Any Primble Belknap Historians out there?

[LDF Knives]

I have a stockman that on the tang, it reads John Primble BELKNAP HDW & MFG CO with 5386 with a Star on the back and on the Blade it Reads John Primble Finest Steel with a shield in between the name and Finest steel There is a like a badge shield on the handle. Appreciate your help

[Mumbleypeg]

Belknap Hardware, Louisville KY. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belknap ... ng_Company John Primble was one of the trademark names they owned. Several cutlery companies made knives for them on contract. Those with a star on the pile side of the tang were made by Boker. Goins says the stamping on yours dates from 1940-1968.

A picture of your knife would be nice.

Ken

[rangerbluedog]

What MumblyPeg said...

[RalphAlsip]

Those with a star on the pile side of the tang were made by Boker. Goins says the stamping on yours dates from 1940-1968.

Ken, Here is a Primble that matches to your description. It is a different pattern number than the original post knife in question.

[espn77]

Wow Jerry, that's some kind of etch on that knife.

[philco]

Jerry that's a fine example.

I can remember when the local hardware stocked John Primbles, Schrades, and Case knives. I never bought a Primble because at the time I was focused in on Case. I wish now I had branched out a bit more back then.

[just bob]

From AAPK

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/co ... -hardware/

[americanedgetech]

Copied the info on that link.
Thanks JB!

[Mumbleypeg]

Beautiful knife Jerry, and an excellent example. Has all the traits expected on a fine Primble.

Ken

[LDF Knives]

On my 1st posting of this knife; I looked at the Official Price guide to Collectors knives I believe it an 1987 Book there is a small story of the Primble-Belknap about the star in the back tang it says made by Boker but there is a statement that Camillus also has been contracted as I looked at the knife more closely, ya know the Brown plastic that Camillus uses over thousands of knives over many companies, yep it's not a true bone knife, so that makes it worth a lot less?

[RalphAlsip]

Keith, Ken, and Phil thank you for the kind words regarding the Primble example. I've only got a couple and that's because to older men in the area where I grew up had a fondness for Primbles and would argue (good naturedly) about who made the best knives. It's totally unrelated to Primble, but some of these fellas were from a town named Belknap, Illinois.

[tongueriver]

I see Primble knives being sold nowadays which are clearly made in Germany. What's the story there? Maybe something to do with Jim Parker?

[Mumbleypeg]

I see Primble knives being sold nowadays which are clearly made in Germany. What's the story there? Maybe something to do with Jim Parker?

The Primble and Winchester brands are licensed to Blue Grass Cutlery. Blue Grass is a wholesale "jobber" - they don't actually make knives. The knives are made by others like Queen, Utica and Boker, maybe others. I've read that Blue Grass was the intermediary that Parker used for the Case Classics. At one time they were the intermediary for Moore Maker (may still be).

The back cover of Knife Magazine usually has a full page ad for Blue Grass Cutlery featuring either Winchester or John Primble knives. Looking through the SMKW catalog I'd be surprised if Blue Grass doesn't have something to do with getting knives made for them as well.

Ken