Ulster Collecting

[FRJ]

Thank you very much, Greg.

[New_Windsor_NY]

My latest two Ulsters. A "55D" and another "63."

Nice ones Skip, I especially like that whittler. Red bone?

Thank you Greg. I really don't know what material the handles are made of. But they are very nice looking.
The seller said the handles are "bonite."
I entered "bonite" in the search box, under "Quick links" (here on AAPK) and information is definitely available.
I never heard of "bonite" before, I've heard of it now.

[jxr1197]

Thank you Greg. I really don't know what material the handles are made of. But they are very nice looking.
The seller said the handles are "bonite."
I entered "bonite" in the search box, under "Quick links" (here on AAPK) and information is definitely available.
I never heard of "bonite" before, I've heard of it now.

Bonite is not a material, it’s a marketing term thought up by the same fellas who introduced us to Staglon and Meerschaum Bone. In the pre-Delrin haze there were a slew of polystyrenes and acetals experimented with. Joseph Foster (the sunglasses guy) was a major player in this arena and was selling his own brand of plastic, Fostarene, to all of the IKAC companies and Camillus at the time. I think Bonite debuted in 1957 or so and I have no evidence, but a strong hunch that it’s Fostarene. Delrin is the only plastic I can think of whose name is used in product descriptions. All other plastics seem to have been branded – like Bonite.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Thank you Greg. I really don't know what material the handles are made of. But they are very nice looking.
The seller said the handles are "bonite."
I entered "bonite" in the search box, under "Quick links" (here on AAPK) and information is definitely available.
I never heard of "bonite" before, I've heard of it now.

Bonite is not a material, it’s a marketing term thought up by the same fellas who introduced us to Staglon and Meerschaum Bone. In the pre-Delrin haze there were a slew of polystyrenes and acetals experimented with. Joseph Foster (the sunglasses guy) was a major player in this arena and was selling his own brand of plastic, Fostarene, to all of the IKAC companies and Camillus at the time. I think Bonite debuted in 1957 or so and I have no evidence, but a strong hunch that it’s Fostarene. Delrin is the only plastic I can think of whose name is used in product descriptions. All other plastics seem to have been branded – like Bonite.

Thank you Jason. As usual, not just an answer, but helpful information as well.

[Meridian_Mike]

OK.... I found this Ulster at the gun show last weekend.
I have heard these called... "nutters"... "castration knives" and "rooster nutters" among other names.

SO.... what the heck is the "dangerous" looking blade actually used for?

AND.... what would be a good and proper name for these guys?

Here you go....

What say ye?

[New_Windsor_NY]

OK.... I found this Ulster at the gun show last weekend.
I have heard these called... "nutters"... "castration knives" and "rooster nutters" among other names.

SO.... what the heck is the "dangerous" looking blade actually used for?

AND.... what would be a good and proper name for these guys?

Here you go....
IMG_5391.JPG

What say ye?

Hey Mike. I think you're asking for "trouble" with that first question regarding blade use.
Regarding the second question, I'd call it a veterinarian's knife.

[Meridian_Mike]

Well.....LOL..... Yep, trouble could pop up (or down) from the first question.

I'm happy with "vet's knife"... That shall be its official name.

SO.... I guess that blade really is a "castration" blade then?
(Maybe that is a more gentile way of asking for a blade's USE?)

I wasn't sure if that was the true use of the blade.... Heck, I'm not a vet so I don't know what is involved in the creation (or birth) of "mountain oysters"

[Mumbleypeg]

Mike you got it right. Designed for use in "neutering" surgery. That's also why the knife is completely metal, so it can be easily and thoroughly sterilized.

Not sure I'd call it a "veterinarian's knife" though. More like a "veterinary knife" (used by farmers or ranchers for "veterinary" purposes). Subtle distinction. Real veterinarians typically have more professional tools. That's why they get paid more.

Ken

[Meridian_Mike]

Mike you got it right. Designed for use in "neutering" surgery. That's also why the knife is completely metal, so it can be easily and thoroughly sterilized.

Ken

10-4... Thanks Ken!
("field" surgery I would suppose...)

[Meridian_Mike]

This one is on the way to me...
SO.... what's the deal with this Ulster.... with a 58OT mark on the blade and a DE shield?

I could see Ulster putting a left over 58OT blade in a knife but a DE shield?

I've seen a couple more in this thread but I see no explanation.
What do y'all think?

We need us a good Ulster book.....

[jxr1197]

OK.... I found this Ulster at the gun show last weekend.
I have heard these called... "nutters"... "castration knives" and "rooster nutters" among other names.

SO.... what the heck is the "dangerous" looking blade actually used for?

AND.... what would be a good and proper name for these guys?

I have always heard these called nutters too but Ulster gave it an equally grim, but 'politer' name. They called it a Fleam Knife - as in blood letting. Catalog cut courtesy of COSRUS:

This one is on the way to me...
SO.... what's the deal with this Ulster.... with a 58OT mark on the blade and a DE shield?

