna, Richtig, Morseth, Randall, Moran. But what about Van
Adestine?
Author Helmut Sakschek hopes to correct an apparent oversight by
bringing to the world this new book entitled Van Adestine Knives: Treasures
From Little Wolf, Wis. In it, Sakschek reveals the story of father
Andrew Van Adestine and son Robert Van Adestine, the former a blacksmith who
made knives and the latter a knifemaker who was also an accomplished
blacksmith.
Robert, the primary knifemaker, made his first knife in 1894 and
continued to craft hunting and fighting knives until his death in 1959.
The fighting knives, produced during WWII, are already somewhat recognized due
to coverage in such books as Wright's Theater Made Military Knives of WWII (pp.145,177),
but the hunting knives have remained largely unknown - until now. The
World Book Encyclopedia recognized him - a Van Adestine fighting knife was long
illustrated under the entry for "dagger" and the maker's knives apparently shared V.L.&A's display space for a time with W.W.
Scagel's. Robert even left us a fascinating little anecdote about
Scagel... but we'll leave that tidbit for the book to reveal!
This book covers everything from the establishment of Little Wolf,
Wisconsin and the arrival of the Van Adestines in that place, to in-depth
discussions of the maker's methods, standard knife models and one-offs, often
in fascinating detail. The book's 50 color and 165 b&w photos include
some real gems, including the interior of Van Adestine's shop with knives in
progress, the maker with a knife display board, and a great many photos of
different knives.
Mr. Sakschek has had this book published in a very limited edition
of 100 copies in tribute to his late friend Frank Binder, the grandson of
Robert Van Adestine. Much of the information herein was obtained from
interviews with the maker's family and friends, capturing bits of history that
in many cases would already be gone. While not inexpensive due to the
small quantity printed, anyone interested in pioneering American knifemakers of
the knives of World War II will find this a fascinating read indeed. But
hurry - as these lines are written there are only about 40 copies left, and no
present plans for printing more.
VAN
ADESTINE KNIVES Treasures From Little Wolf Wis.
By Helmut W. Sakschek
One of the subjects that never ceases to amaze me is how many early
20th century custom knife makers are practically unknown today. The author of
Van Adestine Knives has self-published (limited to 100 copies in the first
printing) a compact history of one of those makers from his own part of
Wisconsin. R.A. Van Adestines shop started hand forging knives sometime in
the late 19th century with his son taking over the business in the 20th
century. The business seems to have faded out of the picture by the early
1960s.
There are several interesting points that can be made about the Van
Adestine knives. First, they were made as a side business by a blacksmith,
something a well-known cutlery expert claims never happened. Second, they were
forged from worn-out files, yet another controversial subject. Third, they
utilized a cast aluminum handle frame with handle inserts much like those found
on Ruana knives. And possibly the most interesting bit of trivia is that either
Bill Scagle copied the Van Adestine combat knife or the Wisconsin maker copied
him. The Van Adestine family feels it was the latter and offers fairly
convincing proof.
The once famous Chicago outdoor store, Von Lengerke & Antoine
(part of Abercrombie & Fitch), sold the Van Adestine knives through their
mail-order catalog so these rare blades can turn up about anywhere. They are
certainly collectables worth keeping an eye open for.
All
rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without written permission from
the author.
FOR ORDERS TO CANADA, ENGLAND
& EUROPE - USE BOTTOM
BUTTON ONLY
As a continuing study, the author will purchase any of these knives with or without their leather sheaths,
but will pay the highest price for knives with their original sheaths. (see
examples shown above & below)
BLADE MARKING MAY SHOWN ONLY PARTIAL STAMP - EXAMINE
CAREFULLY
Blades are marked left side and can be marked in numerous
ways: VANADrSTIN, VAN ADrSTIN, VANADESTIN, VAN ADESTIN, VANADESTINE, VAN ADESTINE,
AJVANADrSTIN, AJ VANADrSTIN, AJ VAN ADrSTIN, AJVANADESTIN, AJ VANADESTIN,
AJ VAN ADESTIN,AJVANESTINE, AJ VANADESTINE, AJ VAN ADESTINE, VANADfSTIN, VAN
ADfSTIN, AJVANADfSTIN, AJ VANADfSTIN, AJ VAN ADfSTIN, ( or portions thereof)
VAN
ADESTINE KNIVES Treasures From Little Wolf Wis.
