Keen Kutter

Dave O · Post by **Dave O** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:09 am

Here is a pretty Little Keen Kutter Never Sharpened. I would not know Age, but found it in my Safe today. What do you call this Handle Material?

knifeaholic · Post by **knifeaholic** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:19 am

looks like a Schrade made contract knife, 1940's to 1950's. Handle is ivory celluloid.

Dave O · Post by **Dave O** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:37 am

Thanks for the quick reply. This is a fine little knife. Snaps like a trap. I can't remember where I aquired it. Happy New Year Gentlemen.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:19 am

It is a dandy little knife. As someone who is partial to easy opens, if you decide to let it go, I would be interested.

Ray

johnnierotten · Post by **johnnierotten** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:19 am

Definitely celluloid....BEAUTIFUL knife!!!!!!

upnorth · Post by **upnorth** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:49 am

"Here is a pretty Little Keen Kutter Never Sharpened. I would not know Age, but found it in my Safe today. What do you call this Handle Material?"

I wonder who lost it?

I agree; celluloid Ivory, and Schrade made! Very KNICE!!

Tip · Post by **Tip** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:13 pm

Dave O,

Lovely piece ya' got there!

Here's what I've got on Keen Kutter from "The Official Price Guide, Collector Knives, Tenth Edition" by C. Houston Price:

"The Keen Kutter brand was used for pocket knives as well as numerous tools and hardware items marketed during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was a brand stamping used by E.C. Simmons Hardware Co. of St. Louis, MO, beginning about 1870. Simmons Hardware owned controlling interest in Walden Knife Company..."

There's more, but can you please provide the tang stamp information (pattern number, exact wording, describe insignia)? I may be able to help identify the model and relative rarity as compared to other Keen Kutter knives.

Regards

Dave O · Post by **Dave O** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:12 pm

It just says Keen Kutter on the Large Blade inside the Logo. No other inscription or markings.

Tip · Post by **Tip** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 6:32 pm

Please indicate the lengths of the blades.

Thx.

Dave O · Post by **Dave O** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 10:11 pm

2 5/16" and 1 3/4"

Tip · Post by **Tip** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 6:14 am

Dave O,

This one is tricky (thank you for being patient!). Many knife companies merged, split, were sub-contracted, and/or changed ownership entirely over time. As one might expect, two, three, or more parent company names might have to be referenced before good information is found.

To wit (again, from "Collector Knives, Tenth Edition"):
"The 1923 merger of Simmons Hardware and Winchester resulted in the movement of Walden Knife Company equipment to New Haven, Connecticut. Walden had made Keen Kutter knives; for the next ten years, they would be made by Winchester."
Furthermore, "in addition to knives marked with the Winchester trademark, the factory also made knives branded KEEN KUTTER for sale by Simmons."

Also:
"In 1940, the merged companies were again split when Shapleigh hardware purchased the assets (including controlling interest in Walden Knife Company) of Simmons Hardware. The brand and knife patterns were continued by Shapleigh."

Now, regarding Shapleigh:
"...the company sold a number of collectible pocketknife brands produced under contract by manufacturers such as Camillus and Schrade."

Okay, short of a pattern number, it's hard to say what you have. Some of my reference material specifies closed length;

I should have asked you to provide that earlier, so, if you will Dave O...

And, lastly:
Are those liners iron or brass?

Dave O · Post by **Dave O** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:22 pm

I will have to wait until I get home....Brass liners and a little over three inches long over all..

ea42 · Post by **ea42** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:59 am

Dave O, that particular logo shaped shield with "Keen Kutter" inscribed in it was used starting in 1942 by Shapleigh after their merger with Simmons. Not sure of the pattern # for that one though, it's the first EO equal end I've seen by them. Nice knife!

Eric

Tip · Post by **Tip** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:11 pm

Well, Dave O, there's not much more I can add.
There are many patterns to which your knife is similar. A common description I have found in my reference materiel:
"Celluloid handle; spear and pen slades; nickel silver shield and bolsters; brass liners."
Also, that description is used with knives measuring (closed) 3", 3 1/8", 3 1/4", 3 3/8", 3 1/2", 3 5/8"...

I believe ea42 is correct, with one clarification: the KEEN KUTTER shield/logo was used, actually, on all their knives. All KEEN KUTTER knives that I've seen bear the common, familiar tang stamp; I think what ea42 meant to say is: on the handle.
I won't argue with that point. Enjoy your knife!

(Tip's edit) Disregard. ea42 DID say "shield," and I agree.

Regards, Tip