Old and Obscure Brands

This forum is dedicated to the discussion and display of old knives. The rich history of all the many companies that made them through the early years will be found here as well as many fine examples of the cutlers art. Share pictures of your old knives and your knowledge here!
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FRJ
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by FRJ »

Nice looking knife, Greg. ::tu::
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

That is nice. I don't think I've ever seen an Enterprise knife with bone handles before.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by edge213 »

WABASH
CUTLERY CO.
TERRE HAUTE
IND.
Just got this one from AAPK Store. I've never seen a Wabash this large.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Mumbleypeg »

Nice big old Jack. ::tu:: Looks like celluloid handles?

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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by edge213 »

Yes Ken, it is celluloid.
81 to 95 year old celluloid and no sign of outgassing. I will keep my fingers crossed.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Tsar Bomba »

I'm not yet done enjoying this whole thread yet but I haven't seen any/many of these brands so far:
Cutsure Barlow (USA)
Cutsure Barlow (USA)
Anton Wingen Jr. Barlow (Solingen)
Anton Wingen Jr. Barlow (Solingen)
Rigid USA #55 trapper
Rigid USA #55 trapper
Ambassador U.S.A. letter opener advertising jack
Ambassador U.S.A. letter opener advertising jack
Yes, the Wingen has half-stops and yes, the master is at that half-stop. Aside from that quirk, it's an extremely well-built and handsome knife. So is the Cutsure, which I'm positive is a Utica build like so many old hardware store Barlows.

I did a little image enhancement to get a decent pic of the tang stamp on the Ambassador, since it's really small. Hope it's usable. ::shrug::
Tang stamp - Ambassador U.S.A.
Tang stamp - Ambassador U.S.A.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by gsmith7158 »

Those are some show stoppers Tony! Never heard of any of those except maybe Rigid tools? ::shrug::
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Tsar Bomba »

Thanks, Greg! ::handshake:: The Rigid USA logo looks a wee bit familiar to me, in that "can't really remember the name but I know the face" way...

Here's a better photo of the tang and model stamps, with flash (and some of the original factory cosmoline...).
Tang stamp - Rigid USA
Tang stamp - Rigid USA
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by gsmith7158 »

I'm going to say that this one qualifies here since it is a one year company. !923 according to Goins and the tang stamp. J. Rosenbaum.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by galvanic1882 »

What about this Wahkonsa Cutlery Bullhead, Big and beefy!!
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by gsmith7158 »

Wowza! Mike that main Blade oughta be against the law. That's a beauty!
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by FRJ »

Great knives, you guys. ::tu::

WOW! Mike. ::drool::

Here's an American Knife Co., Plymouth.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by bronze4u »

galvanic1882 wrote:Yes it is similar to an Automatic knife Co knife but does not work on a spring. Here is a picture of mine.

I love the Schmactenberg Brothers knife ::ds::

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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by bronze4u »

knife7knut wrote:Interesting knife that Lever.Haven't seen one of those before.Here are a couple with similar opening devices:
The first is made by Schmactenberg Brothers in Germany.It has two blades(sadly one is broken)at opposite ends and the round button is pushed down parallel to the blade to elevate it at about 20 degrees so it can be pulled open manually.
The second is by the Automatic Knife Co of Middletown CT and when the tab on the end is pushed sideways the spring pushes the blade out to about 20 degrees so that it also can be pulled open.This one is in near mint condition and made just before or around 1900.

Really, again very nice!
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by bronze4u »

galvanic1882 wrote:I have a few knives with the same pull on them, thanks for showing yours.

I don't know if I ever posted this one before? It is Marked LEVER CUTLERY CO. There are patent dates on the back of both tangs. The company appears to have been in Brooklyn NY. You pull the levers down to open the blade so that you can grab it to open it all the way. I think the handles are Gutta Purcha but am not sure. This is a rare knife and I have only seen 2 of these. The one I own and another that sold on ebay awhile ago for over 400. It is 2 3/4" closed not counting the levers that stick out when the knife is closed.
Nice knife! I have a few similar ones.. very cool!
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by bronze4u »

Nice one! Let me know if it's ever up for trade, or sale? I have a Canal Street right now if you'd like? Or other knives/razors.

Cheers,

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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Berryb »

This is my oldest and obscurest. I posted it long ago but this is about the one year anniversary of it comin' to my house'. It's a Connecticut Cutlery Co. Naugatuck.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by LongBlade »

That is one nice hawkbill from Conn Cut Co Berryb ::tu:: ::tu:: .... Blade is in pretty good shape despite kick being filed down, nice old stag handle with end cap and a different style pivot bolster for a hawkbill as well ::hmm:: ....
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by ratlesnake75 »

FRJ wrote:I bought a couple of Doctors knives back in 2014.
Never owned a Dr. knife before and these two beauties show up on the same day.
It's nice to put them in here. I think they're old and obscure.
Thanks for looking.
Very sweet Union knife Works in a desirable pattern too FRJ. I have owned a few Union knife works but this is the 1st one in a Doctor pattern that I have seen,,,lovely knife Bro AND your killing me with that wood HOLLEY!!!

Thats one Sweet & Super Rare STAG Conn HAWK Berryb!!! Great showing
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by TripleF »

Bridge Cutlery Co St. Louis......OPG to Collector Knives says 1915! One year..... :shock:
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Old Folder »

TripleF wrote:Bridge Cutlery Co St. Louis......OPG to Collector Knives says 1915! One year..... :shock:
Nice one Scott;
I have a couple "Bridge Cutlery Co." folders. Have to dig em out and post em.
My books have it as a "Shapleigh Hdw. Co brand." c1902-1931
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by steve99f »

Just picked this Crown Cutlery wharncliffe whittler up at a flea market. Tang is marked Crown Cutlery arched over New York with USA on the bottom line. Don't know much about it. A search indicated it may have been made by Queen. Utica has been mentioned too. Shield is in an odd spot, great bone and jigging, about 3 1/2 inches closed.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

The Crown knife is a mystery to me. ::shrug::

The pattern just seems odd, such a severe arc to it.

The jigging and dye of the bone seems out of place in a knife from a company that existed from 1900 to 1930.

The Wharnecliff master blade looks short to me.

And, as you stated, the shield is not located in a traditional spot.

I'm only well educated on a couple of brands and Crown is not one of them.

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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by btrwtr »

The Crown knife may be old but the handles are modern replacements which explains the weird shield location. Notice how the angle on the liner cutout for the small pen blade is different than the angle on the bone.

I can't tell from the pictures. Are the nail pulls on both of the small blades facing the respective side handles?
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by steve99f »

I'm sure the Wharncliffe didn't leave the factory that way, it been worked on and it is short. The swedge doesn't look quite uniform on each side. A decent job of re-purposing but not factory. Wayne, the nail pulls do face the thumb nick in each handle, pretty well centered too. Can't tell from my pictures but the mark side pivot pin sits proud to the handle, not a lot but too much to have left a factory that way. Neither of the secondary blades are marked.

Charlie, you mention a severe arc. Are you referring to the blade or the frame?
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