Old and Obscure Brands

This forum is dedicated to the discussion and display of old knives. The rich history of all the many companies that made them through the early years will be found here as well as many fine examples of the cutlers art. Share pictures of your old knives and your knowledge here!
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wlf
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by wlf »

Wow Cates,a real beauty.I'd like to hang around you a while,you've been reeling in a lot of nice knives lately.

David,just saw your post above,nice find and thanks for sharing your knowledge.I really like the Bridge Cutlery knives I've seen,they're rare and quality.

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GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

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singin46
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by singin46 »

Yeah, very nice old Congress. ::tu:: ::tu::
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dcgm4
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by dcgm4 »

This coffin jack is my latest pick-up. With those fancy bolsters, I just couldn't resist. It's marked simply "John Wentworth & Co". There's no city or country of manufacture. Anybody have any information on this company? So far my research has come up with zilch.
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John Wentworth & Co2.JPG
Dave

Always looking for vintage knives with Virginia, Maryland, or Washington D.C. tang stamps. Any condition.
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singin46
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by singin46 »

That's a nice find! ::tu::
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Salernoslim
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Salernoslim »

That coffin jack is a real beauty! ::nod::
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dcgm4
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by dcgm4 »

Thanks, guys. I feel really lucky to have found this one. :D
Dave

Always looking for vintage knives with Virginia, Maryland, or Washington D.C. tang stamps. Any condition.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by gino »

Cato & Dave, those are some great looking knives! ::double drool::
-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
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dcgm4
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by dcgm4 »

Thanks, gino. :)
Dave

Always looking for vintage knives with Virginia, Maryland, or Washington D.C. tang stamps. Any condition.
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FRJ
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by FRJ »

I was going to put this knife in Miller Bros. "Vintage Union Cutlery Co. KA-BAR knives", but after a little research I realized I was in the wrong union. That's happened before.
Now it's old and obscure. No half stops. Sweet little knife.
Thanks for looking.
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Joe
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dcgm4
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by dcgm4 »

Very nice, Joe. The bone has a great pocket-worn look to it. ::tu::
Dave

Always looking for vintage knives with Virginia, Maryland, or Washington D.C. tang stamps. Any condition.
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FRJ
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by FRJ »

Thanks Dave. It's a great little carry.
Joe
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peanut740
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by peanut740 »

I got this old pos knife with some others awhile back.Black & Owen.Black in arch over Owen.I know nothing about the mark.Not in any of my reference books.(Goins, LG4, etc.) Would appear to be made by New York Knife Co.Master blade is a replacement made out of a file.There is a pruner on EBay right now with the same stamp.
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singin46
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by singin46 »

I like that old shield, peanut! ::tu::
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peanut740
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by peanut740 »

So do I.It is the same shield that NYKC put on their folding hunter.First time I`ve seen it on a smaller pattern,although it is a 4+" cigar.I will see Pete Cohan in the next week or so and ask him about the Black and Owen stamp.Roger
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by knife7knut »

May have posted these before but here goes again:
First is a relic condition Underwood 58 Haymarket St with a pair of scissors that slide out of the handle.
Next is a Schmactenberg 2 blade congress with Finzer's Tobacco Knife stamped on the blade.Apparently they used several manufacturers for their knives as I've seen others with that logo.
Next is a pruner stamped Samuel Robinson Sheffield;probably mid 1800's.
Next a 2 blade congress stamped R.Bunting & Son circa mid 1800's.They made a lot of bowies.
Next is a tuxedo with unusually colored ivory scales stamped Prolific H.B. & Son. Have no info on this company but it looks like the same era as the previous two.
The next 4 pics are of a knife that is not only a rare pattern(fish jack)but an uncommon stamping:Norvell-Shapleigh Hardware St. Louis MO made in Germany.
Last one is a mid 1800's I*XL Celebrated Cutlery folding dirk.

