Two brand names--same maker?

[58chevy348]

Just got in these two teardrop bone handle knives. When I put them side by side, they are so similar I can't help but think possibly the same maker made both knives. One is a Challenge Cutlery (Bridgeport) and the other is a Shapleigh Hdwe. Co. (St. Louis). Anyone have any ideas on my theory? By the way, any suggestions on what kind of glue I should use to try to repair the crack in the Shapleigh bone scale? Thanks!

[olderdogs1]

Zap a gap for the crack, available online.

Tom

[58chevy348]

Thanks Tom!

[gsmith7158]

It's possible. Shapleigh didn't actually make knives but contracted with other makers aND had their brand name Diamond Edge stamped on the knives.

[orvet]

Shapleigh was a hardware supply company, they didn't make any knives. They contracted all their knives from other companies.

I don't know if Challenge made knives for them, but that is possible.

[58chevy348]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the info.

[kootenay joe]

To me the 'swell' looks larger in the knife with the bone more worn down.
The Swell End Jack was a fairly common pattern and made by many USA manufacturers. Some of them likely have identical measurements so the above 2 knives could just as likely have been made by different manufacturers.
kj

[knifeaholic]

Interesting pair. To me, the blade tooling/pull/swedge looks like Utica. Even though Challenge was a manufacturer, I have seen a number of Challenge marked knives that I am 100% certain were made by Utica. Whether Challenge contracted Utica to help fill gaps in production (common among knife companies) or whether some other company took over the Challenge name and had Utica make knives with the Challenge mark I have no idea. Utica was prolific in making contract knives.