Orange Blossoms

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!
Post Reply
msteele6
Posts: 2009
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:29 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Orange Blossoms

Post by msteele6 »

For years I never owned an Orange Blossom then suddenly about a year ago I went on a spree, pretty much by accident, and picked up four of them (from top to bottom a Keen Kutter, two Remingtons and a Cattaraugus), here they are:
Attachments
OrangeBlossoms.JPG
olderdogs1
Posts: 2538
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 6:48 pm

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by olderdogs1 »

Great pickups, I have owned a couple at one time, I had to have it pointed out to me what they were. Thanks for posting them!! ::tu::

Tom
knife7knut
Posts: 10460
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by knife7knut »

Beautiful ones! I got a Simmonds awhile back with beautiful scales and very lightly sharpened.Only problem was the tang was soft and the master blade sits proud.Only paid $3 for it;almost worth having it repaired.
Attachments
SimmonsHardwarePearlLobster 001.jpg
SimmonsHardwarePearlLobster 002.jpg
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
msteele6
Posts: 2009
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:29 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by msteele6 »

$3? Holy smokes, I thought I got great deals on mine. ::teary_eyes::
User avatar
steve99f
Posts: 2837
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:49 pm
Location: Eastern PA

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by steve99f »

First I've heard of an orange blossom but thanks to you I know what they look like. So a master blade(spear) on one end and lobster like array on the other?
steve99f
0078
Posts: 1051
Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:37 pm

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by 0078 »

Nice showings of knife fellas, and great information I never new what they were as well.
Where you plant your needs is where your garden grows.
User avatar
jerryd6818
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 39428
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:23 am
Location: Farther down the road.

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by jerryd6818 »

Orange Blossom eh? One more time, I have been educated on AAPK.
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
User avatar
RobesonsRme.com
Posts: 10077
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:44 pm
Location: The Heart of Dixie.
Contact:

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Very nice. ::tu::

But, it's possible you do not really own an "Orange Blossom" until you have one by New York Knife.

Mr. Bradley of New York Knife named the pattern after his old Union Army outfit from Orange County, New York. They were called "The Orange Blossoms".

Nowadays, any gunstock lobster whittler with a long file on the underside is referred to as an "Orange Blossom".

I need a nice one by Terrier Cutlery. :roll:

Charlie Noyes

Charlie Noyes
DE OPPRESSO LIBER

"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons ___but they are helpless against our prayers. "

Sidlow Baxter
0078
Posts: 1051
Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2013 4:37 pm

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by 0078 »

RobesonsRme.com wrote:Very nice. ::tu::

But, it's possible you do not really own an "Orange Blossom" until you have one by New York Knife.

Mr. Bradley of New York Knife named the pattern after his old Union Army outfit from Orange County, New York. They were called "The Orange Blossoms".

Nowadays, any gunstock lobster whittler with a long file on the underside is referred to as an "Orange Blossom".

I need a nice one by Terrier Cutlery. :roll:

Charlie Noyes

Charlie Noyes
This orange blossom I'm of aware of this would be a walden knife co
Where you plant your needs is where your garden grows.
msteele6
Posts: 2009
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:29 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by msteele6 »

I try to use Levine's nomenclature when I refer to knives, not necessarily because Mr. Levine is infallible (even though he certainly is knowledgeable) but because it does at least impose some standardization to the terminology.

He tells the story of Mr. Tom Bradley, the leader of the Orange Blossom brigade and also of New York Knife Company who gave the name to this specific knife. He further states that the knife was one of the most expensive pocket knives and gives as an example that the pearl Remington Orange Blossom cost 2 1/2 times as much as a Bullet trapper. You can see why when you look at the complicated construction of the Orange Blossoms, which are essentially a gunstock whittler with a manicure blade on the back.

They are interesting little knives.
User avatar
RobesonsRme.com
Posts: 10077
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:44 pm
Location: The Heart of Dixie.
Contact:

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek.

Levine identifies all such knives as Orange Blossoms and I've seen one made by other than NYK with "Orange Blossom" etched on the master blade.

Tom Bradley of New York Knife called their version Orange Blossoms. I have no idea when or by whom, the pattern was first made.

I know I like them. They are elegant little knives.

Here's my Robeson. Ignore the dull looking area on the master, it isn't actually there except in that photo. This knife is almost mint. This knife also came in its box with guarantee.

