shell handled knives

[gino]

It is COOL lookin! I have really been keeping a eye open for shell handled knives lately at the flea market and such and have also really begun to apreciate the different colors more than I ever have.

[singin46]

That's good Gino, you literally don't know what other interesting handles are out there. There could be a handle floatin round that none of us have seen yet.

[whitebuffalo58]

Guys, I don't think there's an end to the colors. Just when I think i've seen 'em all, another new one shows up. Personally I hope I never find the end of the rainbow. It's what collectin' the shells is all about.

WB

[singin46]

You're eggzactly right WB!

[whitebuffalo58]

Here's three i've picked up fairly recently, all Hammers.

I've got a couple of others in the black/gold (I always called it Texas Tea), the other two I hadn't come across 'till I found these.

[singin46]

Cool finds WB, your JackMaster Fisherman's Knife is called a "Lock-Bak" even though it's technically a linerlock design. And they're about as hard to find as a "Crossbar" knife. They are listed in the 1952 catalog. Great score!

[whitebuffalo58]

Thanks Perry! Yah, I always did wonder 'bout that lock-bak thing. This one is the large 5" model.

WB

[singin46]

Yep, that's the only size they made 'em in.

[gino]

Nice snags WB! Very cool

[whitebuffalo58]

Did they call the 4-1/4" model something else? I have a few of those, too. I think they may be Imperials and not Hammer Brands though. I'll have to look and see.
Thanks, Gino! Findin' a new one is always a thrill!

WB

[TripleF]

Knice scores WB!!

I just landed this Knife/Car Key Hammer Brand. It's on eBay now. But I thought the colors were amazing...

[Old Hunter]

A fairly well used Colonial and two decent Imperials.

[gino]

Nice OH, that red Imperial with the shield is awesome!

[Old Hunter]

Thanks Gino! The backside of that red knife is much prettier than the frontside, I will have to take another picture and post it.

[whitebuffalo58]

Thanks Scott, I like that key knife too! I have the HB large toothpick and barlow in that color.
OldHunter, i'm with Gino, that red's a real eye popper!

WB

[Old Hunter]

White Buffalo, thanks for the compliments - not being a "shell" collector, but more of a junk accumulator, I bought it about a month ago with a Girl Scout knife, just because I liked the red color myself. Here is a view of the backside - more attractive in my opinion than the frontside.

[Old Hunter]

One last shell handle in my collection. I had forgotten to even take a picture of this one, another of my Ol' Granny's (Great-Grandma) knives that I was given when she passed in 1970. This one is a Providence Cut. Co. pen knife, the snap is gone in the pen blade and I can't resurrect it - the clip blade snaps like a mousetrap though!

[singin46]

It always those dang clip or pen blades that retain snap, never the mains.

[Joe Dirt]

Awesome colors guys!!
Looks like the "shell fever" is starting to spread.

WB, the 4 1/4" knives were first marketed as the "Sportsmaster" all the way
back to the beginning - 1936. Later, the 4 1/4" 2 blade and also the 5" 2 blade
fish knives were marketed as the "Sportsmaster" too.
In '55 they made a 5" 2 blade fish knife with a stainless blade that was etched.
It was the first and last year for that knife - also, it was the ONLY Hammer Brand
shell handle ever to have an etch at all!

..... Joe

[singin46]

Yep glad I got most of what I wanted before the gold rush started again.

[Joe Dirt]

Gonna drive the prices up to where no one can afford um!
Let's see... from 30 cents to 10 dollars in only 65 years...

Sounds like a firm investment to me! ....
The quality is in the colors!!

..... Joe

[singin46]

I know you're jokin a little Joe but you're right about the colors, if they are clear and bright, have zero cracks or chips in them and all the blades still there, I'M IN!

[cato]

nice shells

[Joe Dirt]

Man, NICE one cato! Love the colors!

..... Joe

[singin46]

There ya go cato, nice full blades and nice handles too!