Homage to Traditional Pen 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: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Here's another George Wostenholm IXL Cutlery (1850-1890) - 3 & 3/4" so on the larger size. Nice old pocket worn stag... Master blade stamped IXL Cutlery and pen blade stamped "Celebrated" (somewhat hidden under bolster) which was often done on these earlier era Wostenholm knives... Thanks for looking...
Closed Mark Side DSCN2581.JPG
Closed Pile Side DSCN2566.JPG
Blades Open DSCN2608.JPG
Tang Stamp - Master DSCN2583.JPG
Tang Stamp - Pen DSCN2559.JPG
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Lee
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

That is one nice old knife!!
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FRJ
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by FRJ »

I've been missing out. I haven't checked this thread recently.
Beautiful little double ended quill knife, Lee.
Also, a very cool large, equal end pen.
Two ends of the spectrum and beauties in every way. ::tu::
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LongBlade
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Thanks Olde Cutler and Joe ::tu:: ::tu:: .....
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

A couple of pens I have acquired recently.
Cattaraugus 3 1/2" bone handled swell center 22979
Robeson 2 3/4" 82264. When I got this Robeson, both handles were broken and it had the smaller pen blade broken. Rehandled in walnut.
IMG_2133.JPG
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LongBlade
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Nice old pen knives Olde Cutler ::tu:: ::tu:: ...
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TheMadHungarian
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by TheMadHungarian »

Penknives represent the larger part of my traditional collection. Here’s one of my favorites. A 1920s pre-Eisenhower case penknife
88ECAE94-074F-4FFA-85FA-E2247FB96EBA.jpeg
EC54F703-A208-420B-945E-4BDFC0D0FC51.jpeg
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LongBlade
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Nice old Case Ted ::tu:: ... Would that be considered green bone? Certainly has that hue to me...
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by stockman »

Pretty Case Tested little knife.

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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

I just finished a rehandle on this Camillus 48 pen from yellow plastic advertiser to ironwood.
IMG_2188.JPG
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by royal0014 »

OLDE CUTLER wrote:I just finished a rehandle on this Camillus 48 pen from yellow plastic advertiser to ironwood.
I like it! Good job . . . :)
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by doglegg »

royal0014 wrote:
OLDE CUTLER wrote:I just finished a rehandle on this Camillus 48 pen from yellow plastic advertiser to ironwood.
I like it! Good job . . . :)
I agree, excellent work.
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KAW
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by KAW »

WOW!!!... just the kind of thread I like... pen kinves are one of my favorites... glad it got bumped up as I had missed this one.

There's a few I have posted to other posts... but should belong here too. Can't do them all now as I have to head off to work... but will start with one of my earlier acquisitions & still one of my favorites and smallest at 2½"...

a Schrade Cutlery Co. Equal End,Senator; №7933T identified from the 1932 catalog...
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'til later....
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by Duffer »

Ken, wonderful Schrade CC EE tip bolster Senator Pen Knife!

Here are a couple of celluloid handled Schrade Cut Co Senator pen folders 3 & 5/16 inches closed. These are just wonderful little knives with sunken joints—feels like a well used bar of soap in hand. These are super clean with not a hint or sign of any corrosion or gassing out indicators yet :shock: I found these in the Schrade 1928 catalog E on page #60. Pattern No. SS7784ACB. I may have posted the psychedelic blue (that’s what I call it) earlier in this thread can’t remember. Charlie (upnorth) gifted me the copper canyon handles one at the recent OKCA show. Thanks Charlie!!
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Lloyd
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FRJ
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by FRJ »

Lloyd, those are indeed wonderful little knives. ::tu::
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LongBlade
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Olde Cutler - Nice job rehandling that knife ::tu:: ...

Ken - Sweet old Schrade - looks lightly used too ::tu:: ...

Lloyd - Those are 2 sweet Schrades as well - that copper canyon just lights up ::tu:: ::tu:: ... and that blue psychedelic one is not too shabby either :lol: ::tu:: .... Sunken joints indeed have that special appeal both in hand and by eye !!!
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LongBlade
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

One of the pen knife patterns not yet posted to this thread are tuxedo knives - those eloquent Ladies' or Gentlemen's knives - another recent thread started by FRJ (Joe) linked below has some good examples by a few members and info that I summarized from a few sources for those interested - viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56964

Here's my lttile group from old CT makers to add to this thread for reference (starting at top):
Northfield Knife Co (jigged bone)
Southington Cut Co (ivory)
H&B (tortoise shell)
Union Knife Co Naugatuck (MOP)
Miller Bros (MOP - and some lost its lustre)
Empire Knife Co (MOP - and some of the most fiery MOP I own ::nod:: - funny but the center pin looks like there is a hole around it but in fact the pin was hammered on an angle and didn't catch the light)
Final - DSCN4261.JPG
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by Duffer »

Thanks Lee for your kind remarks on my two Schrade Celluloid pen knives!

