Who Makes This Knife ??

[Jporter1974]

I've gone and done it again,I've spent money on a knife and I don't even know who made it. I seen the swell center and the long pull, then I asked the guy who made it and he didn't know, but could partially read the tang stamping. Needless to say, I bought the knife and its in the mail. I spent several hours hours last night trying to compare the pull on the blade to other similar knives and I am just nowhere near able to get anywhere on the tang stamp. I'm just not knowledgeable enough on the older knives.

[Doc B]

I know nothing about the knife...except I too, think it looks cool! Looks like a Southington Knife Co knife from Connecticut. I found another picture, where the word South, is on the tang, above the Ington. Seems the company was in business from 1867-1905.
More knowledgeable people will certainly come along.

[kootenay joe]

The pattern is a Swell Center Folding Hunter and your knife is less worn than many of them. Southington Cut Co is my best guess too.
kj

[btrwtr]

Good looking knife. To echo Doc B and KJ, Southington.

[kootenay joe]

Confirmed by Wayne means Southington is what it is. Southington is a somewhat uncommonly seen marking and quite collectible. And the Swell Center Folding Hunter is a very collectible pattern. I think it is worth at least $100, possibly more.
kj

[Jporter1974]

Thanks for the help on this one.. I definitely needed it. I have been trying to look for old patterns and uncommon cutlery companies, as we all probably do. There is so much to be learned on these old companies and the cutlers who worked there, as well as the future companies they were connected to. This is a big and solid old knife with no wobble what so ever and a big snap. ~Jon

[kootenay joe]

Jon one of the best things about knife collecting is that the body of knowledge encompassed is so huge no one ever learns but a fraction of it. So it never gets boring because a never before seen knife or brand always comes along. Knife forums like AAPK allow each of us to share our little bit of info. and learn from the other members.
So don't feel badly about only knowing a little because this is all any of us knows.
kj

[LongBlade]

Really nice knife and good score Jon ... Southington is definitely one of the good old CT companies!! Always a bonus to find an old Hunter in good condition too... and KJ is right - there is always something new to learn about some aspect of knives - in my opinion no matter how long you’ve been doing it... and that is what keeps it interesting (which applies to the many hobbies, art, etc - for me I’ve been heavily involved in fly fishing for almost 40 years and even teach it at different venues yet I still am always learning something new )...