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Michael Walker Folding Knife with Scrimshaw Ivory Scales

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 4,000.00 USD
Michael Walker Folding Knife with Scrimshaw Ivory Scales
This folding knife was handcrafted by master knife maker Michael Walker with scrimshaw scales and engraved bolsters by his wife Patricia Walker. In the 1980s Michael Walker elevated the craft of knife making to greater heights of innovation and modernism by trademarking the Michael Walker LinerLock. Linerlock style knives had been around since the late 19th century, but Walker refined the lock by adding a leafspring which locked the blade in the open position, making the linerlock knife into a true folding knife. Throughout the years Walker would use dozens of other locking mechanisms that he had developed on his knives, and would eventually license the name and various aspects of the linerlock mechanism (including the patented safety latches developed jointly by Walker and Ron Lake) to other knifemakers and knife manufacturing companies. This Walker folding knife features a 4 1/8 inch tanto blade marked "WALKER'S LOCKERS / by / M.l. Walker" on the left side and "024 / -L" on the right. The front and rear bolsters feature a broad scroll engraving. The scrimshaw ivory scales feature multi-colored dragons (a red dragon on the left scale, a blue-green dragon on the right), with dated Patricia Walker initials ("PW 83") on both scales. Besides being Michael's wife, Patricia Walker is a professional scrimshander and engraver who specializes in surrealistic fantasy designs and wildlife scenes, and was the first artist to engrave and anodize titanium, both on her husband's knives, and on her own jewelry and artwork. The ivory scales on this knife are secured to the tang with a single rivet. OAL: 9 1/4"
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Condition: Excellent, with some scattered light scratches on the blade and mild ding on the right rear bolster. The right scale has a minor scratch, otherwise the scales have a few light handling marks. The ivory has aged to an even yellow color.