Stay tuned for part 2
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by knife7knut »

Part two commences:

First up is another relic condition Greaves folding dirk.
Next is a pruner marked GH Exhibition.Have no idea who that was.
Next is a pair of George Woodhead folders.Woodhead made some beautiful bowies(half horse half alligator bolster).Folders are almost unheard of.
Next is a multiblade folder marked E.G..Probably French the handle is one piece of hardwood cut out for the blades and liners which are all numbered.The lock spring is broken.No info on this one either.
Next is a tiny single blade folder with coping blade;match striker nail nick;one piece fluted bolsters/liners;stag scales held in place by birds-eye rivets and a small chunk of bone that acts as a blade stop in the back when it is folded.This knife dates to around 1830-1840.Company went out of business in 1843.
Next is a Brookes & Crookes smoker's knife.Ivory scales thin master blade and cigar punch with a folding pipe tamper on the side.Blade stamped Royston's Halifax which I assume is a tobacconist in England.
Next one is French and the only marking is the name Barneria with a picture of a severed pig's head above it.Handles are smooth bone with brass pins inset and an old repair that looks like cutler's cement.Blade was locking at one time and on the other end is a cigar punch(I think;it is a bit larger than most).Mid 1800's I believe although the name goes back to the 1600's.
Last is a pearl tuxedo stamped Aaron Burkinshaw who was a cutler in Massachusetts in the 1800's.Sadly the master blade is broken and the pen blade in mint condition.
That's all folks;hope you enjoy them.
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AaronBurkinshaw1.jpg
AaronBurkinshaw1.jpg (39.86 KiB) Viewed 5372 times
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singin46
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by singin46 »

Wow Ray, I like the bone on that Tobacco knife! ::ds::
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Salernoslim
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Salernoslim »

Here's a Nagatauk cutlery co I just got.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by cato »

Picked up this fixed blade with a fairly rare stamping

NuvalU / with ARROW THROUGH IT
U.S. ATHLETIC CO.
CHICAGO.

NOT SURE OF DATES 1910-

they were a jobber/ manufacture/ importer
on 322 north wells street
and 2222 west diversey
Chicago ill

I SEE LURES AND OTHER SPORTING GOODS NOT MANY KNIVES
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$_57 (15).JPG
bladeguy58
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by bladeguy58 »

knife7knut wrote:Part two commences:

First up is another relic condition Greaves folding dirk.
Next is a pruner marked GH Exhibition.Have no idea who that was.
Next is a pair of George Woodhead folders.Woodhead made some beautiful bowies(half horse half alligator bolster).Folders are almost unheard of.
Next is a multiblade folder marked E.G..Probably French the handle is one piece of hardwood cut out for the blades and liners which are all numbered.The lock spring is broken.No info on this one either.
Next is a tiny single blade folder with coping blade;match striker nail nick;one piece fluted bolsters/liners;stag scales held in place by birds-eye rivets and a small chunk of bone that acts as a blade stop in the back when it is folded.This knife dates to around 1830-1840.Company went out of business in 1843.
Next is a Brookes & Crookes smoker's knife.Ivory scales thin master blade and cigar punch with a folding pipe tamper on the side.Blade stamped Royston's Halifax which I assume is a tobacconist in England.
Next one is French and the only marking is the name Barneria with a picture of a severed pig's head above it.Handles are smooth bone with brass pins inset and an old repair that looks like cutler's cement.Blade was locking at one time and on the other end is a cigar punch(I think;it is a bit larger than most).Mid 1800's I believe although the name goes back to the 1600's.
Last is a pearl tuxedo stamped Aaron Burkinshaw who was a cutler in Massachusetts in the 1800's.Sadly the master blade is broken and the pen blade in mint condition.
That's all folks;hope you enjoy them.
Your collection....is........just so.......unbelievable!! ::oh_my:: ::drool:: I love those old wonderful pieces of history!
thefarside
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by thefarside »

I was digging out some folders for the Union Cut Co. thread and came across this old Union Knife Co., Naugatuck; it fits in this thread.
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thefarside
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by thefarside »

This knife is appropriate for the Old and Obscure thread. Excelsior Lock Back Folding Hunter.
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Miller Bro's »

Two beautiful old knives! ::tu:: ::drool::
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by bladeguy58 »

Love that Excelsior! ::tu::
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by FRJ »

Thefarside, that Excelsior is a beauty. (Actually both of them are.)
I wonder where it was made. Northfield, Torrington? Worcester, Mass.?
Joe
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