Federal Knife Company

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trail
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Federal Knife Company

Post by trail »

I have found very little information on Federal Knife Company or Thornton knives on the internet. The best seems to come from AAPK so I will quote from previous posts:

"Levine's mentions two Thornton Knife companies, One a Camillus company that I knew about (1920s) and then a brand name used by Federal Knife company that seems to have been only active 1945 to 1950. And then was sold to Colonial." - Gr8Scout

"the johnson stamp belonged to the federal knife co. out of johnson, r. i. made knives from 1945-1950 and was sold to the colonial knife co. they also stamped knives with thornton. from b.llevine3" - jonet143

"Johnston USA was a mark used by Federal Knife co, 1944-1949 according to Goins. Having no idea about Federal Knife Co ::shrug:: I found that it was owned by two former employees of the Colonial Knife co, Arthur Pagaro and Vito Del Deo and was based in Rhode Island... again according to Goins. I hope this helps :)" - smiling-knife

There is a Federal Knife Inc in Palmyra, IN currently in business but I don't think it has anything to do with the old Rhode Island company.

Anybody have anything to add?

Here is a bolsterless jack stamped Thornton. It has good carbon steel blades with serious snap, and what appear to be bakelite handles.
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trail
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by trail »

Here's another Thornton, metalflake green handle and an arched tang stamp. I find it amusing to think this little knife company that lasted just 5 or 6 years had at least two tang stamps - maybe more if they really made Johnston stamped knives as well. From watching ebay auctions, it looks like Federal Knife was a major supplier of girlie knives for a while. So I know there have to be some horn dawgs at AAPK with big collections of girlie knives, lets see some Thorntons - don't be shy.
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by Froggyedge »

Nice knives and info about a company I've hardly heard about. :D
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by knife7knut »

And to add a little more confusion to the soup,here is my only Federal knife;a two blade serpentine jack with green celluloid scales marked on both blades(Federal Knife Company Syracuse NY).Could be a Camillus made knife;it is pretty nicely made.Sorry for the poor pics;I had to shoot them indoors.
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knfcollector
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by knfcollector »

knife7knut wrote:And to add a little more confusion to the soup,here is my only Federal knife;a two blade serpentine jack with green celluloid scales marked on both blades(Federal Knife Company Syracuse NY).Could be a Camillus made knife;it is pretty nicely made.Sorry for the poor pics;I had to shoot them indoors.

Totally different company than the RI one that produced the Thortons.
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by gino »

Here is an old Thorton I dug up. Its very simular to the one you posted before.
bakolite handled.
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trail
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by trail »

It took a while but I finally turned up a Johnston to add to the collection.
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cattaraugus57
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by cattaraugus57 »

2 blue Thortons,usualy I see the Purple ones..
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

I am bringing this topic or thread back from the dead, to the land of the living, because this pocket knife fits it so well. This arrived recently in a group of pocket knives that I bought. This particular pocket knife was NOT the target of my purchase. It is a THORNTON U.S.A. (a trademark used by Federal Knife Company), one blade, 2 1/2" closed (not including the bail), one tang stamp, all metal, pocket knife. Per GOINS, it is from 1944 to 1948/1949. Overall, it's in GOOD condition. One handle looks like it may have had advertising or something on it and it was buffed out (poorly). It needed minimal cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by Waukonda »

New_Windsor_NY wrote: Mon Dec 20, 2021 5:11 pm I am bringing this topic or thread back from the dead, to the land of the living, because this pocket knife fits it so well. This arrived recently in a group of pocket knives that I bought. This particular pocket knife was NOT the target of my purchase. It is a THORNTON U.S.A. (a trademark used by Federal Knife Company), one blade, 2 1/2" closed (not including the bail), one tang stamp, all metal, pocket knife. Per GOINS, it is from 1944 to 1948/1949. Overall, it's in GOOD condition. One handle looks like it may have had advertising or something on it and it was buffed out (poorly). It needed minimal cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.
Interesting and informative, Skip, thanks!
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

Waukonda wrote: Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:06 pm Interesting.....
Thank you, Ike. 🍻
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WadesBlades
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by WadesBlades »

I have a Thornton to throw on this thread. I don't think the scales are Bakelite though.
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by Lama »

