PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

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!
User avatar
Lawrence
Posts: 512
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 6:53 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Lawrence »

A nice little Premier mop pen, model k243 Germany. Great snap, half stops, and the carbon blades have aged just right. cheers
Attachments
July 2015 007.JPG
July 2015 009.JPG
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

Nice one Lawrence! ::tu:: I have its twin somewhere - will have to dig it out and post its picture. Solid old knives, those Premiers. ::nod::

Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

Guess I need a visit to a psychiatrist - I'm getting a fetish for these old Premier Lifetime gunstock lock backs. Besides carrying one in my back pocket daily, gave one to each of my two sons, and still have these left ....... ::facepalm::

Ken
Attachments
image.jpeg
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
User avatar
Lawrence
Posts: 512
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 6:53 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Lawrence »

Wow Mumbley, that's a fine display indeed ::tu:: I haven't been able to hold that model in person, but it sure must feel like the real deal. Great to see a new post in this thread. cheers
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

Thanks Lawrence! These are a handful at 4-3/4 inches long, just perfect for back pocket carry. As you know Premier Lifetime knives were well made, quality knives. One thing I like about the German-made Premiers is the quality of the jigged bone used for handles. Here's a better picture of one of those gunstocks, showing the worm-groove bone.

Ken
Premier Lifetime H53, gunstock lockback
Premier Lifetime H53, gunstock lockback
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

Premier Lifetime K78 scout pattern, excellent condition. Jigged worm-groove bone handles. Made in Germany.

Ken
Attachments
Premier Lifetime K78, mark side
Premier Lifetime K78, mark side
Premier Lifetime K78, mark side blades open
Premier Lifetime K78, mark side blades open
Premier Lifetime K78, pile side blades open
Premier Lifetime K78, pile side blades open
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Miller Bro's »

Great looking knives Ken!
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

Thanks Dimitri. For some reason I've taken a shine to the Premier Lifetime brand even though I don't usually accumulate non-U.S. made knives. It's all Josh's (junebug's) fault! He's an enabler. ::dang:: :mrgreen:

Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
Mr. Chips
Posts: 119
Joined: Thu Jul 17, 2014 2:34 am

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mr. Chips »

I remember buying my first decent pocket knife in about 1960. It was (I think) a K5 Premier Lifetime, which was a Muskrat pattern and I paid 5.00 for it in a little hardware store on Commerial drive in Vancouver BC.

Premiers were pretty common in Canada, much more so than many of the US brands.

Anyway, with that knife I whittled my first wooden chain and lots of other stuff. I finally traded it (a mistake) for a Premier Lifetime Stockman several years later. The stockman was with me until the pivot pin broke while splitting a piece of 2x4 on a construction job in Southern Saskatchewan in 1968.
That day after work I went into town and bought a Boker Stockman.

The German Priemiers are good knives. I have picked up a few more over the years and some are in use as loaners in my whittlin' classes.

I find it surprising that this thread says they went out of business in 1955. I saw a lot of them for sale in stores in Canada long after that. I saw some late into the 60s that were no longer being made in Germany and they did not measure up at all.

These days when I get the chance I will snap them up.
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

The source for 1921 - 1955 being the years of operation for Premier is Goins Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings. It is my understanding that in some cases where documentation for dates was not available, Goins used his best estimate based on what information was available, so the dates given may be off by a few years.

Reading through some of the previous posts I see a promise I made to Lawrence regarding posting a picture of my twin to his Premier pearl pen. Here it is, along with a few other Premiers I have accumulated. ::super_happy::

Ken
Attachments
IMG_20150530_125814.jpg
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

Since my last post in this thread I've picked up a couple more Premiers. Here's the most recent additions. A German made jack with half stop and ebony handles, a German made jigged bone stockman, and a stockman with composition handles stamped Prov. Cut. Co., Prov. R.I. USA on the master blade mark side. Lawrence posted one like it in this thread a while back.

Ken
Premier Lifetime K-76 ebony jack
Premier Lifetime K-76 ebony jack
Premier Lifetime K-55 jigged bone stockman
Premier Lifetime K-55 jigged bone stockman
Premier Lifetime K-405 stockman
Premier Lifetime K-405 stockman
Premier Lifetime K-405 stockman, mark side
Premier Lifetime K-405 stockman, mark side
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
User avatar
RalphAlsip
Posts: 2320
Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2014 9:01 pm
Location: Southern Illinois

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by RalphAlsip »

Ken, they're all very nice, but I especially like the K-55 stockman with its (turkish?) clip blade. ::tu::
User avatar
jerryd6818
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 39165
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:23 am
Location: The middle of the top of a bastion of Liberalism.

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by jerryd6818 »

One. Only one. As Ken says, Josh made me do it. Actually it's in keeping with my accumulation philosophy of "One of Everything".
Attachments
Premier Lifetime Jack - Open Mark.JPG
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

Texasjerry, I'm not sure if it's a Turkish clip, but it's for sure a clip! :lol: Turkish is as good a name as any. That's the second K-55 pattern I have now. Didn't remember until I got it that I already had one. (I seem to do that often). ::facepalm:: The other is in the post above it, third from the left in the picture.

