Boys Knives Through the Years

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: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

For a company which made loads of shell handled knives like IK Co USA I believe they made a quality knife for the price - they were indeed popular boys knives in the 1900s at a very affordable price .... to me they were solid knives with good blades.... and guarantee boys were not the only ones to carry them :)

Here’s mine from my Boys Knife collection -
B29725DD-8F35-4D26-9AEF-CA69CDBB2480.jpeg
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woodwalker
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by woodwalker »

LongBlade wrote:For a company which made loads of shell handled knives like IK Co USA I believe they made a quality knife for the price - they were indeed popular boys knives in the 1900s at a very affordable price .... to me they were solid knives with good blades.... and guarantee boys were not the only ones to carry them :)

Here’s mine from my Boys Knife collection -

B29725DD-8F35-4D26-9AEF-CA69CDBB2480.jpeg
Very nice Lee!! And you have the chain! I like them too. When I was a kid that's about all I could afford was a imperial knife. Would mow a few yards and go buy me one. I guess that's why I like the old imperials to this day. Kinda takes me back to my childhood. I didn't even know about other brands like Case. Would of had to mow a lot of yards for one of those! :) I remember getting 2 dollars for a large yard. O the good Ole days!! Thanks for showing yours. It is very nice!!
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LongBlade
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Thanks woodwalker ::tu:: ::tu:: ..,

I should have noted I really liked yours on the previous page and BH’s as well ::tu:: ... your memories as a young kid mowing lawns and going to buy one is why condition of these IK Co knives almost becomes secondary - the memories are priceless - while that knife may not have been yours somebody had a deep historical connection and memory to it - maybe even their first knife and they used & sharpened it for years - maybe even into adulthood - the stories knives have embedded in them from their past we may never know but it is what makes those HOKs great in my opinion and not always their condition ::handshake::
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woodwalker
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by woodwalker »

LongBlade wrote:Thanks woodwalker ::tu:: ::tu:: ..,

I should have noted I really liked yours on the previous page and BH’s as well ::tu:: ... your memories as a young kid mowing lawns and going to buy one is why condition of these IK Co knives almost becomes secondary - the memories are priceless - while that knife may not have been yours somebody had a deep historical connection and memory to it - maybe even their first knife and they used & sharpened it for years - maybe even into adulthood - the stories knives have embedded in them from their past we may never know but it is what makes those HOKs great in my opinion and not always their condition ::handshake::
Well said Lee, well said!! :D
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by Miller Bro's »

Nice ones guys ::tu::

Here's another one I have.....
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LongBlade
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Nice Ulster Dimitri ::tu:: .. love those classic single blade boys knives ::nod:: ... in fact that pattern is my EDC - it is an easy carry & does all I need :D ...
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by Miller Bro's »

Thanks Lee :D

I have one of those Imperial shell handle boys knives, I'll have to dig it out ::hmm::
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woodwalker
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by woodwalker »

Miller Bro's wrote:Nice ones guys ::tu::

Here's another one I have.....
Nice Ulster!! I really like early Ulsters! Well made knives! :)
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by Miller Bro's »

woodwalker wrote:Nice Ulster!! I really like early Ulsters! Well made knives! :)
Thank you! :D
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LongBlade
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Another addition - a Robeson Boys Knife with bail that I purchased from KJ a few months back - thanks Roland ::handshake:: - Stamps indicate 1917-1939 time frame... Excellent++ condition with full blades - interestingly unlike many Robeson knives there was no model # as a pile side stamp - handles appear to be black composition with faux jigging but in feel they appear to be more rubber-like in texture... something abit different from my usual makers focus but in Boys Knives I sometimes step outside my box and for good reason ::nod:: ... (PS - Hope the photo does it justice as I had to use my iPhone camera and without the use of my light box - so abit of an experiment for my temporary situation so I can try and continue to contribute)...
Robeson Boys Knife Blades Open A1 8285.jpg
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woodwalker
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by woodwalker »

