Yeah, you really have to be careful. And I have gotten stung a time or two.
Do you happen to have a copy of the catalog sent out by Rhett Stidham in 1991 that had all the unique knives in it? If you do, look on page 21. In the upper left corner is a knife he called a "Special Push Dagger" catalog #287. I think this was the exact same knife offered as lot 976 in the Amoskeag #96 auction. The appearance is the same and the description is very similar. It even mentions the crack in the handle.
If you are willing to share the information, I'd sure like to know why it may not have been the real thing.

- - - - Buckspen