Pics and intro

[SwedgeHead]

Hey all, lurker turned new member here, hope to soon see a supporting member banner flying next to my (cool) new name and to pay back for all the info and interest you have all provided. I am a lifetime collector of many things, with pocket knives being a fond past time.
I look forward to learning and sharing and enjoying the hobby or lifetime obsession with you all.
NOW some PICS.

You'll see a few of my sub-collections in here and I'll share those over time too, official BSA's, fun campers, Hammer Brands, and a whole collection of Swiss army and early soldiers not shown. oh and 20 or so handpicked rough riders of course...

But lets get rolling with some vintagy Valley Forges shall we.

Of the 2-bladers, two of them are what I beleive are pre-boker (the jigged handle and smaller barlow knife) with the other 2 having the circled VF tang stamp. Its interesting that in this set, EVERY blade and tool has a working half-stop, I thought that cool. (also notice one is an easy open knife).

The scout knife however is the one I long searched for to go with the beer can (yep, that's how my mind works!) and I just recently picked that one up.
It's a neat piece in that its a Valley Forge Boy Scout model , that it has the can opener-screwdriver-gas light key combo tool, AND that it has a pre-boker "Patented April 25th 1911" tang stamp along with 3 Valley Forge Newark stamps on the other implements (all pretty clear although the pics may suffer). This is the 1st I have seen of a Valley Forge with this patent and was happy to bring it into the collection. (curious on the originality of the boy scout emblem...looking into that ).

So the star of this show is the Boy Scout (and the beer can).

Enjoy !
Swedge

[SwedgeHead]

All that and I mention the easy opener but it didn't make the photoshoot, lol.

[313 Mike]

Welcome, really cool collection! Your displays look great, love the way you have it all displayed.

[cudgee]

Yes Welcome and some beautiful knives and outdoor gear you have. Keep posting.

[kennedy knives]

Welcome &

[Mumbleypeg]

Welcome to AAPK. Lifelong Scouter here myself so I like your interesting collecting focus!

I doubt the knife pre-dates Boker’s involvement with Valley Forge though. Some history research: Boker USA owned a controlling interest in Valley Forge by 1902, according to Goins’ Encyclopedia. The knife has a Prest-o-Light wrench. Prest-o-Light acetylene lights were invented in ~1904. Goins’ says the straight line Valley Forge stamp was used 1916-1950 (long after Boker ownership began). Prest-o-Light lights on cars and motorcycles were replaced by electric lights by early 1920s, so using the process of deductive elimination I’d guess your knife dates around 1916 to early 1920s.

There are some Böker experts that are members here, and also some scout knife experts - they will have more info and may correct my reasoning!

Thanks for showing your knives.

Ken

[Oledadsknives]

Nice collection and Pics Swedge! Welcome to AAPK! Great bunch of folks here and loaded with info as you already know.

Jimbo

[treefarmer]

Welcome to AAPK.
Great group of old, real pocketknives, not a Zombie killer in the bunch!
Treefarmer

[ScoutKnives]

Welcome . Great displays.
The Valley Forge is definitely an early one , mid teens .
I have the same knife but mine has the Boker stamp .

Mike

[1967redrider]

Awesome collection of Valley Forge folders and Scouts, to AAPK. What is that big display knife? I'd love to see some pictures of it in particular.

John

[btrwtr]

Glad to have you here. Thanks for all the great pics!

[peanut740]

Keep the posts coming.

[Dan In MI]

to AAPK! Very nice collection and display (I wish I had a good way to display my knives).

[philco]

Welcome to AAPK.

[SwedgeHead]

Welcome to AAPK. Lifelong Scouter here myself so I like your interesting collecting focus!

I doubt the knife pre-dates Boker’s involvement with Valley Forge though. Some history research: Boker USA owned a controlling interest in Valley Forge by 1902, according to Goins’ Encyclopedia. The knife has a Prest-o-Light wrench. Prest-o-Light acetylene lights were invented in ~1904. Goins’ says the straight line Valley Forge stamp was used 1916-1950 (long after Boker ownership began). Prest-o-Light lights on cars and motorcycles were replaced by electric lights by early 1920s, so using the process of deductive elimination I’d guess your knife dates around 1916 to early 1920s.

There are some Böker experts that are members here, and also some scout knife experts - they will have more info and may correct my reasoning!

Thanks for showing your knives.

Ken

Thanks Ken and all, I guess that got the ball rolling for me.
I admit the straight line stamp has thrown me and I am curious if there are pre-1916 examples of that.
And yes you got me on the boker early involvement, although that seems speculative still - i was more referring to the Boker USA transition in 1916 (or 21 depending on your school). And by that time I beleive they would have used the circled VF stamp as well, which 3 of these knifes don't have (maybe thats not a hard fast rule?) The early 1911 patent I haven't seen yet on other examples. Coming from vintage pocket WATCHES, I know though that there are always oddballs and transitional period items, so i'm open minded and looking forward to and appreciate all the sticky details and knowledge, thats half the fun.

[SwedgeHead]

Awesome collection of Valley Forge folders and Scouts, to AAPK. What is that big display knife? I'd love to see some pictures of it in particular.

John

The little Trapper, I was wondering if someone would call that one out. It was a gift from a friend on a camping trip long ago, it must weigh 5 lbs and gets so many laughs.
Here ya go.

[glennbad]

Good looking stuff, we like pics!!!

Welcome aboard!

[stockman]

S.H. Welcome, enjoyed the pictures.

Harold

[TPK]

Hello & Welcome to the AAPK!
I'd say that Trapper is a keeper! Sure is big enough.

[Bryan]

Interesting how you can already tell ya like a fella just by viewing a few pictures of his stuff! Welcome to AAPK

[Quick Steel]

Welcome aboard.

[Colonel26]

Welcome! You have some very nice knives and your displays are top notch.

[wlf]

Welcome , it's amazing how long we lurk before stepping forward.

[1967redrider]

Awesome collection of Valley Forge folders and Scouts, to AAPK. What is that big display knife? I'd love to see some pictures of it in particular.

John

The little Trapper, I was wondering if someone would call that one out. It was a gift from a friend on a camping trip long ago, it must weigh 5 lbs and gets so many laughs.
Here ya go.

Very cool, thanks for the post and pictures. Definitely a conversation piece.

[Mumbleypeg]

Thanks Ken and all, I guess that got the ball rolling for me.
I admit the straight line stamp has thrown me and I am curious if there are pre-1916 examples of that.
And yes you got me on the boker early involvement, although that seems speculative still - i was more referring to the Boker USA transition in 1916 (or 21 depending on your school). And by that time I beleive they would have used the circled VF stamp as well, which 3 of these knifes don't have (maybe thats not a hard fast rule?) The early 1911 patent I haven't seen yet on other examples. Coming from vintage pocket WATCHES, I know though that there are always oddballs and transitional period items, so i'm open minded and looking forward to and appreciate all the sticky details and knowledge, thats half the fun.

I agree the “sticky details and knowledge” is half the fun - at least! That and “the hunt” is why old knives are so interesting. Nothing wrong with newer knives but they don’t have the “mystery”.

Your question about the missing VF stamp is a good one. As I interpret Goins’ they all should have it. His book is by no means all inclusive - there are many stamps in existence that he doesn’t list so it’s possible there are other versions. Here’s what he says.

Ken