All About Pocket Knives

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT VOOS (ARROW) KNIVES?
I HAVE A BAREHEAD VOOS ARROW SWELL END JACK LISTED. IT'S VERY OLD, BUT I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT.
IT MAY BE FROM THE 1930'S. I'VE HAD IT FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

Voos USA c.1919-1981. "An arrow through the name. A trademark used by New Haven Hardware Specialty Company".

FYI: Ernest Voos c 1879-1919. Ernest Voos was an immigrant from Germany. He opened a shop in New Haven, Connecticut making scissors, shears, knives, and razors. They eventually grew to be quite an enterprise, becoming the New Haven Hardware Specialty Company in 1919.

Also: Voos Stainless c 1924-1981. This marking was the trademark of the New Haven Hardware Specialty Company, 161-165 Porter Street, New Haven Connecticut. They were originated in 1879 when Ernest Voos opened a shop in New Haven and began making pocket knives.

The New Haven Hardware Company was incorporated in 1919 and took over Voos' business. On November 5, 1925, they suffered a $12,000 loss when a fire broke out in their plant. They were well insured and continued business as usual.

(All information from Goins).

_________
Mike

If you could post a picture of your knife, casejene, that would be very helpful and enjoyable to see.

Here is a Voos hawkbill I have. 3 15/16" closed. Steel liners, pins, and bolsters.
A strong and well made knife.

FRJ wrote:If you could post a picture of your knife, casejene, that would be very helpful and enjoyable to see.

I'm fairly certain this is it.https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/ca ... order=DESC

__________
Mike

I just picked up this Voos folder, it has a very nice quality feel to it. I had no knowledge of Voos, so I went through some AAPK post and Voila' !
Blades are tight with snap.... after all these years.
I like this knife very much and I am planning on adding to my EDC as it has been used and "broken in". There is some paint on the bone scales.... maybe some acetone will take that off I don't want to harm the bone .... any advice?

I would not use acetone.
I would use a dab of mineral oil and a sharpened to a point stick of some kind.
Regular toothpicks are too soft but if that's all ya got then I'd go with that.

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun Jun 09, 2024 12:33 am I don't want to harm the bone .... any advice?

Nice old knife.

FRJ wrote: ↑Thu Aug 02, 2018 3:15 pm If you could post a picture of your knife, casejene, that would be very helpful and enjoyable to see.

Here is a Voos hawkbill I have. 3 15/16" closed. Steel liners, pins, and bolsters.
A strong and well made knife.

Thanks Joe Also.... Your Voos hawkbill is really a great piece, very nice

Joe, That Hawk is talking to me. He's well qualified to join my little club anytime. J.O'.

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun Jun 09, 2024 12:33 am I.....

GSPTOPDOG, that is a GORGEOUS pocket knife!

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sun Jun 09, 2024 1:28 pm Joe, That Hawk is talking to me. He's well qualified to join my little club anytime. J.O'.

What a nice group of knives, J.O'.
A nice display all around; I love that dark Oak wall cabinet.

Thanks. It's a bulletin case from a church, C.1880's. I put a dark stained plywood false back in it to hold the knives. Beautiful, quarter-sawn oak.
All KA-BARs inside. Guess you're not taking my bait on the Voos Hawk.
(Sorry to barge in on the thread.) J.O'.

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Sun Jun 09, 2024 2:15 pm

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun Jun 09, 2024 12:33 am I.....

GSPTOPDOG, that is a GORGEOUS pocket knife!

Thanks Skip!

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sun Jun 09, 2024 1:28 pm Joe, That Hawk is talking to me. He's well qualified to join my little club anytime. J.O'.

Thanks for making me feel bad with your beautiful knife displays ... My knives are all in shoeboxes .... Oh... the shame!

Ivoryman wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 1:09 am 20240609_180629.jpg20240609_180655.jpg

Ivoryman,
Congratulations, this knife is a real looker!
It looks as if it would be a comfortable EDC.
Treefarmer

Dog. I'm just lucky I have a small, extra room for my "cave". I really enjoy the displays, and Joan does too so, it works. John O'.

treefarmer wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 12:27 pm

Ivoryman wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 1:09 am 20240609_180629.jpg20240609_180655.jpg

Ivoryman,
Congratulations, this knife is a real looker!
It looks as if it would be a comfortable EDC.
Treefarmer

Thanks, you nailed it. Very comfy. And I noticed one time how similar it is to my fave Case pattern, the 35 1/2 two blade swell end jack, and one of my fave GEC patterns, the 15 boys knife. The pattern is almost exactly the same dimentions. The blade compliment spot on. I love them, especially the bare heads. Thanks bud.

Ivoryman wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 1:09 am 20240609_180629.jpg20240609_180655.jpg

Nice one I-man

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 12:32 pm Dog. I'm just lucky I have a small, extra room for my "cave". I really enjoy the displays, and Joan does too so, it works. John O'.

Nice work! Those displays look great If you are really going to enjoy a collection, I think at least a part of it should shown and displayed. I have re-arranged my displays over the years, but in the recent past I have put a lot of them away... I think you have inspired me to "bust some of 'em out again" Thanks

You do that. Bet you'll be happy.

Ivoryman wrote: ↑Mon Jun 10, 2024 1:09 am 20240609_180629.jpg20240609_180655.jpg

My name is Dan Wyatt and I am 76 and a former shop teacher who likes to collect, restore, and use vintage knives. I try to focus my collection to vintage knives made in the late 1800s and up to WWII, I have a small collection of bare head knives that are made in the USA and just recently acquired a Voos bare head identical to yours. Is there anyway to tell when these were made? Thanks ........

Dan, welcome to AAPK.
Your post above is directed to Ivoryman. Sadly, he passed away recently. Hopefully someone else will be able to help answer your question.

Philco,

I am sorry to hear that the gentleman who I sent the message to passed away. I was wanting to know about manufacturing dates on his Voos knife as show below. It is identical to my Voos.

I will re-ask the question of anyone that may know and here is my initial question: "My name is Dan Wyatt and I am 76 and a former shop teacher who likes to collect, restore, and use vintage knives. I try to focus my collection to vintage knives made in the late 1800s and up to WWII, I have a small collection of bare head knives that are made in the USA and just recently acquired a Voos bare head identical to yours. Is there anyway to tell when these were made? Thanks"

Philco.....Thank you for your message and thank you for witnessing about our Lord and Savior. ~ Dan Wyatt
Romans 8-28

Duplicate

Dan, Welcome to the site.
Voos was in business from 1919-1981 as the New England Specialty Hardware Co, a manufacturer of knives and kitchen products. Before that Ernst Voos was a German immigrant cutler who had a small shop in New Haven, Connecticut from 1879-1919. There are a couple Voos tang stamps. I'm not sure but I believe the slanted letters with the arrow, like yours, may be the last one but I don't know the dates. I think the one below may be a bit older. Some Voos knives are said to have been made by Empire in Winstead, CT. Good luck with yours. J.O'.