Old Keen Kutter Knives

Keen Kutter was first used as a knife brand by Simmons Hardware Company in 1870. The trademark was used on the highest quality tools and cutlery Simmons offered.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by JohnR »

danno50 wrote: Sun Mar 07, 2021 4:38 pm Very interesting knife, John. I will be very interested in what you think once you have the knife. Sellens does list a K3738, Wharncliffe whittler, at 4 1/8" with a stag (bone) handle, and 2 pen blades. From the pictures, it appears as if the knife may have been rehandled??

I was thinking that Dan but if you were going to rehandle it why use that type of celluloid unless it was done a long time ago. This is definitely one of those knives I bought out of curiosity and I love the pattern.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

JohnR wrote: Sun Mar 07, 2021 4:53 pm
danno50 wrote: Sun Mar 07, 2021 4:38 pm Very interesting knife, John. I will be very interested in what you think once you have the knife. Sellens does list a K3738, Wharncliffe whittler, at 4 1/8" with a stag (bone) handle, and 2 pen blades. From the pictures, it appears as if the knife may have been rehandled??

I was thinking that Dan but if you were going to rehandle it why use that type of celluloid unless it was done a long time ago. This is definitely one of those knives I bought out of curiosity and I love the pattern.
I wasn't sure of the handle material, celluloid was my first thought. However, it could be micarta?? Definitely looking forward to your in hand assessment once you have it. I also love the pattern. In terms of length, I have an IXL Wharncliffe whittler which measures in at 4 1/4" closed.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by Ivoryman »

JohnR wrote: Sun Mar 07, 2021 4:31 pm Thank you all for the comments ::tu:: ::tu:: If this thing is 4" it will be one of the largest Wharncliffe Whittlers I've seen, most of the vintage ones seem to be 3" to 3 1/2".
Reminds me of a Case Seahorse. Excellent score amigo, that is a looker and great condition and striking to look at. Grabs attention.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by peanut740 »

John ::tu::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by Ivoryman »

danno50 wrote: Sun Mar 07, 2021 5:05 pm
JohnR wrote: Sun Mar 07, 2021 4:53 pm
danno50 wrote: Sun Mar 07, 2021 4:38 pm Very interesting knife, John. I will be very interested in what you think once you have the knife. Sellens does list a K3738, Wharncliffe whittler, at 4 1/8" with a stag (bone) handle, and 2 pen blades. From the pictures, it appears as if the knife may have been rehandled??

I was thinking that Dan but if you were going to rehandle it why use that type of celluloid unless it was done a long time ago. This is definitely one of those knives I bought out of curiosity and I love the pattern.
I wasn't sure of the handle material, celluloid was my first thought. However, it could be micarta?? Definitely looking forward to your in hand assessment once you have it. I also love the pattern. In terms of length, I have an IXL Wharncliffe whittler which measures in at 4 1/4" closed.



Thanks for all the info danno, always appreciate it. Saw this KK and was very taken by the bones and condition but was wondering what you thought of this? Authentic or counterfeit? Seems the seller has a bad reputation for tainted or faked knives. Thanks for any thoughts you may have.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-E-C-SI ... 4610158898
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

[/quote]
Thanks for all the info danno, always appreciate it. Saw this KK and was very taken by the bones and condition but was wondering what you thought of this? Authentic or counterfeit? Seems the seller has a bad reputation for tainted or faked knives. Thanks for any thoughts you may have.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-E-C-SI ... 4610158898

[/quote]

There is an active topic on this seller in Counterfeit Watch right now. Can't tell for sure, but, it looks like spun pins, especially the spring pin. There is no pattern number on it, which I believe makes it fairly early. I have never seen a KK without a pattern number with spun pins. Based on that, and especially on the seller, I would not buy it.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by Ivoryman »

Thanks danno, appreciate it big time. Didn't consider the pins, and should have, thanks for that clue. Wonder if this guy ever does real ones or all fakes? Sad, but I get it. Thanks again.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by JohnR »

Ivoryman wrote: Mon Mar 08, 2021 8:20 am
danno50 wrote: Sun Mar 07, 2021 5:05 pm
JohnR wrote: Sun Mar 07, 2021 4:53 pm


I was thinking that Dan but if you were going to rehandle it why use that type of celluloid unless it was done a long time ago. This is definitely one of those knives I bought out of curiosity and I love the pattern.
I wasn't sure of the handle material, celluloid was my first thought. However, it could be micarta?? Definitely looking forward to your in hand assessment once you have it. I also love the pattern. In terms of length, I have an IXL Wharncliffe whittler which measures in at 4 1/4" closed.



