Question on Model of my Keen Kutter

[Dan Wyatt]

Thanks in advance for any answers/ideas. I recently acquired an old Keen Kutter and need correct info. I have the book "Keen Kutter Pocket Knives" by Sellens and I have information in the book that narrowed down my knife to perhaps being a K2105 although it measures 3 5/16" closed and not the 3 3/8" closed length as described in the book. The K20055 is another model that measures 3" closed according to the book and the pins in the skins closer resemble the pin placement on mine than that of the K2105 ..........any ideas about what I have? I am an old 76 year old former shop teacher who taught woodworking, machine shop, drafting, etc and I can still measure accurately. Is there a model I am missing or do you think mine is a K2105? Also, about what year do you think it was made. The book mentions from 1921 to 1939. Can we get closer than that to when it was made? I have provided 2 pictures of my knife for review and again thanks for your thoughts. Thanks again ~ Dan Wyatt

[Mumbleypeg]

Sorry I can’t help with the pattern number. I have the same book by Sellens. I can say that Keen Kutter knives are difficult to determine a date when they were made because the stamps didn’t change often. So the date range you have may be the best you’re gonna get.

Ken

[msteele6]

It does appear to be a K2105. Sellens gives dates of between 1921 and 1939 as the years this knife was manufactured. I think a difference of 1/16" in the length of a knife's catalog listing is pretty much immaterial.

[Dan Wyatt]

I thank you gentlemen for your answers and will consider it a model K2105. I have sharpened knives for 60 years or so and it probably took me 5 of those years to produce good sharp edges on my knives using a series of stones. It sounds hard to believe, but in 1971 I started teaching shop (metalworking, woodworking, drafting, etc.) and as a small segment of my metals class I taught sharpening of metal cutting edges including hunting and pocket knives. Several of my students made hunting knives (try getting by with that today). Back in about 1973?? or so I attended the Kansas City Knife and Gun show and was very fortunate enough to meet some of the major knife makers of that time such as Loveless, Russell, Lile, etc. I talked to most of them and told them about teaching a few of my metalworking students how to build a knife and ask them for their current literature and if it was ok if my students copy their designs and all said sure. In about 1974 or so, I purchased my first diamond "stone" which was made by EZE-LAP (I still have and use that same EZE-LAP that I purchased back then). Not long after that I stopped using most of my collection of Washita/Arkansas stones and I gave away nearly all of my stones after discovering the world of sharpening with fine diamond sharpening products. Over the years I have built up my collection of diamond sharpening products to about a dozen or so different grits of diamond products. Also I believe that stropping is a critical part of getting a good edge and have made several of my own leather strops over the years and am currently using one that I grafted to an oak base. I am 76 and have developed a slight shaking condition that my md calls just old age setting in and my use of my diamond "stones" have been relegated to sharpening the edges for most of my shop needs such as wood chisels, etc., but a few months ago I finally gave up sharpening my pocket knives by hand with my diamond stones as I was not getting a good edge that I had been able to do for some 50+ years (to all you "youngsters" out there ........ don't get old). Soooos I had to swallow the partial loss of my sharping skills and decided to purchased a Work Sharp sharpening system with diamond and ceramic "stones" and like it a lot. After using it, I now again have correct and equal width "polished" lookin edges. To finish the job up, I then go to my trusty old leather strop and now I am a happy but shakey old camper. I and am very satisfied with the edge that I put on the old Keen Kutter K2105 blades. (sorry for the long post)

[stockman]

Nice old knife Dan. Thanks for teaching. Harold

[Reverand]

Thank you for the long post, Dan! As you have noticed, we talk about a lot of things on this forum besides knives. Friends should share their stories, too!
I am glad to hear that you did not give up on sharpening, but simply adapted to life's changes and do it differently now.
My shop teacher was a good influence on me, and I am sure that your influence in the lives of your many students is immeasurable.
Thanks for sharing!

[Dan Wyatt]

Harold ...... you are welcome for the many years of teaching shop that I enjoyed....... I probably taught approximately 2,000 students during my years of teaching.

Reverand ..... yes now I am getting those sharpening sessions that produce the edges that I want. I sharpened 3 knives of my old collector knives this last week...... an old Voos bare head swelled end jack knife, a 1971 Case Mini-Copperhead that had never been sharpened, and an old Empire bare head swelled end jack knife on my Work Sharp sharpening system with diamond and ceramic "stones" and my homemade strop loaded with polishing compound. Back when taught, I had a beard that was probably 8-9" long and I used to take my Eze-Lap diamond stone to school and sharpen my knife in front to my class. stropped it on my leather boot and then have a student come up and I would pull one of my beard hairs out......have him hold one end and I would hold the other and then proceed to cut several "curls" off the hair without cutting the hair completely in half. I would have the student verify the demonstration. I was talking to one about that very demonstration and he said that yes he remembered and that was almost 50 years ago.

Reverand.....When I taught it was almost a "thankless" job, but over the years I have had probably over a 100 of my old students walk up to me and tell me thanks for what I have taught them and that is always great to hear. Just last Tuesday one of them did that very thing saying how much they appreciated me teaching him certain skills that he uses to this day .........again some 45+ years ago. I enjoyed reading your comment about "My shop teacher was a good influence on me."

Thanks and God Bless ~ Dan
Romans 8:28