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Keen Kutter

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2021 1:50 pm
by tallguy606
Picked up a nice old Keen Kutter stockman from a pawnshop for $12. Tang stamp is worn, but definitely says E. C. Simmons. 3433 followed by a triangle shaped mark on the back side. 3 7/8 closed. Three blades, large clip, smaller clip, and pen on the other end. Shield inlay in brown jigged bone handle. Blades have some sharpening loss but are tight with good snap. What can somebody tell me about this knife? Thanks

Re: Keen Kutter

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2021 2:17 pm
by dlr110
Pictures, pictures, please.

Re: Keen Kutter

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2021 4:06 pm
by danno50
As David said, pictures please. The information below is from Alvin Sellens "Keen Kutter Pocket Knives". As you can see, your knife, being 3 7/8" in length, was made sometime between 1935 and 1940 (1940 being when Shapleigh bought out Simmons). We really like to see pictures. Also, there is a Keen Kutter thread in the brand specific area of the forum. It would be nice to see your knife in there as well.
RIMG2548.JPG

Re: Keen Kutter

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2021 7:16 pm
by tallguy606
The blades on mine are slightly different than the illustration. I am not able to post pictures, however, I have two good pictures in my email. If someone would help me, I could email you my pictures, and you could post them. PM me with your email if you would help me with this. Thanks.

Re: Keen Kutter

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 1:41 pm
by danno50
Here are the pictures of tallguy's knife.
IMG_5561.jpg
IMG_5563.jpg

Re: Keen Kutter

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 1:55 pm
by danno50
The pictures below are from a 1939 catalog reprint.
RIMG2549.JPG
RIMG2550.JPG
tallguy606, your knife appears to be a 3433 1/4. Sellens lists it as being made from 1914 through to 1942 at 4" and from 1939 to 1942 at 3 7/8". Are you sure about the length, as your knife appears to me to be earlier than 1939?

Re: Keen Kutter

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 3:15 pm
by tallguy606
I measured it twice with a tape measure - once with the tab hooked over one end, and once laying it along the tape. Both look like 3 7/8 to me. And I wonder why the tang number on mine does not start with K? The ad calls one blade a "spey" but it is not shaped like a modern Case spey.

Re: Keen Kutter

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 3:31 pm
by danno50
Most of the stamped pattern numbers on Keen Kutters do not start with the K. If the stamped pattern number is prefixed with a K, it is an indication that the knife was made by Camillus. The blades on your knife have been sharpened down quite a bit and this sharpening has reprofiled the spey blade. In terms of the length discrepancy, Sellens is not infallible. There are gaps of two to five years between catalogs put out by Simmons. It is likely that there were pattern variations that never made it into the catalogs.

Re: Keen Kutter

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 1:54 am
by 1967redrider
Definitely a spey and not a sheepfoot. ::nod:: ::tu::

Re: Keen Kutter

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 3:11 pm
by terryl308
Nice old knife! I love the bone handle. If only it could talk. ::tu::

Re: Keen Kutter

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 3:29 pm
by msteele6
Here is my K3433, it's a Camillus made knife, ears on wedge, no E.C. Simmons which dates it to c. 1940, pattern number stamped on back K3433, length 3 7/8". Your knife appears to be an earlier, Winchester (Walden) made knife.