James B Lile (Push Knife or Punch Knife)

[md's possibilities]

I have this knife, im looking for any information about it..
The knife is 4 1/2" long and 2 1/2" wide at handle.
Handle seems to be made out of Ivory.
The Writing on it is hard to read but it says 'Hand Made By James B Lile'

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd....795_713459782108562_7361858230892381057_o.jpg

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https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd....904_713463368774870_1546613860631590798_o.jpg

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Click on URLs Below the photos to zoom in on the Photos..

 

[oldknife]

I would believe that to be an early Jimmy Lile, that is how he signed his early knives, it is a gamblers push dagger, I would not do anything to it but cherish it, he was a great knife maker in his time, he made a knife for Ronald Reagan and presented it to him in the White House. There is a lot about him on the inter net. Deane

 

[BossDog]

That looks like the real deal.
Don't clean it or sharpen it. Leave it as is.
There are a lot of Jimmy Lile knives that were commercially produced after his death that do not have a high collectors value. I've even seen a fake or two.

Purveyor Les Robertson can help you with the value.
He may charge an appraisal fee but to the right person, that knife will may be highly valued.

 

[rhinoknives]

One of Mr. Lile's other claims to fame is he made the knife for one or more of the Rambo Movies. There is a huge collector's market for his early was well as Bossdog has pointed out. Just give it a nice coat of wax to protect and that's it. Do NOT take that sanding block to it I see in one of the pictures.

It has possibly A "Sperm whale tooth or Elephant Ivory handle?" Do not flash this around until it can be established what the material is. If you flash it around at a knife show there is a slight possibility that someone from Fish & Game could confiscate it and you!

Just keep your head down a tad.

 

[Lagrange]

Interesting, thanks for sharing.