Since this topic has recently been revived, here is a celluloid handled Johnston I thought I'd share before listing for it for auction. Since the liner is brass, it may have been produced toward the end of Federal's existence. I am not responsible for the zealous cleaning or the edge. It's been with me a couple of years and the celluloid does appear to be stable. An interesting observation, there appears to be a layer of brass between the handle covers and the nickel silver scales. Could this have been added to strengthen the handle or to add luster or color to the covers?
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CarMan
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by CarMan »

Have you sold this Johnston knife yet? Since my last name is Johnston & I recently found out about these I’m interested in them. Thank you
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by 1967redrider »

I happen to have this E.O., stamped Federal Knife Company Syracuse USA.
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by CarMan »

That’s nice
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

I picked this Federal Camper/Scout out of a $3 box at the flea market today. You dont see Federal very often. It is not in the best shape and will have to come apart and have some work done, but should be a decent camper knife.
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by 1967redrider »

CarMan wrote: Tue May 24, 2022 10:48 pm That’s nice
Thanks, only 8 months late. ::dang::


Awesome find, OC, and a steal of a deal. ::tu::
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

1967redrider wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 4:32 pm
CarMan wrote: Tue May 24, 2022 10:48 pm That’s nice
Thanks, only 8 months late. ::dang::


Awesome find, OC, and a steal of a deal. ::tu::
The reason I say it will have to come apart and have some work done is that it appears to have been apart once already and either the awl is not the correct one of the catchbit is incorrect. The math problem of blade thickness plus catchbit thickness equals spring thickness does not compute.
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by CarMan »

OLDE CUTLER wrote: Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:16 pm
1967redrider wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 4:32 pm
CarMan wrote: Tue May 24, 2022 10:48 pm That’s nice
Thanks, only 8 months late. ::dang::


Awesome find, OC, and a steal of a deal. ::tu::
The reason I say it will have to come apart and have some work done is that it appears to have been apart once already and either the awl is not the correct one of the catchbit is incorrect. The math problem of blade thickness plus catchbit thickness equals spring thickness does not compute.

IMG_5102.JPG
There’s a guy on one of the knife facebook groups I’m on that comes highly recommended for knife repair. Hit me up if you’re interested.
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

CarMan wrote: Thu Mar 09, 2023 5:23 am
OLDE CUTLER wrote: Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:16 pm
1967redrider wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 4:32 pm

Thanks, only 8 months late. ::dang::


Awesome find, OC, and a steal of a deal. ::tu::
The reason I say it will have to come apart and have some work done is that it appears to have been apart once already and either the awl is not the correct one of the catchbit is incorrect. The math problem of blade thickness plus catchbit thickness equals spring thickness does not compute.

IMG_5102.JPG
There’s a guy on one of the knife facebook groups I’m on that comes highly recommended for knife repair. Hit me up if you’re interested.
I have been doing all my own knife repair, modifications, and new construction for several years.
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by doglegg »

OLDE CUTLER wrote: Thu Mar 09, 2023 12:07 pm
CarMan wrote: Thu Mar 09, 2023 5:23 am
OLDE CUTLER wrote: Wed Mar 08, 2023 5:16 pm
The reason I say it will have to come apart and have some work done is that it appears to have been apart once already and either the awl is not the correct one of the catchbit is incorrect. The math problem of blade thickness plus catchbit thickness equals spring thickness does not compute.

IMG_5102.JPG
There’s a guy on one of the knife facebook groups I’m on that comes highly recommended for knife repair. Hit me up if you’re interested.
I have been doing all my own knife repair, modifications, and new construction for several years.
And doing great work on them as well.
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

I got that Federal camper/Scout apart and fixed up. The problem was that it had a catchbit replacement done that was .054" thick, and what it needed was one .032" thick. So I made a new one from brass and reassembled.
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by CarMan »

OLDE CUTLER wrote: Thu Mar 09, 2023 7:42 pm I got that Federal camper/Scout apart and fixed up. The problem was that it had a catchbit replacement done that was .054" thick, and what it needed was one .032" thick. So I made a new one from brass and reassembled.
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Very nice work
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Re: Federal Knife Company

Post by PocketknifeTherapy »

Thread is old but has been going quite a while and I just discovered it. Recently inherited my grandfather's pocketknives and have been going through them trying to learn more about them and pocketknives in general and thought I'd share a Thornton I've found. Apologies if this is considered NSFW, looks like grandpa got a little saucy! :D
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