Shapleigh H.D.W. Co. D-E Knife

[raincrowe]

A small two-bladed knife Approx. 3 1/4 closed; the knife has beautiful..Butter & Molasses handles... diamond shield marked D E
Both blades are stamped Shapleigh H.D.W. and diamond D-E.... the master blade stamped on back B645
I have looked at a lot of history for this company but the tang stamps for this knife I didn't find
I would like to know the approx. age of knife and what the pattern numbers mean??

[Rockingkj]

Dandy Shapleigh!!! Great condition and always liked Butter and Molasses scales. I’m sure you found that Shapleigh was the major competitor of Simmons Hardware (Keen Kutter) until Shapleigh bought out Keen Kutter in the 1960’s. You will find items marked “Shapleigh’s Keen Kutter” until Shapleigh went out of business. Shapleigh it’s self never made knives but rather contracted with major knife manufacturers like Schrade or premium German makers to produce the knives they sold. I would guess your knife as 1920’s-40’s.

[edge213]

Shapleigh bought Simmons 1939-1940.
Shapleigh was done about 1960.

[Mumbleypeg]

Might want to post it in the Shapleigh thread with others of its kin. viewtopic.php?t=50927&hilit=Shapleigh

Ken

[peanut740]

Made by Schrade. Most of the early Diamond Edge knives were made by Empire.

[ea42]

Raincrowe that's a Schrade Cut Co manufactured knife as Roger stated so it would date between 1904 and 1946 although according to the tang stamp I'm pretty sure it would be post 1920. Nice example!!

Eric

[raincrowe]

Dandy Shapleigh!!! Great condition and always liked Butter and Molasses scales. I’m sure you found that Shapleigh was the major competitor of Simmons Hardware (Keen Kutter) until Shapleigh bought out Keen Kutter in the 1960’s. You will find items marked “Shapleigh’s Keen Kutter” until Shapleigh went out of business. Shapleigh it’s self never made knives but rather contracted with major knife manufacturers like Schrade or premium German makers to produce the knives they sold. I would guess your knife as 1920’s-40’s.

Thanks for the great information

[raincrowe]

Shapleigh bought Simmons 1939-1940.
Shapleigh was done about 1960.

Thanks;.... I do have a 3 bladed scout knife; master blade stamp (Simmons Hdwe Co.) Scout marked on shield no bale
Was that a knock off for boy scout knives?...

[raincrowe]

Might want to post it in the Shapleigh thread with others of its kin. viewtopic.php?t=50927&hilit=Shapleigh

Ken

Thanks Ken....I did post the knife on Shapleigh it went to the back pg.13

[edge213]

Shapleigh bought Simmons 1939-1940.
Shapleigh was done about 1960.

Thanks;.... I do have a 3 bladed scout knife; master blade stamp (Simmons Hdwe Co.) Scout marked on shield no bale
Was that a knock off for boy scout knives?...

Sorry crowe, I can't answer this question.

[raincrowe]

Made by Schrade. Most of the early Diamond Edge knives were made by Empire.

Thanks Roger

[raincrowe]

Shapleigh bought Simmons 1939-1940.
Shapleigh was done about 1960.

Thanks;.... I do have a 3 bladed scout knife; master blade stamp (Simmons Hdwe Co.) Scout marked on shield no bale
Was that a knock off for boy scout knives?...

Sorry crowe, I can't answer this question.

I have some questions about this knife's stamp would there be a reason to counterfeit this knife?

[Mumbleypeg]

Highly unlikely. Not enough money in it for a counterfeiter to re-stamp it.

Ken

[Mumbleypeg]

Might want to post it in the Shapleigh thread with others of its kin. viewtopic.php?t=50927&hilit=Shapleigh

Ken

Thanks Ken....I did post the knife on Shapleigh it went to the back pg.13

I was hoping you would post the pictures there. Makes it easier for a future researcher if they’re all in one thread. BTW my AAPK settings bring up the most recent posts first, so in this case page 13 is the first page I see if I open that thread. It’s the front, not the back.