Charlie
Attachments
742082B.jpg
742082Box&GuaranteeB.jpg
742082GuaranteeB.jpg
DE OPPRESSO LIBER

"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons ___but they are helpless against our prayers. "

Sidlow Baxter
msteele6
Posts: 2009
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:29 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by msteele6 »

Great old knife! ::tu::
User avatar
espn77
Posts: 3561
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2016 4:01 pm
Location: South west Kansas by way of Texas

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by espn77 »

I was digging around last night and came across this thread. That is an amazing knife Charlie. I have these 3 Remington knives.
Attachments
20180117_174814.jpg
20180117_174718.jpg
20180118_075337.jpg
20180117_174736.jpg
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3774
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by danno50 »

Beautiful knives, msteele6, good thread! ::tu:: Also great knives posted by Ray, Charlie and espn77! ::tu:: I am also partial to the pattern and have two Keen Kutters, unfortunately each of them has one lazy pen blade.
Dan
Attachments
RIMG0807.JPG
RIMG0499.JPG
Dan
User avatar
Pile Driver
Posts: 350
Joined: Mon May 15, 2017 5:18 pm
Location: North Shore MA

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by Pile Driver »

I have this Remington Gun Stock Whittler, would I be defacing it by polishing the NS tips and shield that were corroded? Best to leave it as is? I personally would rather see it lightly buffed up to original state.
Attachments
gun stock.jpg
User avatar
Pile Driver
Posts: 350
Joined: Mon May 15, 2017 5:18 pm
Location: North Shore MA

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by Pile Driver »

I just got my original Winchester catalog from 1926 in the mail, looks like they formally called them Orange Blossoms as well.
Attachments
20180118_103829-1.jpg
20180118_103808.jpg
User avatar
espn77
Posts: 3561
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2016 4:01 pm
Location: South west Kansas by way of Texas

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by espn77 »

Dan, great looking knives.
PD, really liking your Remington. I'd probably lightly clean it.
User avatar
RobesonsRme.com
Posts: 10077
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:44 pm
Location: The Heart of Dixie.
Contact:

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

A knife cannot be buffed up to its original state.

It can be cleaned to a better over all appearance and even that would be in the eye of an individual beholder.

A simple cleaning with toothpicks, Q-Tips, etc and a polish of the entire knife with Sem-Chrome Metal Polish is as far as one should go and there are some here that object to even that.

Pretty knife.

I think bone handled Orange Blossoms are much more rare than the pearls.

Charlie Noyes
DE OPPRESSO LIBER

"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons ___but they are helpless against our prayers. "

Sidlow Baxter
User avatar
Pile Driver
Posts: 350
Joined: Mon May 15, 2017 5:18 pm
Location: North Shore MA

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by Pile Driver »

RobesonsRme.com wrote:A knife cannot be buffed up to its original state.

It can be cleaned to a better over all appearance and even that would be in the eye of an individual beholder.

A simple cleaning with toothpicks, Q-Tips, etc and a polish of the entire knife with Sem-Chrome Metal Polish is as far as one should go and there are some here that object to even that.

Pretty knife.

I think bone handled Orange Blossoms are much more rare than the pearls.

Charlie Noyes
Thanks Charlie, I might see where a microfiber cloth and some mineral oil gets me with some elbow grease. Is flitz better than semichrome because it doesn't have an abrasive pumice?
User avatar
peanut740
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 7892
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:32 pm
Location: Ohio, along the river
Contact:

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by peanut740 »

The metal polish of your choice is fine.I have used several and find little difference.Dab some on the Blade and let it set for an hour or so and gently clean it off and it will show the etch better.
Charlie is right about many more pearl than bone orange blossoms.
Roger
User avatar
FRJ
Posts: 16350
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 1:43 pm
Location: Ct.

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by FRJ »

Did someone mention pearl Orange Blossoms?
Attachments
Remington
Remington
Robeson
Robeson
Joe
User avatar
espn77
Posts: 3561
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2016 4:01 pm
Location: South west Kansas by way of Texas

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by espn77 »

FRJ wrote:Did someone mention pearl Orange Blossoms?
Your not a very good influence Joe. I saw your nice Remington orange blossom and had to find me one. ::facepalm::
woodwalker
Posts: 4978
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2017 12:52 am

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by woodwalker »

I have one. A Winchester with a piece of bone out of the mark side and a lazy pen. I really like these little knives. Probably my favorite pattern. Well these pictures really dont do the ole gal justice but here they are. Thanks for looking.
Attachments
20180118_142653.jpg
20180118_142638.jpg
20180118_142630.jpg
20180118_142608.jpg
knife-nut
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 1505
Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 2:09 am
Location: Wichita, Kansas

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by knife-nut »

The stag handled Remington is even rarer than the bone handle. They are my favorite pattern also. It seems a lot of them have backspring problems, blades there lazy or sitting proud. The springs are very fragile on this pattern. I read somewhere that orange blossoms were priced as high as the bullet patterns, when they were new, as they were very difficult and time consuming to make.
User avatar
espn77
Posts: 3561
Joined: Sat Mar 05, 2016 4:01 pm
Location: South west Kansas by way of Texas

Re: Orange Blossoms

Post by espn77 »

This stag R7366 Remington is rough but I'm glad to have it.
Attachments
20180118_172311.jpg
20180118_172327.jpg
Post Reply

Return to “Knife Lore - Traditional Knives From the Old Days”