Thanks for all the info danno, always appreciate it. Saw this KK and was very taken by the bones and condition but was wondering what you thought of this? Authentic or counterfeit? Seems the seller has a bad reputation for tainted or faked knives. Thanks for any thoughts you may have.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-E-C-SI ... 4610158898

Iman, another thing I notice about this guys knives is he has a lot of knives with poorly struck tang stamps, they will not be square, there are several examples including this one for sale right now that have questionable tang stamps.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by Ivoryman »

I haven't seen enough stamps to tell if they are square or not. Did not notice that at all since it looks right to me. Looks so well worn I thought the stamp was legit and other stuff was the fake. But can't thank you enough for any tips you have on spotting the fakes out there. Great education and good to know this stuff. Thanks again and you too danno. Really appreciate you guys clueing us up to this kind of stuff. He has another I keep looking at, a Queen, that really turns me on too, but the stamp doesn't look right to me. Looks like a different type set and looks cold stamped. Now I'm gun shy.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-QUEEN- ... 4736748329

Also have been looking at old Tested era stuff and to me, in my limited observations, this stamp doesn't look right at all and is so rubbed out it would be seemingly easier to fake given the wear making it less clear. Fake too? Looks off to me. Thanks again guys.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-CASE-T ... SwfCZgQBcU
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by JohnR »

The Keen Kutter Wharncliffe Whittler showed up today and it is a stunning knife, not sure if this is MOP celluloid or cracked ice cell but it is really pretty. Knife is 4 1/8" which makes it large for this pattern, appears to be unused.
Dan, the closest one in Sellens book is K3738 as you stated but there is no mention of being available in celluloid.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

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JohnR wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 9:21 pm The Keen Kutter Wharncliffe Whittler showed up today and it is a stunning knife, not sure if this is MOP celluloid or cracked ice cell but it is really pretty. Knife is 4 1/8" which makes it large for this pattern, appears to be unused.
Dan, the closest one in Sellens book is K3738 as you stated but there is no mention of being available in celluloid.

I LOVE this knife!!
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

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JohnR wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 9:21 pm The Keen Kutter Wharncliffe Whittler showed up today and it is a stunning knife, not sure if this is MOP celluloid or cracked ice cell but it is really pretty. Knife is 4 1/8" which makes it large for this pattern, appears to be unused.
Dan, the closest one in Sellens book is K3738 as you stated but there is no mention of being available in celluloid.
Beautiful knife 👍🤝😁
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by DM11 »

Keen Kutter Barlow
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

JohnR wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 9:21 pm The Keen Kutter Wharncliffe Whittler showed up today and it is a stunning knife, not sure if this is MOP celluloid or cracked ice cell but it is really pretty. Knife is 4 1/8" which makes it large for this pattern, appears to be unused.
Dan, the closest one in Sellens book is K3738 as you stated but there is no mention of being available in celluloid.
Beautiful knife, John! ::tu:: ::tu:: Simmons did not put out catalogs in 1905, 1906, 1907, 1909, 1910, or 1911. Perhaps your knife was produced in a year when Simmons did not put out a catalog, and therefor would not have made it into Sellens?? It is lovely celluloid, in great condition.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

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Nice barlow, David. ::tu:: Lovely caramel coloured bone.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by Ivoryman »

JohnR wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 9:21 pm The Keen Kutter Wharncliffe Whittler showed up today and it is a stunning knife, not sure if this is MOP celluloid or cracked ice cell but it is really pretty. Knife is 4 1/8" which makes it large for this pattern, appears to be unused.
Dan, the closest one in Sellens book is K3738 as you stated but there is no mention of being available in celluloid.

Congrats, even better looking than seller pics. Beautiful all around. Got the drool going now.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

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JohnR wrote: Tue Mar 09, 2021 9:21 pm The Keen Kutter Wharncliffe Whittler showed up today and it is a stunning knife, not sure if this is MOP celluloid or cracked ice cell but it is really pretty. Knife is 4 1/8" which makes it large for this pattern, appears to be unused.
Dan, the closest one in Sellens book is K3738 as you stated but there is no mention of being available in celluloid.
We love those big wharncliffes.Excellent knife.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

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danno50 wrote: Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:22 am Nice barlow, David. ::tu:: Lovely caramel coloured bone.
Thank you Dan.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

Today, this pocket knife joined my collection. It's a KEEN KUTTER 786, 3 blade, swelled center, milled liners, 3 5/8" closed, "whittler" pocket knife. The only difference, that I can see, between the KEEN KUTTER 786 and the KEEN KUTTER K30, is that the 786 has milled liners and the K30 doesn't. The main blade has seen better days. This KEEN KUTTER pattern doesn't make an appearance that often, so I bought it. It will still make a good filler until a better one surfaces. It needed cleaning. I cleaned it up a little, took some pictures and here it is.
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

Here's the link to my two (so far), KEEN KUTTER K30 pocket knives:
viewtopic.php?f=119&t=67828

Or here:
viewtopic.php?f=63&t=62956&start=510#p824920
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

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::nod:: ::nod:: ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

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doglegg wrote: Tue Mar 30, 2021 10:16 pm ::nod:: ::nod:: ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
Thank you Floyd.🍻
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

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Nice one! :)
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

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msteele6 wrote: Wed Mar 31, 2021 9:44 am Nice.....
Thank you.🍻
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

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Very Kool Skip!!!👍💎👍
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

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jmh58 wrote: Wed Mar 31, 2021 7:15 pm Very.....
Thank you John.🍻
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