Found Yarborough

kpdarnell · 06-15-2015, 13:48

In October 2014 I worked a meth lab in Clarksville TN and recovered a Yarborough Knife.

The knife has had the serial number obliterated.
I have checked every crime report in the area and pawn tickets and there has not been a Yarborough Knife reported stolen or pawned. Since this knife has not been used in a violent crime and is not a firearm I cannot get our lab to raise the serial number.

I have come here to ask if anyone knows of a Yarborough Knife that was stolen in the FTCKY area sometime in 2014?

JJ_BPK · 06-16-2015, 04:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpdarnell

I have come here to ask if anyone knows of a Yarborough Knife that was stolen in the FTCKY area sometime in 2014?

1st, Thanks for thinking of us..

Tracking them is problematic as the records are not easily accessible.

Serialized knives show up on ebay and at pawn shops for several reasons.

troop needs the money
divorce
lost on FTX, rotation, or card game
X-GF steals everything
what ever...

Personally, I don't think a knife with a destroyed serial has much collector value.

BUT

I would suggest that a raffle could be established with the proceeds going to the Green Beret Foundation.

Can you get some pictures?
Is the sheath available?

**The Reaper** · 06-16-2015, 07:28

I believe he would like to return the stolen knife to its owner, not make a profit off it.

TR

**Team Sergeant** · 06-16-2015, 08:19

I spoke with him, they'd like to ID the knife and ID the individual that it was stolen from and its in very bad shape.

kpdarnell · 06-16-2015, 08:30

Yes, my goal here is to find the rightful owner. Not make any kind of profit off this knife.

It is still in evidence and the case is still pending but it will be wrapping up soon.

There was no sheath recovered with the knife.

I am limiting who has access to the pictures right now in case the rightful owner can step up and tell me about some unique marks on the knife. If I post the pictures everywhere right now then that gets taken away.

I know there are lots of reasons this knife could have been separated from its owner. Some good, some bad. I am hoping for the good outcome.

I have received several offers of assistance including a possible means of raising the serial number. The serial number will at least give us a much better chance of finding the owner.

Thanks to everyone.

**The Reaper** · 06-16-2015, 08:43

If you can recover the SN, we can find out who the knife was issued to.

There may be some sentimental value to the owner, even if it is defaced.

Anyone in 5th Group lose a Yarborough, but not reported it yet?

TR

CSB · 06-16-2015, 09:17

Hey Kyle.

The owner might be OCONUS and not even know it's been stolen. We had more than a few storage lockers broken into last year, the vultures seem to know when the owners will be away for a long while. My most recent case was an inside job, managers husband taking her all access key and helping himself to property.

Any chance meth head might give up some information?

You know me as CB (the PD).

kpdarnell · 10-11-2016, 17:10

I am back.

The case is pretty much completed so now comes more questions.

Has anybody here had any luck in finding a private lab to try and raise the serial number? I am guessing no, since I haven't been contacted in awhile now.

If I can't get the serial number lifted and the knife returned to a rightful owner then I intend to clean the knife up, sharpen it, get a sheath, sign it out from evidence and use it at work.

My concern is the spot where the serial number was has been ground down pretty deep. It may have substantially weakened the blade.

Does anybody have another idea in locating the owner or an heir?

**Peregrino** · 10-11-2016, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpdarnell

I am back.

The case is pretty much completed so now comes more questions.

Has anybody here had any luck in finding a private lab to try and raise the serial number? I am guessing no, since I haven't been contacted in awhile now.

If I can't get the serial number lifted and the knife returned to a rightful owner then I intend to clean the knife up, sharpen it, get a sheath, sign it out from evidence and use it at work.

My concern is the spot where the serial number was has been ground down pretty deep. It may have substantially weakened the blade.

Does anybody have another idea in locating the owner or an heir?

Can't speak to the question of finding the original owner; however, I can assure you that simply grinding out the SN hasn't substantially weakened the blade. Mr. Harsey will be happy to extol the virtues of the steel used in the knife; he might even be able to point you at a source for the correct sheath. You've exercised due diligence (more than most in any event) so I personally can't see anything wrong with salvaging the knife and putting it back to work. It certainly doesn't deserve to be sent to the chopper/smelter like the usual detritus found in an evidence room. MOO - some of the other guys may be along shortly to add their .02.

**Bill Harsey** · 10-12-2016, 03:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by kpdarnell

I am back.

The case is pretty much completed so now comes more questions.

Has anybody here had any luck in finding a private lab to try and raise the serial number? I am guessing no, since I haven't been contacted in awhile now.

If I can't get the serial number lifted and the knife returned to a rightful owner then I intend to clean the knife up, sharpen it, get a sheath, sign it out from evidence and use it at work.

My concern is the spot where the serial number was has been ground down pretty deep. It may have substantially weakened the blade.

Does anybody have another idea in locating the owner or an heir?

I'm pretty sure you will not be able to "raise the serial number" by acid etching because that only works for steel that has had the serial numbers stamped in.
All Yarboroughs serial numbers are engraved to avoid the stress risers caused by stamping and engraving has very little impact on the grain structure underneath.

How the serial numbers were ground off will determine how strong the blade remains. All tool steels in this class are to one degree or another notch sensitive.
If the knife is wrecked you may as well carry it until it can't be carried but if your life depends on a knife, get a good one that isn't f*cked up.

glebo · 10-12-2016, 06:57

Wow, what a damn shame to deface a knife like that. I would love to have one, and then you have people with no regard and screw it up...

Damn shame...

**Bill Harsey** · 11-04-2016, 19:09

Confirmed with the Chris Reeve shop that serial numbers are engraved in prior to heat treat which means all the heat treat soaks would erase what minimal pressure marks the carbide cutter may have left.
Nothing would show up in an acid etch.
If someone can prove me wrong, please advise.

Engraving is much lighter on the metal than stamping serial numbers in already heat treated steels like firearms or motor cases made from other metals.

Also check with the Chris Reeve shop to see of any of you qualify for a Military or Law Enforcement discount, if interested in getting a knife.

kpdarnell · 06-24-2017, 12:34

For those who are interested.
I recovered another Yarborough in another meth lab. This one actually has the SN intact! I am out on sick leave for a couple of weeks but I will work on tracking down the owner while I am recovering.
Update to follow.