Oscar Barnett Tool Co pliers knife fix

[Meridian_Mike]

Hey everyone...
I got this pliers knife off the bay a little while ago. One reason I got it is because I have had one on my "want list" for a while now. This one was VERY affordable because the knife blade is broken off. There is also a couple of chips knocked out of the scales but all-in-all, in pretty good shape. SO.... here is my dilemma.....

I was thinking I would just keep it "as is" with the broken blade...... but, now that it is on its way to me, I think I might fix the blade.
NOW... I don't want to try to EVER pass this off as a complete original knife so any restoration I do will be strictly for my happiness.

That being said.... you knife mechanics.... what would you do?

1). try to graft a piece of a blade onto the stub that is left so the "O Barnett" tang stamp would still be shown....
OR
2). make a new blade and put it in. It would not have the "O Barnett" stamp so then no chance of passing it off as original.

Without further ado.... here she is...... (seller's pics)

I intend to put this repair / resto in line next after the Camillus.

What y'all think?
Mike

[Froe]

Those came with unbroken blades new? I was beginning to believe that a broke blade and busted scales were standard on a pliers knife!
Keith

[orvet]

I was thinking I would just keep it "as is" with the broken blade...... but, now that it is on its way to me, I think I might fix the blade.
NOW... I don't want to try to EVER pass this off as a complete original knife so any restoration I do will be strictly for my happiness.

That being said.... you knife mechanics.... what would you do?

1). try to graft a piece of a blade onto the stub that is left so the "O Barnett" tang stamp would still be shown....
OR
2). make a new blade and put it in. It would not have the "O Barnett" stamp so then no chance of passing it off as original.

What y'all think?
Mike

That's an interesting project you have there Mike.


To weld a blade on that broken tang, and to do it correctly would require a laser welder like jewelers use. I have priced them, and even the used ones were several thousand dollars beyond my budget when I price them several years ago.
I know collectors that use that technology. One friend who does use it says it's very difficult to find someone who can do it properly and it's also quite expensive and usually takes a good bit of time on turnaround.

That might be worthwhile if you had a knife that was worth a couple of thousand dollars, but obviously that's not the case. If I were doing it, I would try to find a blade that fit that frame, or could be modified to fit (the most likely scenario).

It is my preference to replace handles when I can rather than patch them, so that's probably how I would proceed on this one as well.

99% of the time I mark the liner of each knife I work on with my initials and year of the repair or I put my etch on the blade or the bolster of the knife. Almost always I mark the liners and the blade.

That's the way I do it. That's not the only way, just my way.

[Reverand]

Personally, I would put a whole new blade in, rather than welding one on. There is much less chance of a susequent owner passing it off as original (by accident or design). As Dale said, it should be discreetly marked as Repaired, for the same reason.
I had wondered about grinding down an old broken tang and making it into a shield for a repaired knife with a new blade. It may be too much trouble, but I may try it on a cheaper knife. I will post results if I can make one that looks decent.

[Meridian_Mike]

Yep, I think y'all are right. A "new" blade is the way to go.

Dale.....
I highly respect your advice and I am glad you pointed out how blades are welded back on. I guess I just thought a wire welder would work for putting a new piece on a blade stump. I can see that a welder of that type would probably heat parts up too hot and cause a problem with the temper of the blade.
I need to start thinking about marking knives I work on I guess. I'm not good enough to be "dangerous" yet. I knew a guy that built flintlock rifles that was "dangerous". He could restore old RARE and EXPENSIVE pistols to a point where it took a LOT of examination to see it had been restored. His artistry was second to NONE!

New blade it is.....
More to come on this knife later.

Mike

[just bob]

This same knife and subject were discussed in another forum recently and the there was a feature article in Knife Magazine on these. The thinking is these are so often see broken because they were also used as farrier knives and subjected to a lot of prying and misuse. You can look for years and probably never find a blade. I posted ads and checked with all of the sources I know for a blade and they laughed. There is a long waiting list for these blades. I know this will be very controversial and all won't agree with what I say, but if you want to keep the knife for your own collection and don't intend on reselling it then you can send it away and have a blade welded on top of the original tang for $40 plus shipping. I gave up on trying to find a blade and had mine welded. I took it to the local knife show and people were trying to use a magnifying glass to find the weld and didn't see it. I'm very happy with the work. I intend on keeping the knife and though I had nice offers on it at the show I won't sell it. I've always wanted one and didn't want to spend the $ to get a decent one. If you find a blade let us know and see if they have others.

[Meridian_Mike]

I'm in the same boat as far as not wanting to pay the asking price for a complete knife. I found 5 more for sale on the bay right now. The cheapest starting price is $200. I don't play in that league!
I like the condition of everything mine has. All parts are good and crisp, just the broken blade.

I think I will make a new blade and forget about having the identity on the tang. I am going to keep the blade stump and somehow keep it with the knife. I probably will just carry it a few days to show off and then it will go into a display case.

I am still torn about whether or not I want to replace the scales. After I get started..... I probably will.... we will see.



EDIT.... there is 6 on the bay..... one is a Colonial.... it's listed at $450
The one that has a BIN of $595 has a worn out blade. Heck, I have better things to buy with my $$$$$.

[cody6268]

Bought mine last year from a member of another forum for $18, I think it was. It was actually the very same knife I was wanting to buy for $40 or $50 3-4 years ago off eBay. He'd bought it with the intention of putting an new blade in, but never got around to it. Neither have I. His plan was to mod a TL-29 blade into it; and in fact, was an idea I suggested back when he first bought it.

