American Knife Co. (Winsted) Tang Stamp

[semloh]

I recently acquired this sleeveboard pen, both blades stamped American/Winsted on two straight lines. Has anyone else seen this variation on the typical arched American Knife Co. stamp? I did some searching on the site here and elsewhere, and have only found the arched stamping represented. Perhaps the Goins book shows this variation? What I find sort of interesting is the obvious similarity to the straight lines of the Empire Knife Co. stamp. Speculation, of course- but maybe this 2-line stamp was used very early on, before the arched?

Ray

[jonet143]

a little lighter

[upnorth]

My understanding of the American Knife Co, Winsted, CT. is, the name was revived in 1919-1920 by former (disgruntled) employees of Empire, when the Alvord family sold Empire. The arched stamp is pretty elaborate, so the straight line stamp, with fewer words, may have been designed for smaller blades. I only have this larger knife from American of Winsted. "Click" it up twice, and you should see the stamp.

[upnorth]

BTW, nice sleeveboard Ray!!

[semloh]

Thanks, Charlie. I do know the basic story on the American Knife Co, mostly from one of your older posts I think, but I was just hoping someone might be able to produce another of this straight line stamp as mine is the only one I've seen . Not very many of these knives floating around out there generally, it seems. Anyway, I'm glad to have picked this one up- it's a nice little knife, well-made and still as solid as you could want.

Ray

[ea42]

Ray, here's an old horn handled American Knife Co., Plymouth. Predates Winsted but it does have a straight line stamp:

American
Knife Co
Plymouth

I've seen a good number of typically arched stamps that go straight line on the smaller blades, or simply use the first word of a stamp. Have to admit I don't know much about the Winsteds though.

Eric