Ken

[edge213]

Thanks;.... I do have a 3 bladed scout knife; master blade stamp (Simmons Hdwe Co.) Scout marked on shield no bale
Was that a knock off for boy scout knives?...

Sorry crowe, I can't answer this question.

I have some questions about this knife's stamp would there be a reason to counterfeit this knife?

I agree with Ken, highly unlikely.

[ea42]

Shapleigh bought Simmons 1939-1940.
Shapleigh was done about 1960.

Thanks;.... I do have a 3 bladed scout knife; master blade stamp (Simmons Hdwe Co.) Scout marked on shield no bale
Was that a knock off for boy scout knives?...

The Simmons Hdw. line of knives was a second tier line, a step down from their Keen Kutter line. They came out in 1935 and were made 'till the very early forties. Most of those Scouts had black plastic handles.

Eric

[Mumbleypeg]

Thanks;.... I do have a 3 bladed scout knife; master blade stamp (Simmons Hdwe Co.) Scout marked on shield no bale
Was that a knock off for boy scout knives?...

Yes. Due to the popularity of the Boy Scouts of America and their “official” scout knife patterns, beginning around 1910 every cutlery firm in the U.S. (and some overseas makers also) made a “knockoff” version of the pattern, trying to get a piece of that market. There are hundreds of them, both official and unofficial versions, from varius brands (including Shapleigh) in this thread viewtopic.php?t=12874

Ken

[ea42]

Raincrowe I was just working at the bench and glanced to the side and look what was trying to get my attention. This is an Imperial scout that I believe is the same as the Simmons scouts from that same mid thirties to early forties period. Almost certain that Imperial made them for Simmons. Is this one like yours?

Eric

[1967redrider]

Thanks;.... I do have a 3 bladed scout knife; master blade stamp (Simmons Hdwe Co.) Scout marked on shield no bale
Was that a knock off for boy scout knives?...

Yes. Due to the popularity of the Boy Scouts of America and their “official” scout knife patterns, beginning around 1910 every cutlery firm in the U.S. (and some overseas makers also) made a “knockoff” version of the pattern, trying to get a piece of that market. There are hundreds of them, both official and unofficial versions, from varius brands (including Shapleigh) in this thread viewtopic.php?t=12874

Ken

I would like to get my hands on a reasonably priced New York Knife Co "Be Prepared" shield scout. All others are knockoffs in my book.

[Mumbleypeg]

I would like to get my hands on a reasonably priced New York Knife Co "Be Prepared" shield scout. All others are knockoffs in my book.

Me too! I’ve been looking for an old original one. After searching unsuccessfully for such an animal I’ve come to realize that “reasonably priced” and New York Knife Co. “Be Prepared” don’t go together.

Ken

[1967redrider]

I would like to get my hands on a reasonably priced New York Knife Co "Be Prepared" shield scout. All others are knockoffs in my book.

Me too! I’ve been looking for an old original one. After searching unsuccessfully for such an animal I’ve come to realize that “reasonably priced” and New York Knife Co. “Be Prepared” don’t go together.

Ken

There's one on eBay for 3 Bills.

[raincrowe]

I would like to get my hands on a reasonably priced New York Knife Co "Be Prepared" shield scout. All others are knockoffs in my book.

Me too! I’ve been looking for an old original one. After searching unsuccessfully for such an animal I’ve come to realize that “reasonably priced” and New York Knife Co. “Be Prepared” don’t go together.

Ken

There's one on eBay for 3 Bills.

Mine is the black plastic handles marked scout on the shield...

[Mumbleypeg]

I would like to get my hands on a reasonably priced New York Knife Co "Be Prepared" shield scout. All others are knockoffs in my book.

Me too! I’ve been looking for an old original one. After searching unsuccessfully for such an animal I’ve come to realize that “reasonably priced” and New York Knife Co. “Be Prepared” don’t go together.

Ken

There's one on eBay for 3 Bills.

Go for it!

Ken

[raincrowe]

Maybe some day you will be at the right place at the right time!!