I saw that knife up for sale. My guess was either a repair (is that pen blade stainless?) or one day the factory ran out of the correct blades and someone grabbed a box of 58OT blades to keep production going?


This tiny little finger nail picker is new to me this week. All of 1.5" closed and covered in real pearl.

[Meridian_Mike]

This one is on the way to me...
SO.... what's the deal with this Ulster.... with a 58OT mark on the blade and a DE shield?

I saw that knife up for sale. My guess was either a repair (is that pen blade stainless?) or one day the factory ran out of the correct blades and someone grabbed a box of 58OT blades to keep production going?

After I got this knife, I checked in this thread and saw that Dale and at least one other person had this exact knife. SO... I just figured there must have been a run of these or something.
It is an interesting knife though. Mine will be displayed with my Old Timers right next to my PA Old Timer.

[Meridian_Mike]

I got this here ceee-gar off the bay last night.
It looks to be in pretty good shape.

Mike

[jxr1197]

After I got this knife, I checked in this thread and saw that Dale and at least one other person had this exact knife. SO... I just figured there must have been a run of these or something.
It is an interesting knife though. Mine will be displayed with my Old Timers right next to my PA Old Timer.

Weird Schrade quirks are always fun! BTW, what's a 'PA Old Timer'- ?

[Meridian_Mike]

Weird Schrade quirks are always fun! BTW, what's a 'PA Old Timer'- ?

The PA Old Timer was one of the 3 Old Timers available from Prince Albert Tobacco. You saved 5 of the coupons from the inside of the PA cans and added $2 to that. Then you would get the one you wanted in the mail.

These were made by the Ulster co.

[Meridian_Mike]

Here is the above (DE 58OT) next to the Ulster 58OT from the PA offer.

The main blades are the same.

[jxr1197]

The main blades are the same.

I should have picked up on the PA / Prince Albert connection - I had a senior moment...

The 58OT was built on the Ulster 55 frame and I have no idea why it became a 58OT. Seems like it should have been a 55OT. The 50OT was built on the Ulster 50 frame and they got that one right. Up until around 1960 Ulster 55s had a traditional clip blade which then morphed into the turkish clip on the 58s in your pic. It was used extensively beyond the PA campaign though for; Schrade, Ulster, Imperial, Kingston, Hammer Brand, Keen Kutter, Primble, Craftsman, HSB, Camel, Luxrite, Coast, etc, etc, etc.. The Ulster 50/55 are one of my favorite groups to collect. I'll try to remember to post a pic of my pile of 'em later.

[Meridian_Mike]

The 58OT was built on the Ulster 55 frame and I have no idea why it became a 58OT. Seems like it should have been a 55OT. The 50OT was built on the Ulster 50 frame and they got that one right. Up until around 1960 Ulster 55s had a traditional clip blade which then morphed into the turkish clip on the 58s in your pic. It was used extensively beyond the PA campaign though for; Schrade, Ulster, Imperial, Kingston, Hammer Brand, Keen Kutter, Primble, Craftsman, HSB, Camel, Luxrite, Coast, etc, etc, etc.. The Ulster 50/55 are one of my favorite groups to collect. I'll try to remember to post a pic of my pile of 'em later.

COOL.... I had been concentrating on my Old Timer collection for a while BUT now it seems I have branched out into the Ulsters.

Can't wait to see your pile!

[jxr1197]

Can't wait to see your pile!

Aside from the occasional CAMCO that snuck in these are all Ulster 50/55 or IKAC derivatives from those patterns -

[Meridian_Mike]

Can't wait to see your pile!

Aside from the occasional CAMCO that snuck in these are all Ulster 50/55 or IKAC derivatives from those patterns -
5055.jpg

Good Lawd have mercy!
Yep, that is a pile alright!

[jxr1197]

Yep, that is a pile alright!

The pile grew by one today with this Hibbard rendition of the Ulster 50.

[FRJ]

A good looking bunch of knives, Mike and Jason.

Here's a nice, although slightly abused, equal end I got at the NCCA knife show recently. 3 1/4" closed.

[Meridian_Mike]

I just found me a #10 Ulster Barlow....
Now I have a #10..

A 10 OT Barlow

And a #11 Barlow....

I have seen pics of other Ulster Barlows....SO.....
The search goes on.....

[1fartsmella]

An unusual Ulster with 3 different stamps. I have shown this knife to a few knowledgeable knife guys, and all agree the knife shows no signs of being messed with.
The master blade is stamped Ulster Knife Co. One small blade is stamped Maher & Grosh Toledo O and the other small blade is stamped Stiletto Cutlery Co. New York. We know Ulster did plenty of contract work over the years for many different businesses. A possible "Lunch Box" Knife? At any rate it's an interesting conversation piece. All opinions are welcome here.

[Meridian_Mike]

Good GOLLY... that is an amazing knife!
There is just something about those big ole.... "elephant toe" blades that turns my crank!

I need to study-up on that knife.
Maybe someone in the know can expound on it!



edit....
One thing I notice is the large blade uses BOTH springs.
Very interesting construction!