You have a wonderful assortment of beautiful and nice condition tuxedos ::tu:: Those are some premier Cutlery Companies you have examples from ::nod:: Wouldn’t these tuxedos be described as a Swell Center Ballon Pen Folder? I don’t have any but I would like to find one nice example!
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by peanut740 »

Lloyd,2 nice Schrades.Lee that is quite a lineup! ::tu::
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LongBlade
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Thanks Lloyd and Roger ::tu:: ::tu:: ...

Lloyd - I think they also can be considered swell-center balloon pen knives but note not all had balloon bolsters even in my group - the Northfield and Union Knife Co Naugatuck had pointy and pinched bolsters, respectively, so to cover them all the other name used for these small slim pens are Tuxedos... Honestly I think it is just a matter of knife terminology which can be confusing and redundant at times :D ...
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by Duffer »

Good explanation Lee ::tu:: I should have looked closer of course you are right. I like the name tuxedo and won’t forget to now keep an eye open for a nice example. Again, Lee your tuxedos are like the varsity team of makers!

Thanks Roger appreciate your comment!
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by KAW »

Lloyd... Those are an exquisite pair Schrade pen knives!!! ::woot:: 8) ::tu::
I can just drool all day long over those celluloid handles. ::drool:: Despite all the warnings, I still find them to be the most attractive looking knives. Excuse me a moment as I wipe the screen off with a towel... Okay now I can proceed...
Does the SS stamped on the tang mean those are stainless steel blades?
Ken - Sweet old Schrade - looks lightly used too ::tu:: ...
Lee... I do believe it was not used and has its original factory edge. Just has some patina due to age.
... and that is one fine grouping of tuxedos you got there. ::tu::
At the Lehigh Valley Knife Show in Easton, Pennsylvania a couple weekends ago, there was a dealer that had a Holley tuxedo with tortoise shell handles that he was asking $100. It was a nice shape although had worn blades, but I felt at the time the price was a little high so I walked away, but now I'm beginning to regret that decision. ::dang::

... anyway here's my contribution of the Hudson Valley region of New York knife manufacturers' examples of Pen Knives...

First example is a Napanoch jigged bone... 2-11/16"...
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Next is a 2-3/4" Walden Knife Company half congress with MoP handles.
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... and another Walden... a salesman sample... 2-3/4" sleeve board with jigged bone... "0751F" etched on the pile side of the master blade... the other blade is a nail file...
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... and last but not least an Ulster tuxedo with MoP handles (again) ::ds::
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Oh... of course there's my avatar... a Schrade Cutlery Co. Slim Senator; №7784KT @ 3-5/16” with Butter & Molasses celluloid handles. (I guess I should include a full size picture in my gallery for posting. ::doh:: )
'til later....
Ken

10031 means.... never having a dull moment. 8)
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LongBlade
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Thanks Ken ::tu:: ..

Ken - Superb additions to the thread ::tu:: ::tu:: ... MOP is always nice but I really find jigged bone appealing on those small knives ::nod::.. Actually I think that Ulster Tuxedo should be your avatar 8) ::tu::
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by KAW »

Thanks Lee... While the Ulster tuxedo does tickle my fancy... I have yet to come across anything that surpasses a Schrade Cutlery Butter & Molasses celluloid handled knife. ::groove::

I had forgotten to include one of my more unusual pen knife...
a Electric Cutlery Co., Walden, NY (a New York Knife Co. brand) @ 3-5/16" with large flat candy-striped celluloid handles.
Altho made between 1913 - 31, it was never carried or used and retains it factory edge, but does have some "age" spots on the blades. Still don't know what the name of this style of knife is called?
10159 10158 10157
10154 10155 10156
'til later....
Ken

10031 means.... never having a dull moment. 8)
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Re: Homage to Traditional Pen Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Nice Electric Cut Walden Ken - another cool addition 8) ::tu:: ::tu:: ... I would call it an oval or equal-end pen knife... It does have liners so not a skeleton knife and actually with celluloid it probably was difficult to make a skeleton pattern with no liners... BTW - Keep an eye on those celluloid covers for any signs of outgassing which I hope for your sake and collection never occurs ::tu:: ...
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