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Custom Knife Marked "GOFF"
I saw a knife for sale on someone's table at a show today stamped on the tang "GOFF" with no other markings. It was bowie style with micarta (I think) handles. It was in a nice black leather unmarked sheath. The seller knew nothing about the maker but said he had searched it on line and only found the Tommy Goff Custom Knives that are apparently designed by Tommy Goff but factory made and imported. Those knives are marked on the side of the blade with "tg" inside a star. I don't believe this is a factory made knife. I searched myself but came up with nothing. Does anyone know who the maker is? Thanks.
Replies to This Discussion
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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on -
Tommy Goff was a noted Texas knifemaker who unfortunately passed away last year-- His speciality was accurate reproductions of period authentic Bowie knives- Knives actually made by him have gone for a couple thousand dollars.Unfortunately there are many knives out there, that state " customized by Tommy Goff" or designed by Tommy Goff." Some are , alas, cheap knock-offs made in Pakistan or elsewhere overseas.--- That is why you will see them on ebay, etc. going for $24.99. A Tommy Goff actually made by him, you would not come close to buying for that kind of price----
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Permalink Reply by David Patrick on
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Thanks for all the helpful info. I just got home from the gun & knife show that I set up at this weekend and I did end up buying the knife. I hope to get pics posted soon. Again, the knife is just tang stamped "GOFF" in block letters. It is not a new Tommy Goff knife supposedly designed by Tommy Goff but mass produced in a factory in Pakistan, the one with the "tg" inside a star etched on the side of the blade. It was probably made by someone else named Goff, not Tommy Goff. I would like to find out who made the knife or at least rule out the possibility of it being a real Tommy Golf made knife. I had a couple of knifemakers look at it to give me their opinion of the workmanship and they basically said it was well made and the maker knew what he was doing, not a beginner. They said it was probably made to be used and not made to be so expensive that you would just collect it. I'll post pics soon. Please continue to reply with your ideas. Thanks.
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I think the knife has the wrong handle material to be a period reproduction bowie.
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I was hoping to find out who made this knife, someone named Goff I suppose. It is 10 inches overall with a
6 inch blade and micarta handles.
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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on -
Just found this-- It MIGHT be knife maker Peter Goff of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here is a link to an article about him. His knives sell in the $45 to $500 range. As stated in the article, he does often use micarta as handle material.
http://www.midwesthomemag.com/core/pagetools.php?pageid=7095&ur...
BTW, his father Harold, was also a knife maker.
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Thanks a lot. I will try to contact him and will post the results here.
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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on
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David,
Cant wait to hear the results. Excellent work John McCain!!
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I'm not having any luck contacting Peter Goff knifemaker from Minneapolis. It looks like the framing shop he owned at the time of the 2007 article at http://www.midwesthomemag.com/ has gone out of business. He called his knife business Harborg Custom Cutlery so his knives may have been marked that way. I will keep trying.
I have not had any luck finding an example of a knife made by Tommy Goff. I can only find those new factory knives made in Pakistan. If he was a knifemaker for more than 30 years there ought to be at least one of his knives on line. I would like to see how Tommy Goff marked the knives he made.
If anyone knows how Tommy Goff marked his knives or finds any of the knives that he made on-line, please let me know. Thanks.
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