Orvet Customs

Kent Sportsman Krome Plate   BRAND:   Kent MAKER:   Camillus PATTERN:   Sportsman fixed blade BLADE ETCH:   KENT / SPORTSMAN / KROME PLATE OAL:   9” BLADE LENGTH:   5” GUARD:   Steel HANDLE:   Winterbottom Bone TANG STAMP:   KENT / N.Y. CITY / U.S.A. SHEATH:   Leather Sheath, (likely original sheath) CONDITION:   Excellent DAMAGE:   Normal use and wear marks, scratches on the chrome finish and in some places the chrome has worn off up the blade. Part of the etch on the blade is less visible due to wear of the chrome. See the pictures BLADE WEAR:   The blade appears to be nearly full, perhaps 1% blade wear.   MADE IN:   U.S.A.   ADDITIONAL INFO:     John Goins in his book “Goins’ Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings” says the KENT NYC USA marking was used from about 1931 to 1955 by a Kastor & Brothers and by Camillus Cutlery and made they made for F. W. Woolworth. The folding knives with the Kent stamping on them are fairly common, but this is the first Kent fix blade I have seen, and also the only time I  can recall seeing this etch on a blade. I think Goins dating is pretty accurate, though I think this knife may have been made closer to the end of World War Two than 1955 because it is made with Winterbottom bone on the handle. The Winterbottom Cutlery Works was started by Samuel Winterbottom in 1885, and they started making the Winterbottom bone that we know today about 1925. Until World War Two all the Winterbottom bone was hand jigged and very time consuming and therefore expensive to make. During the war Samuel, one of Frederick’s sons, invented a machine for jigging Winterbottom bone. After the war, the company continued to sell Winterbottom bone to Queen, Imperial, Cattaraugus, Camillus and probably a dozen more companies. The restrictions on imports to bone coming into the US and export of rosewood from certain South American countries really hurt their knife handle business. In 1968 Samuel Winterbottom's surviving son sold the business to one of their existing customers. The story of Kent and F. W. Woolworths sort of a window into American business history at that time. Woolworths was founded by Frank Winfield Woolworth in 1879. It became one of the most successful five and dime stores businesses worldwide. Like the hardware industry, Woolworth stores had names made as SFO's with their own name on them. Kent was the brand made for Woolworths stores by Camillus. I can remember going to the five and dime when I was a kid and looking at pocketknives. I don't ever recall seeing a fixed blade knife though. the five and dime was a magical place in the 1950s. A young man could dream to his heart's content of what he would do with all the wonderful toys they had then, then he had to decide how he would spend his dime or nickel. It could take hours sometimes. Now is your chance to get a piece of cutlery history!       *By Purchasing, The Buyer Confirms It Is Legal For Them Purchase And Own This Knife.   I Accept Money Orders, Personal Checks and PayPal.   Shipped by Priority Mail flat rate box in the US. CHOOSE SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS/DELETE THE OTHER!   This knife will ship via First Class Mail in a padded vinyl envelope or box. When shipping knives in padded envelopes I always wrap additional padding around the knife, it will be well padded. I haven’t had one damaged in shipping yet. Priority mail is available if requested. Buyer must pay any additional shipping fee prior to shipping.   YES, I DO SHIP OVERSEAS! Email me prior to your purchase and I can give you shipping options to your country and an estimate of what the shipping will cost.   $  

Item # 57241