The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

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Miller Bro's
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The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by Miller Bro's »

The Walden Knife Company, circa 1870-1923. Located in Walden, Orange County, New York. this company made excellent quality knives during their time in business. In 1870 the company was called "Walden Co-operative Knife Co.", knives with this stamp are very hard to find, they used that stamp for about four years. Then they reorganized and the company was renamed Walden Knife Co. in 1874

They produced knives on contract for other companies, you will see old knives marked Press Button, Keen Kutter, and others. They had their own unique jigging pattern on the bone handles of their knives, so if you see an old knife with the same bone jigging as a Walden, chances are they made it for that company on contract. I have posted an example below to compare to.

By 1893 George Schrade was looking for a place to manufacture his patented Press Button switchblades. He found a place at Walden Knife Co. These knives were made in their factory until about 1903, when George Schrade sold his patent and interest to Walden Knife Co. They continued to manufacture lots of them, about 10,000 dozen Press Button switch blades a year! That patent purchase was a very good investment indeed.

In 1902 the E.C. Simmons Hardware Co. took over mangement of the company and ran it sucessfully for the next nineteen years, till Winchester bought them out. They made knives at the Walden plant for another year until Winchester decided to sell the property to Schrade Cut. Co., and move all the knife making equipment to their New Haven, Conn. manufacturing facility.
Winchester used this equipment to make knives until the early 1940`s, then they too stopped making pocket knives.

Walden Knife Co. has a rich history and some big names in the cutlery industry associated with them. Below is a picture of a pocket knife and an old knife box from Walden, if you have any post them in this thread ::tu::
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by gino »

That is a super cool knife and a great thread!
Here is a photo of the press button knife you mentioned.
I cant wait to see more original Walden knives if posted.
Thanks Gino ;)
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by ea42 »

Excellent thread M-B!! The Co-Op guys, I believe there were around fourteen of them, were actually former NY Knife Co. employees who quit after baseball games were banned during lunch hour! They got their start by renting space from the Rider Ericsson Engine Company (the building still stands today) for about four years. Here's a shot of a Walden Co-Op knife:
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by ea42 »

Here's a little congress, Walden Knife Co. stamp:
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by Miller Bro's »

Eric,

Nice old knives :D

The Co-Op. is so rare to find ::tu::


Any more Walden`s out there?
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by 268bull »

I do have a Walden Knife Co. pen knife. It's one of the first knives I came across when I started serious collecting. The main blade has a model # 4353 opposite the Walden Knife Co, made in the U.S.A.. If anyone has any info on model numbers please let the sight know. ::tu:: Bull
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by stockman »

3 1/4" whittler, note the pull master blade
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by Paul M »

here are my Waldens to add, I've shown them before but they belong in this thread.
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by ea42 »

Bull, Stockman, and Paul- NICE examples! ::tu::
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by Miller Bro's »

All nice knives shown so far ::tu::


Paul,

The bolsters and shield on that Walden are very attractive! ::drool::


Anyone have any Walden Knife Co. ephemera?
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by orvet »

Nice knives guys! ::tu:: ::tu::
Here is the best example of a Walden that I have.

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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by ea42 »

Nice Dale! ::tu::

Couple more here, also on the well used side with evidence of the dreaded steel mites :shock: and grinder wheels ::doh:: :

Eric
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by tjmurphy »

ea42 wrote:Nice Dale! ::tu::

Couple more here, also on the well used side with evidence of the dreaded steel mites :shock: and grinder wheels ::doh:: :

Eric
STEEL MITES!! Love it! LMAO :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by Miller Bro's »

Eric, I really like that shield on the two bladed Walden pictured above.

I am seeing now that Walden put some attractive and unique shields on their knives ::nod::


Don`t stop now, let`s see more ::drool::
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by upnorth »

My contribution; a Teardrop Jack. Very nicely made knives!!
Some rare beauties showing up here!!
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by Owd Wullie »

I never cease to be amazed at the quality of knives that all you guys can bring to the table.

KEEP 'em coming!! ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by orvet »

Maybe it is just me, but there is something very appealing about an old spear blade jack! ::drool:: ::drool::

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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by galvanic1882 »

I think that I might have posted this one before on a different thread but am not sure but thought it should go again. Walden Knife Co. All hardware is nickle silver and the main blade has the Walden etch. Yes that is ink on the back of the main blade.

I had another etched Walden with fancy blue swirl handles but gave it to my oldest daughter many years ago. I asked her to get it out and send me some pictures of it so I can post here.
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by Miller Bro's »

^^Very nice! :)
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by ea42 »

Mike, that's one helluva beauty! And a sample no less!:shock: ::tu::

Charlie, I somehow missed that teardrop ::tu:: ::tu::

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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by ratlesnake75 »

Here is a swell ctr whittler, 3 5/8 closed. Pearl is cracked on both sides, but its got some fire!!!
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by galvanic1882 »

Ok, here is the other one that I gave to my daughter. Funny that it seemed like a few years ago that I gave it to her but it's been 15 years ago!!!
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by Miller Bro's »

Some nice old Walden`s turning up here ::nod:: :D
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by galvanic1882 »

I have been looking for a W Bingham etched knife for awhile and finally got one. I am posting it to the Walden Thread because I think it was made by Walden. Faint salesman's ink on the back.

The counter felt I have had for many years and had framed!!!
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Re: The Walden Knife Company 1870-1923

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

That's a nice knife, Mike. Congratulations!
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