All About Pocket Knives

FRJ: are any of those wooden handled knives Chicago cutlery? Just curious. Also is there any brand that you favor?

Hi Quick Steel.
I don't have any Chicago Cutlery. Some are Ka-bar, Case, Robeson and Utica, and Queen and Russell, for more familiar U.S. knife brands.
Also A.J. Jordan, Sheffield, Hoffman, Germany, Sabatier from France, and others.
I stumbled on a Dexter chef knife and soon realized its high quality, and looked for more of a certain model number. The 489 series.
4898, 48910, 48912, to designate blade length. This is a Harrington knife company brand which merged with Russell and is no more.
Dexter was a son of Mr. Harrington, Southbridge, Ma. It's a great knife.

I don't have a favorite because truth be told, I don't know much about them. I like the Dexter for its quality and design and USA connection. The reason most of this stuff appeals to me is it is classic professional kitchen tools that are indeed quite useful in the kitchen. And believe me, I'm no pro. Not even close. I just like good tools and I have to stop buying them.
I hope you like them.
Thanks.

I like the Dexter for its quality and design and USA connection.

Thanks FRJ. You have a really interesting collection.

I asked about the Chicago brand only because one knife of theirs I had, though inexpensive, was a great knife in the kitchen.Somewhat related: A few years back a large survey was made of professional butchers. Turned out that by far the most popular among them was the relatively inexpensive Forshner. It's popularity was due not to its low cost but to its superior slicing thereby placing less stress on the hand and wrist.

I believe Swiss Army is dropping the Forshner label and will use the standard Swiss Army label. This may have already taken effect.

Nice collection of kitchen knives Joe!

Thanks for posting pictures of them

Thanks, Dimitri. My pleasure.

Just getting into the kitchen cutlery, you fellers have set a pretty high bar!
Here's a couple I picked up recently. A Case XX 283-9 and a massive 19-1/2" Harrington Allen-Dexter meat cutters knife.
I read the history of Harrington, Dexter and Russell in the above posts, but not sure where the Allen name comes in. Maybe a contract knife?
One thing's for sure, this bad boy was meant for more then puttin' the splits in your bologna before fryin' it up!
WB

whitebuffalo58;
How long is the blade on the Dexter about 15 inches.
moss

Right at 14-1/4", Moss. Handle's about 5-1/4".
While i'm here, this is a close-up of the markings.
WB

I have a box full of these

Love the bone handles!

Hands down, that is the best lookin' table knife i've ever seen, Dimitri!! Did they make matching spoons and forks? What a way to set a holiday table!!

WB

Thanks WB!

I have seen the forks with the bone but not any spoons.

Oh well, the fork and knife's all you need. Who eats soup at Thanksgiving, anyway?!

WB

Those are beauties MB. Really fantastic jigging. I have a set that I will post, the color is slightly different and they are not in as nice shape. Great set, they would look so good with a very fine meal.

Joe, you have a great collection. I love carbon steel kitchen knives. In the kitchen is where I use carbon steel knives each and every day. I love the number of chef knives you have, if you ever want to part with a couple let me know.

Quick Steel wrote:

I believe Swiss Army is dropping the Forshner label and will use the standard Swiss Army label. This may have already taken effect.

They have the Victorinox label on them now. Same knife as before.

Currently this is all I have....Meriden Cutlery Company....

She is a beauty!

My Swedish grandmother used this knife for years. She passed away about 50 years ago. My dad inherited some of her treasures, including this knife. Sometime in the 70s he had to replace the shattered Ebony handle. He whittled it out of some hard maple he had. I think the bolster is original. When my Dad passed away I became the curator (5 Siblings) of Grandma Erika's things. In that trunk was this knife. Since I have had it, it has been stuck in a Chicago Cutlery knife block (for about 15 years). Hoping to identify the maker I have taken these photos this morning. The years of use and sharpening has made the "trademark" nearly invisible, but I am betting some of our members can at least identify the original trademark if not the age. It will soon go to one of the great or great-great grands and I would like to be able to put an identification along with the heirloom. Thanks folks.

Hibbard, Spencer and Bartlett-OVB (Our Very Best)
Great story and really nice heirloom!!

WB

Good one WB. Nice knife Old Gar. Good old family stuff.

I picked this up at the flea market today. The main reason I bought it was the unusual way the jigged bone handles were attached. There are no pins. The silver (ferrels?) are holding them on, I guess. It looks like the bone scales extend under the hollow silver fittings. Probably some cutlers cement used as well. Stamped in the blade is: GEO. WOSTENHOLM & SON'S - CELEBRATED I-X-L CUTLERY - SHEFFIELD - ENGLAND.

Knife-nut if I owned that one it would be what I'd carve my Thanksgiving turkey with no doubt about it. That's a fine looking knife.

Thank You Philco. I have a few sets of these, and I do use them at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I found a Keen Kutter set for $20.00 a few months back. I still pick them up when I see a good price.

That is a gorgeous knife, k-n. The bone is lovely and the silver work is really something else. Great score!

Thank You Beechtree.

Beautiful silver work on that one

Thank You Dimitri.