Boys Knives Through the Years

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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LongBlade
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Love that old Schrade Paul ::tu:: ::tu:: ...

Tony - All NICE Boys Knives IMO ::tu:: ::tu:: ..,
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by peanut740 »

That's a dandy Paul! ::tu::
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KnifeSlinger#81
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

Thanks guys, that schrade is one of the gems of my collection.
-Paul T.

WANTED: Shapleigh Diamond Edge branded Schrades in good condition.
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by KAW »

Haven't kept up with this thread for a while... but just got an addition that by reading about discovered belongs here...
altho there appears to be plenty of Holleys shown here in better shape (really like the Holley & Merwin Lee)...
I thought I'd post this on for prosperity's sake...
11306 11307
'til later....
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10031 means.... never having a dull moment. 8)
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Definitely belongs here Ken ::tu:: ::tu:: ... and thanks regarding the Holley & Merwin ::handshake:: ...
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Finally took some photos of this one for this thread to share…

An unusual and rare to find Boys Knife were those designed as blunt safety knives .. This knife along with Joe's (FRJ) blunt safety knife from Northfield were together in one photo in the boys knife article a few years ago.. I am also posting a catalog cut at the end of the photos that Neal (Mason) kindly shared for a similar boys knife safety blade printed in 1900 though I am not sure of the company….

T Smith & Co / Cast Steel was a Sheffield firm and though Goins lists T Smith & Co from 1797-1800 but I think that may be incorrect. I’m guessing this knife was mid to later 1800s. Tweedale had a T Smith but he was only noted as a razor maker in the mid 19th century.

Knife is 2 & 7/8” with cocobolo handles, iron liners and threaded bolster. Though the end was blunted the knife was no doubt sharpened… Joe has a Northfield of the same exact safety design - size, blade shape, cocobolo wood etc ::nod:: I believe both of these knives were in the collection of Tom Heitzman at one time.
Mark Side DSCN0289.JPG
Pile Side DSCN0313.JPG
Blade Open DSCN0373.JPG
Tang Stamp DSCN0407.JPG
1900 Boys Knife catalog cut with rounded blade option
Blunt Safety Blade Cat Cut  1900.jpg
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by JohnR »

Very nice Lee, I don't think I've ever seen the blunt ones.
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Thanks John ::tu:: ::handshake:: ... Other than my knife and Joe's example I have never seen others ... I have seen boys knives where the tips were sharpened purposely to round them or they had been tipped :lol: ...
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by danno50 »

Nice knife, Lee, very interesting boy's knife! ::tu:: Interesting description on the catalog cut: MADE OF GOOD MATERIAL, BUT NOT HAND FORGED".
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by FRJ »

Great pictures of a very nice knife in great condition, Lee. ::tu::
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Thanks Dan and Joe ::tu:: ::handshake:: ... Joe - you have pictures of your Northfield?? I could post the photo of both together as well :)

Dan - The description is quite amusing - guess given the year 1900 perhaps not hand forged meant drop forging ::shrug:: (which was developed long before) - interestingly I learned when researching the PKBG&F Union that starting around 1900 companies began using drop forging for many reasons but one was to threaten the cutlers from striking - the management thought as more automated tools were available they should institute them in-house to show the cutlers (forgers) they were replaceable.... There was indeed alot of push and shove between management and employees in that time period of the cutlery industry ..
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by FRJ »

Check your e-mail, Lee.
I sent you some pictures of my Northfield if you want to use them.

There is a picture on page one.
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Thanks Joe ::tu:: ...

Here’s the Northfield Boys Knife with blunt safety blade from Joe - a really nice knife and indeed rare :D ..
08892A9D-E654-41B0-96B6-4B56326C871A.jpeg
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B03E28C4-14F8-492F-A889-BEBDDB20EEB6.jpeg
878BAC05-1579-44CE-A8FC-6AB35D3984F5.jpeg
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And here’s the photo of both our knives from the article:
571ADDB3-1535-4879-9B6C-78020183D7DD.jpeg
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

My first knife as a boy was not nearly as good as these, but the tips were rounded...by my dad with a grinder.
-Paul T.

WANTED: Shapleigh Diamond Edge branded Schrades in good condition.
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

KnifeSlinger#81 wrote:My first knife as a boy was not nearly as good as these, but the tips were rounded...by my dad with a grinder.
Thanks Paul ::tu:: ::handshake:: ..

Too funny ::tu:: ... I see those knives pretty often with the grinder fixing that pointed end :lol: ...
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by danno50 »

This one should qualify as a boy's knife at 3 1/8"?
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

danno50 wrote:This one should qualify as a boy's knife at 3 1/8"?
A very nice Challenge Boys Knife indeed - nice score Dan ::tu:: ::tu:: ....
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by danno50 »

Thanks Lee.
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by danno50 »

Here is an article, from the May 1922 issue of American Cutler, about selling "good knives" to boys. Clicking on the jpgs enlarges them to be readable.
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acjmay1922boysknives1.png
acjmay1922boysknives2.jpg
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by Frailer »

Thanks to this thread I purchased the August 2017 back issue Knife World magazine. The boy’s knife article was very well done indeed. Thanks to the authors!
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Thanks Frailer - glad you enjoyed the article ::tu:: ::handshake:: .. and welcome to AAPK ::nod:: !!
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by FRJ »

Here is a sweet little Holley that I got today. Walks and talks like Gene Kelly!
2 3/4" closed.
Shown with its bigger brother at 3 1/8" closed.
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by LongBlade »

Nice score Joe ::tu:: ::tu:: ... The two look like almost identical brothers except for the difference in length :) ...
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by FRJ »

Thank you Lee, it's always nice to add another one to your nice thread. ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Boys Knives Through the Years

Post by wlf »

Nice old knife Joe. I am amazed how good tools 100 years old survived.

A lot of people had pocket knives. ::nod:: ( as Dimitri does )
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]

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

May the Father and Son bless
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