All About Pocket Knives

Just got this WWII Ulster, in as found condition, just added some oil. It has a great snap and nice fit and finish to match.

Posted this over at the Q&A FORUM too..
The Ulster was a mess when she dug it out. I cleaned it up with the old number two pencil trick, greased it up and it snaps like a gator now. The Case has a lazy main blade and some wobble with the main blade. You can see where the bolster is working off the pin in one of the pics. The little MOP is just a cute little knife with stainless blades.

Anybody know about when that Ulster was made? It has U.S. stamped on the bow and chip off the clip blade. It's going to the youngest boy when he's ready for it. The Case is the oldest boy's but I figger he'll lose it within two days if I give it to him.

Willie,
The Ulster is most likely of WWII vintage. These knives were issued to the 10th Mountain Division, and a joint US/Canadian force known as the 1st Special Services Force, "The Devil's Brigade", a forerunner of today's Special Forces. If they were issued to other groups, I'm not aware of it.
There were several versions. I'd have to dig out my books on military knives to tell you which one you have. It's not the first version, however. I think that one had the Phillips screw-driver afixed to the bail.
Do you know anything about your wife's uncle's military history, or that of his father maybe?
Here is a photo of an almost mint example that someone sold on Ebay a couple of years back. This knife brought several hundred dollars as a final bid.
Charlie Noyes

Here is my latest Ulster. Main blade stamped DWIGHT DIVINE & SON USA. Pen stamped ULSTER KNIFE CO.

Mike, that is such a beauty! But I fell out of my chair when I saw it, so I'm gonna have to sue you!!
Of course, you could just send me the knife, and we'll call it square!

Beautiful knife Mike, simply beautiful!

Phil

Charlie, if you fell out of the chair with just a picture of the knife how can I send it to you you might really hurt yourself.

This is the first Doctors knife that I will be keeping, it's the only one in my collection at this point. You know I love the ink!!!

Darn!

Great one Mike! Gets the vote for most desirable Dr. knife!

Ahh, so you're one of the culprits who kicked my poor snipe to the curb!!

What a beauty Mike! Glad you got it, you are most deserving of the ink

Eric

Here's a couple of recent additions, need a little TLC but they're still nice examples. First up is a horn sleeveboard pen knife, half stops on the small blade (and some nice spots!). Next is a brass jack:

Eric

Any idea as to the date; of this Ulster pearl tipped sleeve-board? All blades stamped ULSTER KNIFE Co. NY.; pre- WW2? Thanks.

Paul

Here is an early Ulster knife box.............



M.B.

Ulster jigged celluloid handled 2 blade jack. I am unsure of the age of the knife. The pictures are not mine, but I recently bought the knife.

Just got my first ulster, got the the sheath with it too!

Sweet!
I have 2 or 3 of them, but no sheath.

Nice find.

Dale

Whoa, I had forgotten about this thread.
I actually found it through Google while trying to research Ulster tang stamps.

IMO, we need a good guide for Ulster tang stamps.
I have the dates as assigned by John Goins in his 1979 book "Pocket Knives Markings, Manufacturers and Dealers". It shows more tang stamps than his later works tend to.

What I need is some good clear shots of the stamps.
If anyone has good clear pics of Ulsters tang stamp, please email them to me at [email protected] and I will put them together and post them in the Research Section.

For the sake of being through and as accurate as we can be, if the knife you are taking the pic of has more than one tang stamp, please include all stamps on that knife.

Is anyone interested in this project?
Please PM or email me.

Thanks,
Dale

I'll help you Dale !

Thanks Charlie.

Saturday December 12 was the date for the Oregon Knife Collectors Association (OKCA) Winter Show; a.k.a. known as the “Mini-Show.”
In the early morning hours we got hit by an ice storm. Interstate 5 was a skating rink.
I seriously considered not going, but decided to go anyway.

I drove the 70 miles; past 8 or 10 wrecked trucks, and finally got there 3 hours after the show started. Attendance was down because of the weather, but that gave me more time to visit and get to know some of the members better.

I didn’t buy many knives, but I did get one Ulster treasure:


It is a 3-3/8 inch jack with peach seed bone handles.
The blades are full. I am not sure, but I don’t think it has been sharpened.
It appears that someone used it until it was dull then put it away and never sharpened it or used it again. It has excellent snap! It has solid half stops on each blade that actually snap audibly when the blade comes to half stop while closing. Since it has been used so little, it is one of the smoothest 60-year-old knives I have seen, which is not just smooth because of being worn out. It is one of those prefect knives with great snap yet smooth enough it doesn’t remove your thumbnail when opening it!

I had a chance to talk to Bernard Levine and showed him the Ulster. He thought it was interesting that it had “Schrade Bone” on the handles. He said it was probably made around 1947 shortly after Ulster bought out Schrade.

It was dark when I headed home. Rain was falling, but there were still patches of ice on the interstate. All in all, I think it was worth the drive in the ice!

Dale

I think Bernie was probably right. You don't see many Ulsters with Peachseed.
That knife is in the condition one dreams of finding if one is a real antique knife collector, and student of the oldies. Perfect patina, hardly used, nice pattern; it just doesn't get any better!!
I'm happy for you, and for the knife! What if it had fallen into the hands of someone with a big buffer?? "shudder"!!!

Congrats!!

Well Charlie,
I have a BIG BUFFER.................................................................for lesser knives and for knives I make, of course!

Merry Christmas All!

Dale

orvet wrote:Well Charlie,
I have a BIG BUFFER.................................................................for lesser knives and for knives I make, of course!

Merry Christmas All!

Dale

I'm glad you qualified that BIG BUFFER . . . . . . . for lesser knives, Dale. That's certainly not a lesser knife!

And to all a good knife,
Charlie

I found this knife pic in my archives. It is not mine, and I can't remember who I "stole" the pic from. Anyone here?

BTW, we need more Ulsters!! Post your pics please!!!

this is my 1st "older" ulster marked:
ULSTER
KNIFE Co.
N.Y.
pinned shield-brown bone-brass liners&pins(center pin is n/s)-can opener has small 1/8" square easy open notch-other side, punch has nail nick and easy open side handle-the punch tip is broken off... ....but is marked :"?314C" not sure if 1st # is a "6" or pitting???lol.......spear,punch,can opener,screwdriver/bottle opener/skate key(wrench)
???? is the screw driver blade rare????? all 4 blades marked: ulster knife co. n.y.
also..????? ??? is this considered a cigar? ?? or camp/utility/scout type ??? ??
p.s. picked up today @ swap meet....4 dvd's and knife = $11 bucks