Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
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
kj
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Ahhhh thank you Roland, that's the shot in the arm we needed!
Tom
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Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
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Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
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?
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
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?
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?
Joe
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
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.
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.
The handles on your knife are not a man made substance. They are natural material most likely elephant ivory which Holley did use.
kj
kj
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
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.
- peanut740
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Handles are Ivory.I would guess it was made prior to WW1.
Roger
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
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
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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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Yes, I thought that might be a possibility too.
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Nice knife ... looks like "I" to me as well based on photos... imitation ivory or french ivory (sometimes called ivorine if I am not mistaken) has an unmistakable perpendicular lines in the covers which I am not seeing... and definitely not celluloid - and no sign of haversian canals as bone... depending on clarity of photos it is hard to tell unless one has it in hand to look at least for me...
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Lee
Lee
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
At the flea market today I bought this knife. I didn't know what it was except that it was a large whittler with Pearl covers and the main blade had an issue. I never even opened the small blades. I paid the guy $8.
Well, I brought it home and cleaned it a little and sure as shootin' it's a large whittler. 3 3/4". With Pearl covers and a main blade that has issues. Can't even bring the kick down to get the tip in the well. Someone beat me to that. Can't find a hint of a stamp in the main blade tang. That seems pretty unusual to me. The action on the main pivot is pretty well worn but the small blades are quite snappy to their half stops. Woe is me. Such an elegant knife put to hard use. Before pictures= black background -- After picts.= white background.
Thanks for looking.
Well, I brought it home and cleaned it a little and sure as shootin' it's a large whittler. 3 3/4". With Pearl covers and a main blade that has issues. Can't even bring the kick down to get the tip in the well. Someone beat me to that. Can't find a hint of a stamp in the main blade tang. That seems pretty unusual to me. The action on the main pivot is pretty well worn but the small blades are quite snappy to their half stops. Woe is me. Such an elegant knife put to hard use. Before pictures= black background -- After picts.= white background.
Thanks for looking.
Joe
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
KJ Freddie and Joe, those are all great looking knives. I have been hoping to run across one but haven't been as lucky. Thanks for posting!
Monte
Monte
- ratlesnake75
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Hey GUYS, Here are a couple nice old Holley's that should be Posted
Kind Regards,
Mark
Kind Regards,
Mark
I Buy/Sell/Trade All Vintage Antique Pocket knives from Junkers to Mint. I am Easy going, so Please shoot me a message ANYTIME!!! l Live & Breath KNIVES Everyday.
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Indeed they should, Mark. Nice big old Holleys.
Thanks for showing those beauties.
Thanks for showing those beauties.
Joe
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Those are really sweet knives. I especially like the Pearl Whittler and that hawkbill. ____Dave
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Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Thanks djknife13 & FRJ for the kind Words
Mark
Mark
I Buy/Sell/Trade All Vintage Antique Pocket knives from Junkers to Mint. I am Easy going, so Please shoot me a message ANYTIME!!! l Live & Breath KNIVES Everyday.
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Here's a neat little Holley swell center with square bolsters and horn skins.
Bolsters are lined at the tips.
Somebody loved this knife. It's easy to see why.
Bolsters are lined at the tips.
Somebody loved this knife. It's easy to see why.
Joe
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Great looking knife Joe. I still haven't been lucky enough to acquire one.
Monte
Monte
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
That's an old sweet one Joe ... you know I always wondered about those knives & how they were used long ago - one could clean their nails with the manicure blade and cut fruit & tomatoes at the same time with the master .... .....
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Lee
Lee
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
It's true, Lee. A knife like this could keep a guy busy.
Someone sure got some honest use out of the main blade which was surely a spear.
Someone sure got some honest use out of the main blade which was surely a spear.
Joe
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Thank you, Monte.
They show up from time to time. I hope you find one.
They show up from time to time. I hope you find one.
Joe
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Here's a Boys Knife. 3 1/8". Half stops and all steel bolsters, pins and liners.
A very nice little knife.
A very nice little knife.
Joe
Re: Holley Mfg. Co., Lakeville, Conn.
Holley knives all seem to have a serious, all business look and feel to them, and still have a ton of class with little frill. Even the boys knife looks like a knife a man could proudly carry his entire life. Nice knives Joe. Thanks for showing them. ____Dave