Union Cutlery Switch

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Pile Driver
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Union Cutlery Switch

Post by Pile Driver »

This is a nice one with a smooth toggle, 2nd generation. Pardon the bleached out photos, never been a taker of good photos
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Bill DeShivs
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Re: Union Cutlery Switch

Post by Bill DeShivs »

Very nice knife, in nice condition!
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djknife13
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Re: Union Cutlery Switch

Post by djknife13 »

Nice, I like that one.____Dave
BestVintageKnives

Re: Union Cutlery Switch

Post by BestVintageKnives »

Nice looking old knife. I love how it’s not shined up and rescaled unnecessarily.

I have some old paper work from the teens that no one has seen. I’ll send them to you privately… 🤫🤐
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1967redrider
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Re: Union Cutlery Switch

Post by 1967redrider »

Thanks for posting! Gene is going to love that one. :mrgreen:
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter


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BestVintageKnives

Re: Union Cutlery Switch

Post by BestVintageKnives »

Here a good book to read about these.
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Pile Driver
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Re: Union Cutlery Switch

Post by Pile Driver »

BestVintageKnives wrote: Fri Mar 20, 2026 12:41 pm Here a good book to read about these.
Its interesting, the ink drawing in the old union advertising featured in the book had the henckles tear drop lever, and the example you posted has a slightly different tear drop lever... did they grab the henckles art rendering to market for a product that hadn't been made yet?
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Pile Driver
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Re: Union Cutlery Switch

Post by Pile Driver »

Also, the smooth toggle knife you posted has a stepped bolster, is that a transitional knife? I associate the stepped bolster with the jimped toggle as a 3rd generation knife
BestVintageKnives

Re: Union Cutlery Switch

Post by BestVintageKnives »

Pile Driver wrote: Fri Mar 20, 2026 1:19 pm Also, the smooth toggle knife you posted has a stepped bolster, is that a transitional knife? I associate the stepped bolster with the jimped toggle as a 3rd generation knife
We’re seeing several variations on these. Here is one I found with the top bolster very short and the top two pins very large.
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BestVintageKnives

Re: Union Cutlery Switch

Post by BestVintageKnives »

Few more
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Pile Driver
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Re: Union Cutlery Switch

Post by Pile Driver »

The addition of USA to that stamp tells me its a henckles contract


Maybe the frames and internals came from Germany and Union made their own blades but had to stamp USA to make that distinction?
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