Old Cattle Knives

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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LongBlade
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by LongBlade »

wlf wrote:And..... I can just see the cowboy with a pearl cattle knife. I'm grin'n
Lyle - I was thinking the same thing - it’s not the first I have seen in MOP... maybe they were for fancy cowboys who drive a Cadillac :lol: :lol: ....

One other thing regarding handles - according to the “book” the majority were celluloid or jigged bone but “fancy” ones (I quote fancy) were MOP or fancy celluloid...... I would think given wood may be more durable that it would be a handle of choice but guess not...
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

My nephew dropped off this cattle knife to have a little work done on it. It is a Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett, and Co. with nice bone handles. I understand Schrade, Camillus, and /or New York Knife made most of these. Is it possible to determine the manufacturer of these by the shield, and the observation that the three blades each use a different pull? The spear master has a match strike, the sheepsfoot has the short D shaped nail nick, and the skinner has a long pull.
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by peanut740 »

Looks like New York Knife.Fine knife OC. ::tu::
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KAW
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by KAW »

Sweet lookin' cattle knife OC... that one has it all going for it... nice jigged bone... luv the blade combination in such great shape and with those different pulls!... ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: 8)
'til later....
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stockman
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by stockman »

Fine old cattle knife with nice old NYK bone.

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tongueriver
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by tongueriver »

That is a looker, Jim; I don't know the answers to your questions except that I am pretty sure there are no Schrade CutCo genes in that one. And I think it dates to before 1930 (say).
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tongueriver
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by tongueriver »

LongBlade wrote:.. maybe they were for fancy cowboys who drive a Cadillac :lol: :lol: .... .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hQibx6FDRU
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1fartsmella
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by 1fartsmella »

OLDE CUTLER wrote:My nephew dropped off this cattle knife to have a little work done on it. It is a Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett, and Co. with nice bone handles. I understand Schrade, Camillus, and /or New York Knife made most of these. Is it possible to determine the manufacturer of these by the shield, and the observation that the three blades each use a different pull? The spear master has a match strike, the sheepsfoot has the short D shaped nail nick, and the skinner has a long pull.
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OC, I agree with Roger. This HSB has all the DNA of a New York Knife Co cattle knife. The first pic is a lo-res scan of an old ebay auction photo from 2005. An etched NYK cattle knife. I had to keep a copy of this "Grail" knife that went for a lot of money back in 2005. The second pic is a copy from a 1908 catalog with the Cattle Knife Etched knife on the right. It came in Ebony and Stag (jigged bone). The Knife is 3 3/4" closed. I would guess that your knife was etched with the same etch when it was new. Check the wholesale price in 1908 was $15 bucks per dozen. Likely $2.00 each retail back then.
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JohnR
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by JohnR »

OC, that is a beautiful old Cattle knife.

Picked up this Wards with nice bone and an unusual shield, knife is all steel construction.
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by JohnR »

A New York Knife Co, used but not abused.
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

Sweet old cattle knives, they really get my motor running ::tu::
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

Hey folks lets see some more of those cattles that are out there ::tu::
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by gsmith7158 »

Here are acouple of new ones I just got. I do believe the Case will ride in the pocket some.
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KAW
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by KAW »

Greg... that's a really fine lookin' Empire you have there... ::tu::
... the Case is not bad either... eventho its not a brand I collect... they're still nice to look at... :)
'til later....
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by gsmith7158 »

KAW wrote:Greg... that's a really fine lookin' Empire you have there... ::tu::
... the Case is not bad either... eventho its not a brand I collect... they're still nice to look at... :)
Thanks Ken! They are both fantastic knives. I was very happy to find the Empire.
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

What an excellent find that empire is Greg. The case is no slouch either.
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by gsmith7158 »

KnifeSlinger#81 wrote:What an excellent find that empire is Greg. The case is no slouch either.
Thanks Paul! :D
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by FRJ »

gsmith7158 wrote: I was very happy to find the Empire.
Yer killin me here! ::mdm::

That thing is just as good looking in this thread. ::woot::
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rugmar
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by rugmar »

Here is my only "cattle knife". I just found this one a week or two ago and couldn't resist it's charm. I love the blade that says for cutting flesh only. At first I thought maybe it said for cutting flush only but found out from this wonderful site that I was wrong.
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luckydog64
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by luckydog64 »

Nice knife Rugmar. Is that a Cattaraugus?
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by rugmar »

Yes a Cattaraugus. I should have said that in my reply. It says 32209C on back side of main blade.
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galvanic1882
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by galvanic1882 »

Catts usually have circle shields if the have a punch blade. Let’s see those blades???? ::shrug::
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rugmar
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by rugmar »

I am not at home right now but I will take a blades open picture and post it later. It does have a punch blade. It is slightly bent on the end but not broken.

I learned yesterday, from this great site no less, about the meaning of the round shield. Thanks for mentioning it again though. Galvanic1882, you have some of the most beautiful knives I have ever seen. What is the core of your collection?
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by rugmar »

Here’s one that I have now where you can tell it has a punch blade. I’ll do the blades open later.
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1fartsmella
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Re: Old Cattle Knives

Post by 1fartsmella »

This is an old Empire. Blades & back springs are dark. Has a few nicks in the cutting edge. But not bad for 100 years old.
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