USA Tang Stamp? Unknown manufacturer

[judewhopper]

Does anyone know who made this knife and when? It looks to be brand new but I'not sure if it's new or a survivor. It seems well made with very strong springs and a half stop but it has ill fitting plastic hollow handles. The tang stamp simply reads "USA". It's never been used or sharpened.

[whitebuffalo58]

Most likely Imperial, but could be Prov. Cut. Co. or Colonial. One other possibility would be Ideal but I don't think so on that one. At any rate it was almost certainly made in Providence, RI.

[judewhopper]

Most likely Imperial, but could be Prov. Cut. Co. or Colonial. One other possibility would be Ideal but I don't think so on that one. At any rate it was almost certainly made in Providence, RI.

I appreciate the answer and thats the same idea I'm getting but it's mostly a gut feeling. It just looks like an Imperial or Colonial but they made their handles and springs fit better on all that I've seen. This handle is .020 thicker than the bolsters. It doesn't sound like much but is very noticable next to a real Imperial or Colonial or any knife that the handle fits on. I do have a Prov. Cut. Co knife that is purposely made with the handle material "higher" than the bolsters but it's a completely different kind of handle made with a thin "cover" of vinyl over a hollow metal handle. These handles needed about 30 seconds of work to make them fit correctly and it makes no sense. On the tang stamp picture you can see the little piece of plastic "mold flash" sticking up. Both handles have it in the same spot.

It also has very thin springs. I'm surprised at their strength to snap this knife in 3 positions but they only may be noticeably thin because they are not ground down smooth with the handle- They stick out about .035. They look a little goofy sticking out the exact same amount all the way around. I think that shows in the pictures. The liners stick out a little also.

One thing that might make a difference is the tabs for holding the hollow handles are only through the liners down inside where the blades close. It does not have the wrap-around tab on the ends at the bolsters.

Next question is when? Who is still in business and may have made this ridiculously sub-par in some ways but quality in others knife? It really looks brand new. It seems like it would have some age related illnesses but it does not. There is not one scratch or age spot on this knife. Nothing is worn smooth from even sitting on a shelf.

Then... Why only the USA stamp? Almost looks like a China knockoff with a USA stamp to fool us morons that was made last week except for the nice shape on the front side of both blades - that makes it look Schrade Walden-ish to me. The rear of the blades, however, are freakishly flat. They look strange with no shape at all. No cut-in at the tang.

I guess everything adds up to a Chinese manufactured knock-off that was made on a good day but the USA stamp is freaking me out.

Danny

[judewhopper]

Just found a twin on ebay. Seller says:

"U.S.A. Knives with composition handles and
stamped only U.S.A. are made by Colonial according
to LEVINE'S GUIDE TO KNIVES."

Can anyone verify this?

Thanks,
Danny

[philco]

I have a copy of Blade's Guide to Knives and Their Values. It is the successor to Levine's. It says the knives marked "USA" that have plastic handles and "upset tip bolsters" are usually Colonial.

Kingston also marked knives with "USA" on the tang stamp but they had solid handles. There were also some knives made for the United States Army during WWII that were similarly marked, but your knife fits the Colonial look and construction.

Hope this helps, and welcome to AAPK.

Phil

[whitebuffalo58]

With single swedging, I would lean more toward Colonial too. All of the aforementioned co.'s produced them, but Colonial and Ideal were the most common. Not sure what era they were built in. I've always thought probably 1960's give or take. Quality with all these company's seemed to depend on what day of the week it was. As far as why just U.S.A.? One can only speculate. Generally speaking the knives have decent steel in the blades and backsprings but all of them cut corners when it came to fit and finish. Welcome to AAPK.

[Joe Dirt]

It's a Colonial, guys. You might be able to match it up with one in my album of blister packs.
The plastic handle with the pins is a tell tale sign (for me). It's from the '70s.

The knives marked colonial were sold as there "Master Brand" series.

Imperial's U.S.A. stamp is larger, as is Prov. Cut. Co. and Ideal's.

..... Joe

[Joe Dirt]

Hang on , if the back of the blade DOESN'T have a grind, then we ARE looking at Prov Cut Co or Ideal.
(That's what I get for NOT reading the text and reading the knife )

With the mold flash not being trimmed from the handle, I would have to lean toward Ideal.
Prov. Cut. Co. had just a little more pride in there work.

...... Joe

[garddogg56]

OK,Now what about this one with only MADE IN over USA is the only tang stamp and it's on the secondary blade??

[gino]

I agree with White B. Its one of those 3

[judewhopper]

Hang on , if the back of the blade DOESN'T have a grind, then we ARE looking at Prov Cut Co or Ideal.
(That's what I get for NOT reading the text and reading the knife )

With the mold flash not being trimmed from the handle, I would have to lean toward Ideal.
Prov. Cut. Co. had just a little more pride in there work.

...... Joe

Here is a picture of the "no grind" back of the blades:


[img]

[/img]

[cooker]

Hey guys,Forgive me if I mess this up but it is my first time posting.
I too have a knife stamped USA.The problem is it looks to be aprox.100
years old! It has been driving me nuts as to who made it. The one that I
have ,has bone scales that have seen better days yet the knife is in remarkable
shape.Good snap and quality craftmanship.I would put a pic. up but I have it
in the mail going to Dale to give it a new life.As I told Dale ( Orvet ) if it has stood
the test of time it deserves to be restored. It is a plain jane but there is something
about it that just makes me want to do it.Getting back to the knife I have been told
that it could be Camilius or senneca.This is just another thing that makes collecting
knives so much fun.By the way I just want to thank all you guys for teaching me
something every day about knives.

[ironmage]

It's a Colonial, guys. You might be able to match it up with one in my album of blister packs.
The plastic handle with the pins is a tell tale sign (for me). It's from the '70s.

The knives marked colonial were sold as there "Master Brand" series.

Imperial's U.S.A. stamp is larger, as is Prov. Cut. Co. and Ideal's.

..... Joe

Thats it you got.