Boys Knives Through the Years

[wlf]

I got cheated,they charged me 4 cents for one.

Nice knives fellas.

[peanut740]

Here's a 1900 ad that said they were 40 cents a dozen.

[peanut740]

Then they had the fancy boys knives with 2 blades and chain.

[LongBlade]

Thanks for sharing those catalog cuts Roger ... Now that fancier 2 blade version is getting up there in price - 25 cents for one (vs 3 1/2 cent on the other), 5 for $1 and 12 for $2.25 and pre-postage paid too - I'll take a dozen - do they take a PayPal or a check?

Speaking of hardware store distributors - Here's a Shapleigh Hardware Co – St Louis that was made by Schrade with their patented folder liner & spring that I think Glen showed on another knife but can't remember the thread . In the last photo you can see how the liner was folded with spring inside - same Boys Knife Joe showed in his post but somehow this retained the ink on the wood handle over the years - "Shapleigh / Every Boy / Guaranteed" – 3 & 1/8” closed....

[ludwig26]

I think these are all considered boys knives. Sorry for the lack of photography skills.
Kerry

[philco]

Kerry I think that's an excellent photo.

Nice bunch of boys knives too.

[ludwig26]

Kerry I think that's an excellent photo.

Nice bunch of boys knives too.

Thanks Philco, I know outside is best but it seems if I'm home when it's daylight there's something
Else that needs doing.
Kerry

[LongBlade]

Good looking knives and examples of Boys Knives Kerry .... I think the photo is good as well and how you used the chain which leads your eye around the knives ... I see a few Case knives on the bottom - What is the stamp on the first knife with fancy metal handles? I see the 2nd one is a Holley - Nice!!!!

[ludwig26]

Good looking knives and examples of Boys Knives Kerry .... I think the photo is good as well and how you used the chain which leads your eye around the knives ... I see a few Case knives on the bottom - What is the stamp on the first knife with fancy metal handles? I see the 2nd one is a Holley - Nice!!!!

Thanks Longblade. The little metal knife is 2 11/16 closed and says Alfred & Son celebrated cutlery.
I take it that it's from Germany but it does not say.
Kerry

[tjmurphy]

Good looking knives and examples of Boys Knives Kerry .... I think the photo is good as well and how you used the chain which leads your eye around the knives ... I see a few Case knives on the bottom - What is the stamp on the first knife with fancy metal handles? I see the 2nd one is a Holley - Nice!!!!

Thanks Longblade. The little metal knife is 2 11/16 closed and says Alfred & Son celebrated cutlery.
I take it that it's from Germany but it does not say.
Kerry

"Celebrated" makes me think England.

[LongBlade]

I'm thinking Alfred & Son Celebrated Cutlery is German as I am finding no info in Sheffield books - the Germans were notorious for using British names (egs, Lord Bros, Wilson Bros etc) and used "celebrated" as well though have no examples off hand to note... there was a time that the Germans were trying to come off as Sheffield made knives to increase sales...

[Old Folder]

First and foremost, I would like to thank you both (Lee "Longblade" & Neal "Mason") for your well written and informative article "The Boys Knife" in the August 2017 issue of "Knife Magazine", I have read it twice and will use it often for future reference. I look forward to your future articles.
The below seven Boys Knives were published in the 1897 Sears, Roebuck Catalog. I have the 1993 reprint. The book is printed in entirety with 786 pages. Many knives within this catalog, but I am only posting the "Boys Knives"
I will post my own two favorite Boys Knives in a later post today here in "Knife Lore"

[LongBlade]

Thanks Old Folder for the nice comments on the article -much appreciated .... love those catalog cuts and thanks again for sharing them .... I look forward to seeing the Boys Knives when you get around to posting them!!

[Old Folder]

Here is my first (of two) of my personal best and oldest "Boys Knives"
H.M.S. Pinafore by Frary Cut. Co. (Blade is marked only with "FRARY"). Bridgeport Conn. 1876-1884.
Knife was obviously an EDC. Walk and Talk had departed long ago. Blade is also a little "wobbly" when fully opened. But...for approx 140 years old, not too bad.
Around 1880 Frary Cutlery Co. introduced cast-tin-alloy or pewter handled Boys Knives. Some were souvenirs of the new hit operetts by Gilbert and Sullivan, such as this H.M.S. Pinafore.

The three paragraphs below is the results of my research of my H.M.S. Pinafore knife and the Live-Theatre/Operatic-Play it represented.

