Knives of the Naugatuck Valley, Conn.

[BWT]

Very nice and interesting selection of knives Barry,Lee,Ken and Ray thanks for sharing those

[LongBlade]

Really nice knives Barry, Joe, Ken and Ray ....

[Waukonda]

A recent purchase from Roger, my first Excelsior 4 1/8"

[BWT]

Very nice Ike, that’s a real beauty! I’ve never come across an Excelsior yet, nice find.

[Waukonda]

Thank you, Bill, I appreciate it.

[FRJ]

That is a beautiful knife, Ike. Strong springs?
I have one. Yours is much nicer than mine.

[peanut740]

Ike

[LongBlade]

Very nice knife Ike ... Excelsior is a really interesting make to me - though the company is listed as 1880-1884 it was bought by Northfield and the stamp was continued to be used on knives until the early 1900s - it seems, if I understand, it was a marketing ploy by Northfield to sell Excelsior - Northfield figured if folks didn't like Northfield knives and were fans of Excelsior they would sell - guess it worked for almost 20 years

Can you make out the remnants of the etch on the master blade?? Was it "Excelsior"??

Here's one of my Excelsior knives (never had an easy time finding them and only have a couple) -

[Waukonda]

That is a beautiful knife, Ike. Strong springs?
I have one. Yours is much nicer than mine.

I ripped my thumbnail on my first attempt to open, Roger had failed to include an "advisory" about such. So, as Lloyd would say, it has EWT (enthusiastic walk and talk).

Lee, that swell center is beautiful. I really like that one. Interesting about the use of tang stamp.
The etch on mine is not really visible except for the O and R, but the size of the font and size of the blade would make me think that it has to have been EXCELSIOR......circumstantial evidence.

[stockman]

Ike, That is a really nice Excelsior hard knives to find.

Harold

[BWT]

Very nice knife Ike ... Excelsior is a really interesting make to me - though the company is listed as 1880-1884 it was bought by Northfield and the stamp was continued to be used on knives until the early 1900s - it seems, if I understand, it was a marketing ploy by Northfield to sell Excelsior - Northfield figured if folks didn't like Northfield knives and were fans of Excelsior they would sell - guess it worked for almost 20 years

Can you make out the remnants of the etch on the master blade?? Was it "Excelsior"??

Here's one of my Excelsior knives (never had an easy time finding them and only have a couple) -


Blades Open DSCN9974.JPG

Very nice Lee,really good condition and nice pattern. I hope to find one someday but I do have a Northfield, I posted it once before just don’t remember where that was.

[KAW]

I'll join in in saying... that's a nice looking knife Ike.

I didn't realize they are that rare as I have two...

[Waukonda]

Thank you Harold and Ken.

Wow, Ken, those are pretty awesome and 2 diff tang stamps. I wonder if they represent pre/post Northfield?

[wlf]

Great old knives Ike, Ken , and Lee.

[wlf]

A couple close relatives. Holley Waterville Conn. 3 3/4” farmers jacks. Seems early knives were smaller, as most FJs are close to 4”. Rare whittler with pruning master blade. Farmers whittler
As described in the 1915 Holley catalogue reprint.

[KAW]

Awesome Holleys Lyle! ...its hard enough to find a Holley... or a farmer's jack (I still don't have one)... but a Holley farmer's jack must be like finding a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow!... then a Holley farmer's whittler is like the Holy Grail!! ...and in such great shape! Simply awesome!!!

[Waukonda]

Wow! Great pair, Lyle. Thanks for letting us have a look at those rarities.

[danno50]

As usual, Ray, another great variety show! I am especially partial to the Challenge EO and the H&B silver handled whittler!
Very nice large cigar jack, Ike, and an Excelsior to boot!
Beautiful Excelsior, Lee, great pattern!
Two good, well loved, old Excelsiors, Ken!
Lovely Holley Farmer's knives, Lyle! I really like that Farmer's whittler!

[LongBlade]

Thanks Dan ..

Nice knives Ken and Lyle ... a Holley FJ WHittler (though not sure Holley is really Naugatuck Valley )....

[wlf]

Thanks Dan ..

Nice knives Ken and Lyle ... a Holley FJ WHittler (though not sure Holley is really Naugatuck Valley )....

I wasn’t either, but I read the original post and Waterville Cutlery was mentioned by Ken. Refresh me about Naugatuck Valley. Sorry guys.

[LongBlade]

Thanks Dan ..

Nice knives Ken and Lyle ... a Holley FJ WHittler (though not sure Holley is really Naugatuck Valley )....

I wasn’t either, but I read the original post and Waterville Cutlery was mentioned by Ken. Refresh me about Naugatuck Valley. Sorry guys.

I was busting on you Lyle .. sorry if you misinterpreted and really I think lots of knives from CT being posted... but in truth not sure Holley was in the Naugatuck Valley (maybe you missed that on the last page when I found the thread - geographically it may fit but the fringe of on the outer edges as I see it - usually most towns of Waterbury and surrounding area both north and south had the cutleries... Ben Timme wrote a good article about mostly Naugatuck companies back in June 2012 in Knife World - I don't believe Holley was included - more Lyman Bradley, Waterville etc.

[wlf]

Being busted is sometimes necessary , but always remembered.
Heh heh heh
By the way, I didn’t see your article intricately detailing the knives of the Billings & Spencer Co. , even though it’s on the front page of Knife Magazine.

[LongBlade]

Being busted is sometimes necessary , but always remembered.
Heh heh heh
By the way, I didn’t see your article intricately detailing the knives of the Billings & Spencer Co. , even though it’s on the front page of Knife Magazine.

Lyle - ... Now that you saw the cover of the May issue of Knife Magazine check out the article... B&S no doubt had an interesting history and unique knives for the period... I've only posted the combination knife tool here long ago so check out the rest if interested ... (and no I don't consider B&S Naugatuck Valley - but CT Valley for sure ...

[JohnR]

Some very nice knives being shown everyone

A few more, a Thomaston, H&B and a Southington.

[wlf]

My post was sarcasm, or I couldn’t have commented about the in depth of the article. I haven’t finished it though. I remember when you posted that knife.