The blades in these are typically brittle. Mine is broken at the exact same spot. I've left it, basically to show this issue.

We have members that have forged new blades for folders. Maybe look into that? I might have to go with that option as well. I really would like to start carrying my Barnett. I tested it on some fencing wire, and was amazed at (even with its age and condition) how easily the little tools full-sized cutters cut fencing wire. Old engineering at its finest.

[Meridian_Mike]

Ahhhhhh.... thanks for the TL-29 suggestion. I have a few of those laying around.

Mike

[1967redrider]

I think the scales (handles, covers, etc.) on your knife are pretty decent, I'd leave them as original. Looks like the punch might be tipped a little, not 100% sure on that, and even if it is it's not bad either. I've seen these at auction with Remington, Keen Kutter and other various blades that others have used for replacing broken blades and they still sell for decent money. There's a Colonial bladed one with Christmas Tree scales on the Bay right now.

These things are 100 years old (1912 I think), and considering they are working tools too, it's amazing to find one in the condition of yours. I doubt anyone back then bought one of these to sit on their shelf and "horse" was the main means of transportation. Hoof pick, leather punch for fixing bridles and saddles, pliers for fixing hooks and buckles, wire cutters for fencing and a knife blade to cut (not pry ). The perfect tool of its time!

I do not work for O. Barnett or HHH.

[Meridian_Mike]

Hmmmmmm....... I had no idea that some cutlers had put in other makers blades to repair the O Bartlett knives.

Now I wonder if any other knife makers ever really did make a similar knife?

[1967redrider]

Hmmmmmm....... I had no idea that some cutlers had put in other makers blades to repair the O Bartlett knives.

Now I wonder if any other knife makers ever really did make a similar knife?

From what I've read I don't think anyone had a design as durable as these pliers knives. Too bad the knife blades were the weak point, I guess due to inferior metal or improper heat treatment. But the frame on these bad boys is pretty sturdy.

[1967redrider]

From Goins, Second Edition. They were last made in 1915.

[Meridian_Mike]

SO..... any other stamp on the tang other than Barnett is just a fabrication of parts by somebody......
Like this one.....

You can make it yours for only $456.50....

Then I recon it must have been the blades snapping off that made them fall out of favor. I think it's a cool design.
Pliers, wire cutter, screw driver, hoof pick and leather punch.

AND.... a knife blade..... sometimes.

I like it!!!!
(The original that is....)

[1967redrider]

SO..... any other stamp on the tang other than Barnett is just a fabrication of parts by somebody......
Like this one.....
Colonial fabrication 1.jpg
Colonial fabrication 2.jpg

You can make it yours for only $456.50....

Then I recon it must have been the blades snapping off that made them fall out of favor. I think it's a cool design.
Pliers, wire cutter, screw driver, hoof pick and leather punch.

AND.... a knife blade..... sometimes.

I like it!!!!
(The original that is....)

Yep, that clip blade is a dead giveaway that the blade has been replaced, even if there was no tang stamp on it. Goins says O. Barnett Tool Co. went out of business in 1915, more history about that company would be interesting. I wonder what else they made?

[Meridian_Mike]

Yep, that clip blade is a dead giveaway that the blade has been replaced, even if there was no tang stamp on it. Goins says O. Barnett Tool Co. went out of business in 1915, more history about that company would be interesting. I wonder what else they made?

Yep, it would be interesting to find out what else they made.
Any just plain ole pocket knives?

[Meridian_Mike]

I did find this little bit of info....

[1967redrider]

That's really cool, thanks!


I was on a similar quest for old hardware store information a few years ago because of a Cattaraugus knife with an interesting etch I picked up;

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=19071&start=315

Finally found some information on the Stearns & Chenoweth etching on the knife I posted back on pages 5-6 of this thread. Apparently they were an Oregon based hardware store back in the 1880's with a location in Oakland, OR. Here's some links if you're interested;

http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui ... sequence=1

http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/ ... 002058.pdf

http://www.genealogytrails.com/ore/doug ... weth_creed

http://www.oaklandoregon.org/history.html

I find it interesting when knife collection turns into a research project, and am happy to share my findings on this forum in the hope they might help someone else at some point down the road.

[Meridian_Mike]

I find it interesting when knife collection turns into a research project, and am happy to share my findings on this forum in the hope they might help someone else at some point down the road.

OH YES!!!
I love research projects like this..... I have done several searches, looking into the makers of American pocket watches. VERY interesting stuff....

[1967redrider]

BTW- there was never a sheepfoot blade in one of these originally, the seller does not mention this;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Antiqu ... 1438.l2649

A very poor tang stamp too.

[Old Folder]

Here is my original post from 03/13/2018 pertaining to my Oscar Barnett Tool Knife to include the original 1898 Patent.

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... it=barnett

[1967redrider]

Thanks for the link, Dan.


Also forgot to mention on the sheepfoot knife, it looks to me like a scale patch job. And not a good one at that. The seller doesn't mention this either.

[Edgedriventhings]

I found an O. Barnett pliers knife at pawn shop for $7.50. The blade is a spear point and has fair wobble and the auger is broke off about a quarter to a third of the way down. Everything else looks prett good. Are they worth much in this condition, or do I have a pretty paperweight?

[Meridian_Mike]

Well, it's more than a paperweight.... can't speak to the value without a pic or 2.....
Got any pictures?
We like pictures!
BTW...... WELCOME to the forum!


Mike

[1967redrider]

Since you actually joined in 2016, to your first AAPK post! And, like Mike said, we love pictures. Even with blade play, it's good to read you have an intact blade. The wobble and punch can probably be fixed.

John