JerryD, does your Premier jack have a pattern number on it? I've not seen that pattern before. Guess I'm not looking hard enough!

Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
User avatar
WelderBob
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 1104
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:49 am
Location: missouri ozarks

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by WelderBob »

Ken, I agree these H53 gunstocks are nice knives. I picked up another this week and noticed a size difference of the shields.
Knives are identical with the exception of the bone color, different date of manufacture maybe ?
Attachments
IMG_5921.JPG
IMG_5922.JPG
Bob

"To Ride, Shoot Straight, And Speak The Truth" - Jeff Cooper
User avatar
jerryd6818
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 39165
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:23 am
Location: The middle of the top of a bastion of Liberalism.

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by jerryd6818 »

Mumbleypeg wrote: JerryD, does your Premier jack have a pattern number on it? I've not seen that pattern before. Guess I'm not looking hard enough!

Ken
Ken, I apologize for taking so long to answer your question.

Yes, it's a K 66.
Attachments
DSC08402.JPG
DSC08401.JPG
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

WelderBob wrote:Ken, I agree these H53 gunstocks are nice knives. I picked up another this week and noticed a size difference of the shields.
Knives are identical with the exception of the bone color, different date of manufacture maybe ?
Maybe - who knows? Certainly not me. Those are a nice pair. I sure do like this knife! ::tu:: Perfect for back pocket carry. That one you have is the first I've seen with the lighter colored bone, but it has the same worm-groove jigging.

JerryD thanks. That helps me with another clue, what to look for.

Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
kootenay joe
Posts: 13373
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:36 pm
Location: West Kootenays, B.C.

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by kootenay joe »

I have one of the Premier Lifetime jigged bone Gunstock lockbacks. Mine is 4 5/8" with "H 53/Germany" on back tang.
No bail on mine. Excellent condition but it does have slight side to side blade play. Any blade play on the other Gunstock lockbacks posted here ?
kj
edit to add pictures
Attachments
Picture 010.jpg
Picture 011.jpg
Picture 012.jpg
Picture 013.jpg
Sheffieldguy
Posts: 96
Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2017 3:15 pm
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Contact:

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Sheffieldguy »

Two Premiers that belonged to my Dad. A s
Premier stockman and peanut.
Premier stockman and peanut.
mall french ivory stockman (K80) and a cracked ice peanut (K68?).
kootenay joe
Posts: 13373
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:36 pm
Location: West Kootenays, B.C.

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by kootenay joe »

The Premier knives were imported into eastern Canada. I saw them in my local hardware store from late 1950's and into 1960's.
I believe they were sold in the New England States, but were they also sold in other areas of USA ?
kj
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

Bob, those are both in really great condition. ::tu:: I haven't seen the K80 stockman with punch previously. I have a peanut with similar cracked ice handles but it's a darker yellow. Yours is nicer IMHO - looks more like ice.

Roland, I don't know where Premiers were distributed in the U.S. I don't recall ever seeing one before seeing them here on AAPK. Goins says they were headquartered in New York City and had offices in Toronto also. Josh (Junebug) was finding a lot of them somewhere. He lives in California so maybe they were sold there. ::shrug::

Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

My latest acquisition. First and only Premier Lifetime whittler I've seen, so I NEEDED it! :lol: It's not a true whittler though - no spacer between the two backsprings. It has a catch bit between the two secondary blades. And like many Premier Lifetime knives it has nice sunk joints construction. ::super_happy::

Ken
Premier Lifetime 93K, jigged bone handles
Premier Lifetime 93K, jigged bone handles
Premier Lifetime 93K, mark side
Premier Lifetime 93K, mark side
Premier Lifetime 93K, pile side
Premier Lifetime 93K, pile side
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
kootenay joe
Posts: 13373
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:36 pm
Location: West Kootenays, B.C.

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by kootenay joe »

There does not have to have a divider between the springs to be a Whittler. Some whittlers have tapered springs, or catch bits.
I would like to see a picture of spine with all blades open.
One of the first knives i bought myself at about age 11 is a Premier.
kj
User avatar
Mumbleypeg
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 13409
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 1:28 am
Location: Republic of Texas

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by Mumbleypeg »

Roland, you're right, it is a whittler with a catch bit. Guess I was thinking of three backsprings when I wrote it's not a true whittler. ::facepalm:: Anyway here's the pictures you asked for. You can see the brass catch bit spacer which separates the secondary blades. The catch bit sits atop the springs, but it doesn't separate the springs.

Ken
Attachments
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.

If your religion requires that you hate someone, you need a new religion.

When the people fear their government, that is tyranny. When government fears the people, that is freedom.

https://www.akti.org/
kootenay joe
Posts: 13373
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:36 pm
Location: West Kootenays, B.C.

Re: PREMIER CUTLERY CO. 1921-1955

Post by kootenay joe »

Thanks Ken. To me that looks to be the simplest way to construct a whittler & 'simple' is good.
kj
Post Reply

Return to “Knife Lore - Traditional Knives From the Old Days”