Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

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FRJ
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by FRJ »

Here's a nice gentleman's knife.
The little vertical pen is the only blade with a half stop.
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Joe
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by montemojo »

Great looking knife joe, I really like the old ones. I have'nt been lucky enough to aquire an old holley yet.

Monte
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FRJ
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by FRJ »

Thank you, Monte.
I hope you find a nice old Holley someday. ::tu::
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by olderdogs1 »

Nice one Joe ::tu::

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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by CheckSix »

Joe,
That's a really awesome Holley! ::tu::
Dave - the new guy. :lol:
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by btrwtr »

Beautiful little Holley Joe!
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.

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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by FRJ »

Thanks a lot, guys. ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
I really appreciate your remarks.
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by FRJ »

I just read this in my morning paper a few minutes ago. Sure would like to run up there. We'll see ...............
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by bestgear »

Joe - do you know if the current Holley Manufacturing is the company that produces parts for muscle cars? I googled "Laka Villa International" and found this site: https://angel.co/laka-villa-international which then led me to this site: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/75 ... =discovery

Their concept is to manufacture and sell a customized, personalized pocket knife for the 21st century customer. Using a user-friendly e-commerce platform combined with just-in-time manufacturing technology, their knives will be launched under the Holley Knives brand and will take advantage of the proud Holley Knives history while delivering a knife for the traveler, the gear lover or the jack of all trades.

Basically they will be benefiting from the vintage name but produce a completely modern product.
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by FRJ »

I drove up there last night. Big disappointment for me. I knew they weren't going to bring back Holley knives as we know them, but they did say "Resurrection of Holly knives".

Made in china with plastic handle multitool ...................... I have 0 interest ...................
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by Miller Bro's »

Joe, that's what I figured when I viewed the video. The guy has zero experience in knives and they are looking for donations to start the business? Never going to make it.
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by Beechtree »

What I had heard was that the knives were simply going to be of the plastic handle variety and they were going to get a machine shop in Danbury to make the blades. I guess just assemble them in Lakeville? As you went to the presentation, do you have any more info Joe?
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by FRJ »

Thanks for commenting, guys.
I didn't see the video before going up there. I just read the news article.
I spoke to V. J. Maury about his knives, or more accurately, he spoke to me. He showed me his knife and spoke in salesman language until I showed him the Holleys I had brought with me. He responded politely to the knives and just long enough to show that he knew nothing of antique knives and I don't think he cares about antique knives. The presentation was at a bar and I showed up a bit early and was sitting at the bar with coffee where we talked about our knives and others were close by and it was known the other knives were actual Holley knives sitting there. No interest what so ever. Salisbury is minutes from Lakeville where Holleys were made.
It never ceases to amaze me. The lack of interest in pocket knives.
So I didn't stay long. I intensely dislike sales talk and I had some one staying with Susan.

Some pictures of the new "holley"
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by CheckSix »

What a disappointment Joe! Thanks for sharing the story.
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by bestgear »

Never going to make it.
So very true....he's trying to raise $5K through kickstarter which is probably his opening order of parts from China....I'm usually very benevolent when it comes to entrepreneurship but in this case he's a total hack for demeaning the good Holley name. I'm sure Alexander Holley is rolling around in his grave.
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by kootenay joe »

To get back on the Holley track, here is a 2 7/8" shadow pen knife that i believe is all original; no half stops, works smoothly, very nicely made.
kj
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by bestgear »

Ahhhh thank you Roland, that's the shot in the arm we needed!
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by FRJ »

Beautiful knife.
A real Holley.
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by FreddyNewandkye »

I recently did some restorative work on a Holley pen knife originally owned by my grandfather. Based on what I've found online, I believe it was made in the 1920s and has an imitation ivory handle, but I'm not sure how accurate that information is. Could anyone please tell me more about this knife?
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by FRJ »

Welcome, FreddyNewandkye.

That is a very nice little pen knife.
Lacking bolsters on each end it is referred to as a shadow knife. A shadow pen knife.
I can't tell what the covers are made from. Are you certain they are imitation ivory?
What kind of restorative work did you do to the knife?
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by FreddyNewandkye »

FJR,

Thank you for the welcome and the information! I can't say for certain whether the handle is imitation ivory or real ivory. I only pulled the imitation ivory bit from a posting I saw on ebay of the same knife. I have not performed a burn test on the handle as I'd rather not find out the hard way that it's bone or something else. I've been trying to find a local appraiser who could give me a better idea of the handle's composition.

As for the restoration, just simple cleaning and rust removal. I used Liquid Wrench L106 as a penetrating oil and lubricant. To remove rust, I used Hoppes No. 9 with 320 grain and 400 grain sand paper. After the sandpaper, I used Hoppes along with some stainless steel dental picks (old Army trick for cleaning the star chamber of an M-16A2 / M-4 - works wonders for tough to get spots) and a brass brush. To finish, I used Blue Magic metal polish with a high fiber count cloth.

I didn't take a before picture, but it was quite dirty.
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by kootenay joe »

The handles on your knife are not a man made substance. They are natural material most likely elephant ivory which Holley did use.
kj
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by FreddyNewandkye »

Interesting. Would either of you gentlemen be able to venture a guess as to when it could have been manufactured? The 1920s period mentioned in my original post was pulled from the same ebay listing which claimed the handle was imitation ivory. I have no real inclination as to time period the knife was made.
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by peanut740 »

Handles are Ivory.I would guess it was made prior to WW1.
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.

Post by kootenay joe »

Quote: "ebay listing which claimed the handle was imitation ivory"
I think ebay sellers cannot say "ivory" or item might get pulled. Hence they might say "imitation ivory" whether real or imitation.
kj
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