LongBlade wrote:Another addition - a Robeson Boys Knife with bail that I purchased from KJ a few months back - thanks Roland ::handshake:: - Stamps indicate 1917-1939 time frame... Excellent++ condition with full blades - interestingly like many Robeson knives there was no model # as a pile side stamp - handles appear to be black composition with faux jigging but in feel they appear to be more rubber-like in texture... something abit different from my usual makers focus but in Boys Knives I sometimes step outside my box and for good reason ::nod:: ... (PS - Hope the photo does it justice as I had to use my iPhone camera and without the use of my light box - so abit of an experiment for my temporary situation so I can try and continue to contribute)...

Robeson Boys Knife Blades Open A1 8285.jpg
Very nice Lee!! A good Ole Robeson!! Congratts! :)
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LongBlade
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Thanks woodwalker ::tu:: ::tu:: ....
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by wlf »

Great boys knife Lee. Beauty
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]

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LongBlade
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

wlf wrote:Great boys knife Lee. Beauty
Thanks Lyle ::tu:: ::tu:: ... as an aside Lyle - given your note about collecting FJs on another thread I should mention I don’t collect Boys Knives ::paranoid:: :D ... as you say I’m grin’in :wink:
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by ludwig26 »

Nice Ulster Miller Bro's. I bought one just like it from another member today but it is set up for a bail, however the bail itself is missing. Much like the Schrade I am posting a pick of. These are two I got in the last few days. A Schrade cut and a Shapleigh.
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by Miller Bro's »

Thanks Kerry, does yours look like this one? It has a removable bail.
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by ludwig26 »

Miller Bro's wrote:Thanks Kerry, does yours look like this one? It has a removable bail.
No Sir, It looks just like the other one you had posted. No shield and wood scales.
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LongBlade
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Nice knives Kerry and Dimitri ::tu:: ... Really like that Schrade with bone Kerry... and that Ulster is quite nice with a cool shield Dimitri - looks like black composition handles is my guess - too slick for ebony??....
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by ludwig26 »

LongBlade wrote:Nice knives Kerry and Dimitri ::tu:: ... Really like that Schrade with bone Kerry... and that Ulster is quite nice with a cool shield Dimitri - looks like black composition handles is my guess - too slick for ebony??....
Thanks Longblade, I wish the Schrade wasn't missing the bail. Other than that its nice and tight with good snap both ways and no chips or cracks.
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LongBlade
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Kerry - Still a nice knife - maybe you can find a bail for it sometime on a parts knife... Interestingly I have the same Shapleigh posted earlier somewhere in this thread - the folded liner in that Shapleigh was a Schrade patent design ::nod:: ...
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by ludwig26 »

LongBlade wrote:Kerry - Still a nice knife - maybe you can find a bail for it sometime on a parts knife... Interestingly I have the same Shapleigh posted earlier somewhere in this thread - the folded liner in that Shapleigh was a Schrade patent design ::nod:: ...
I picked up one of the George Schrades a few months back. Here’s a bad picture of it.
Kerry
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by ludwig26 »

Got this one on the cheap. I’ve got several but this one has what I assume to be the original chain.
Does anybody know how many finished these came in. I’ve got several black ones. This one appears to have never been painted.
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LongBlade
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Nice Kerry ::tu:: ::tu:: ... I'm not sure how many different styles of the handle were made in but I have seen it in the colors black and also green. I would assume they also sold it unfinished such as your knife but without it in hand I can't tell if the paint was just completely stripped from your handles and subsequently polished or cleaned. The chain looks original (certainly an old boys knife chain) - and in my opinion the chains can sometimes be harder to find than the knives as many were broken or lost...
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by ludwig26 »

Thanks Longblade. I would love to have a green one. These boys knives are addictive.
Your right about the chains. In 3 years I’ve only found 2 vintage chains.
Kerry
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

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DE OPPRESSO LIBER

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