"H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, which was the second-longest run of any musical theatre piece up to that time. H.M.S. Pinafore was Gilbert and Sullivan's fourth operatic collaboration and their first international sensation.
The story takes place aboard the ship HMS Pinafore. The captain's daughter, Josephine, is in love with a lower-class sailor, Ralph Rackstraw, although her father intends her to marry Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty. She abides by her father's wishes at first, but Sir Joseph's advocacy of the equality of humankind encourages Ralph and Josephine to overturn conventional social order. They declare their love for each other and eventually plan to elope. The captain discovers this plan, but, as in many of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, a surprise disclosure changes things dramatically near the end of the story.

H.M.S Pinafore became so popular that A children's version was produced in London. Between its two Christmas seasons in London, the children's production went on a provincial tour from 2 August 1880 to 11 December 1880.
The children's production earned enthusiastic reviews from not only the London critics but as well as the audiences, including children.

Pinafore songs and images have been used extensively in advertising. "Pinafore launched the first media blitz in the United States" Pinafore-themed merchandise includes trading cards that were created in the 1880s."

I would imagine that the Frary Knife may have been sold in the lobby after the shows playing? Being that a "Children's Production version" was produced, I can visually observe a young boy leaving the theatre with his parents and seeing a H.M.S. Pinafore pocket knife for sale in the lobby. What loving parent would not pay a few cents to make their child happy. I mean.....the parent(s) have already taken the child/children to the play, right.

The original 1879 H.M.S. Pinafore Poster pictured below (not mine) has a striking resemblance of "Ralph Rackstraw" close to identical on the knife.
The Gilbert and Sullivan opera is still performed internationally. It is currently being performed at the Avon Theatre in Ontario Canada.
My wife and I have never personally been to a live opera, but if H.M.S. Pinafore comes to So. California, we will surely go.
Perhaps "Case" or "Queen Cutlery" will have H.M.S. Pinafore pocket knives for sale in the lobby? (Maybe not)

[Old Folder]

My second (of two) personal best and oldest "Boys Knives" Is a "George Schrade" Presto Bridgeport Conn. Automatic (switchblade).
c1925-1945
I am not sure if this would fall under the classification of "Boys Knife"? Maybe Lee or Neal will jump in and set the record straight.
If it is a Boys Knife, I would imagine it would be for a "Older Boy"?
It looks like a Boys Knife, it's made like a Boys Knife, so it must be a Boys Knife?
I have read every Boys Knife posting I could find within aapk and have not seen another "Automatic" Boys Knife.
I have had this Schrade for many years. I think I purchased it at the Pomona Ca. Gun and Knife show in the late 80s.
This Schrade was obviously a EDC, it has been well maintained over the years. An integrated steel handle and bolster, steel liners and original bail. (no chain)
A very strong snap open and strong return click locking. The thumb lock is operational in the open and closed position.
The original owner took care of this knife and sharpened it often.
I am honored to be the current caretaker.

[LongBlade]

Thanks for posting those really nice knives Dan with that great info The Frary Pinafore is no doubt a classic Boys Knife and believe pre-dated my Frary "Our Boy" knife by a few years... the Boys switchblade is indeed an interesting question.... I am not sure of the correct answer but in my opinion not the classic old Boys Knives we know but indeed when these came around in the mid 1900s I am sure older boys no doubt used these as you note... classic metal shell handle and bail for these knives for sure including size but the "auto" aspect of these would indeed have been something any boy would be showing off in the school yard .... Nonetheless it would be interesting to determine how it was marketed... When one really starts to delve into Boys Knives there was lots of info and much more research one could find and interesting speculation... Most of the article by Neal and myself focused more on the earlier knives and indeed lots more research to do in those 1900 era knives

[Old Folder]

You're very welcome Lee.
Thank you for your response and information.
I shall post any future info on the Schrade Auto that I find.

[ratlesnake75]

Hey Guys, Posting my Frary 2-blade version for the knife lover.
Kindest Regards & Blessings to all,
Mark

[LongBlade]

Cool knife Mark .... if you look on the first page of this thread I posted the single blade version of that same knife ... We have close brothers bro

[ratlesnake75]

Hey Lee, Yes Sir I did notice that,,,You always have a keen eye for smashing antique knives...
Kindest Regards,
Mark

[LongBlade]

Thanks Mark for that nice compliment my friend ...

Cheers!
Lee

[espn77]

A Remington R1399. I've questioned some of my other Remington knives whether they were boys knives or not but I'm 92.4% certain this is.

[LongBlade]

Nice knife Keith ... So truth is Joe and I discussed this knife ... it actually is a spey/castrating knife - the blade tipped me off to it but Remington sold it is a spey jack to my knowledge.... maybe it was a castrating knife for boys to use based on size ...

[espn77]

See. I left the small percentage open for this reason.

[LongBlade]

See. I left the small percentage open for this reason.

... I was wondering how you came up with that percentage ....