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Comment by Katie Shonts Saar on July 1, 2013 at 13:34

This is a very interesting piece and I appreciate that very nice photo of it. This is something that many of us, like myself, have only heard about. My data is limited to what might have been actually produced and who created this set, but as noted in the Pocket Knife Trader's Price Guide Vol. 9, there were very few produced. The recognition of each of the triple crown winners were depicted in this set using 11 of the P151L Lockbacks.

Comment by Chuck Parham on June 29, 2013 at 4:48

That is so beyond awesome!! Thanks very much for sharing a treasure like this.

Comment by Ron Cooper on June 29, 2013 at 4:35

Jim, that is truly an amazing set! Congratulations! It could not have found a more worthy owner than yourself.

I worked in the horse racing industry in Southern California for nearly 30 years and was fortunate to see Affirmed, Secretariat, and Seattle Slew all run at either Santa Anita (which is just down the street from where I live) or Hollywood Park. I took hundreds of photographs of the three Triple Crown winners in my adult lifetime (the 3 above). I was born in 1946 and was only 2 when Citation won the Crown in 1948. And, even though I never saw Citation run I did meet and know his jockey, Eddie Arcaro. 

A funny story about Seattle Slew: Shortly after Slew won the Triple Crown he was sent west to run in a big Stakes race at Hollywood Park -- The Swaps Stakes. There was a huge crowd that turned out to see Slew run that day. And naturally he was the odds-on favorite to crush the field of horses that were slated to run against him. I bought a $2 win ticket which I never intended to cash after he won. It would have only paid 10 cents on the dollar anyway since Slew went off at 1 to 9 odds. But a funny thing happened on the way to the finish line that day. A horse named J.O. Tobin who was ridden by Bill Shoemaker went wire to wire for the win handing Seattle Slew his very first career loss. Now here's the funny part -- The next day it was rumored that the headline in a Seattle newspaper read: "Tacoma Slew Slain At Hollywood Park." Seattle had disowned him!

I have digressed and I apologize! Seeing these Triple Crown commemorative knives brought back a flood of memories for me. Jim, you are indeed a very lucky man to own this set. Sadly, though, I cannot contribute anything that might shed more light on the knives themselves -- or where the other 49 sets might be today? If in fact there were actually 50 sets to begin with? But I bet I know someone who probably does a whole lot more about these knives. That would be James "Buzz" Parker -- Jim Parker's son. Or, perhaps, Bernard Levine?

In any event, you have a great set of knives. Kudos, my friend!

Featured Comment by Craig Henry on June 28, 2013 at 23:57

Fantastic set! 

Comment by Indian on June 28, 2013 at 19:39

WOW...I am speechless for ounce....WOW...Congrats!!!! great score!!!

Comment by Paul Ring on June 28, 2013 at 19:37

Beautiful and absolutely stunning.......!

Comment by Jan Carter on June 28, 2013 at 18:49

That is so far beyond awesome I dont even know what to say!

Comment by Jim Thompson on June 28, 2013 at 18:41

Just posted a pix of a Case Triple Crown set of 11 knives I recently purchased. Blade marking is Lightening S 10 dot (1980). Any additional knowledge about this set that anyone may have I would appreciate their sharing.