I have a small collection of six Bassett Multi Tools.  In the top row the first two are an 80 and a 94.  The third one in the top row has two numbers on the blades, an 89 and a 90.  The first two in the bottom row are a 9 and a 79.  The third one again has two numbers, 89 and 90.

I sort of backed into collecting these.  I got this 94 first.  It was given to me a few years ago by a vendor rep that I bought equipment from while employed by TVA.  I put it into my collection because of what is engraved on it.

After I joined iKC and became more interested in knife collecting, I was searching the internet trying to find out more info on these tools.  I saw some for sale on eBay and on a whim put in the minimum bid of 99 cents on this number 9.  I won the bid because no one else bid on it.  The shipping brought the total cost to just over $3.00.

I then started browsing eBay and looking for knives with low minimum bids that no one had bid on.  Now that I had two Bassetts, I placed more bids.  I won 99 cent bids on this 80 and this 79.  The shipping made the cost of each between $3 and $4.

I next found the sailing ships scrimshaw multi tool.  It was a Buy It Now.  I don't remember exactly what it cost but it was low enough that I bought it.  It is different from the other four in that it has two different numbers on the blades, an 89 and a 90.

The last one, the duck scrimshaw just came today.  It was a Buy It Now for $11.99 with free shipping.  I watched it for about two weeks trying to decide whether to buy it.  Just before it expired I decided to buy it.  It also is an 89/90.

The sailing ships scrimshaw is signed MW but there is apparently no signature on the duck scrimshaw.  So far I have not been able to identify who MW is.

As I mention earlier, the first four only had one number on the blades.  But both scrimshaws had 89 and 90 on the blades.  I don't know if it is unusual for Bassetts to have more than one number on them.  Is it just coincidence that both scrimshaws have the same two numbers?  Could it be that the same person did both even though one is not signed?

I know these are fairly common and ordinary to collect but there seems to be a lot of variety in them and they can be had for not a lot of money.  I don't at this time know if I will collect any more of them or not.  It just depends if I find one that catches my eye and isn't too expensive.

My main focus right now is on Case knives.  In fact I have two of them on order right now.  I was expecting them this week but they didn't come.