All About Pocket Knives

Thanks for that catalog page Smitty. I also found this old thread here on AAPK, which seems to indicate it to be a Sears brand viewtopic.php?t=52853. Looks like probably another brand made by Napanoch.

I'll add T.T C. to the list of Sears brands.

Thanks for the help.

Ken

danno50 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 2:08 am Another beauty for your sheepsfoot jack collection, John! Looks like an Empire shield?

Thanks Dan, I think Empire is correct.

I can't get to it right now for a picture, but I have a "Gamble Stores" stockman, out of Minneapolis. Levine's 4th says that it was made by Camillus in the 50's & 60's.

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 9:41 pm

JohnR wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 8:00 pm W.Bingham Cleveland OH 3 3/4" sheepsfoot jack, thanks to Roger Cunningham.

Thanks John. I added Bingham to the list - now we need a resident expert here to identify who made knives for them.

rustyoldknife wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 8:35 pm
Great Post and wonderful new resource.

Thank you. But I can’t take credit for anything but trying to consolidate and compile the information provided by others.

Ken

Common consensus on the other forum is that John's Bingham was made by Empire.

There is also some speculation that John Primble knives were made by NYKC.

Thanks Dan, I added Empire as a supplier of Bingham. Think I’ll hold off on adding NYKC to Belknap, although it wouldn’t surprise me as they were a contractor for others. Hopefully I can find more confirmation or someone here will. I appreciate the input though - it provides an angle for further research!

Ken

Here is an early John Primble India Steel Works that I would say is Schrade Cut Co.

That is a beauty, John!

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 4:39 pm Thank you all! Amazing what cabin fever does! Dan, your post is exactly what I’m hoping for as I know the list is not complete. My understanding is Goins’ dates are when the stamps were used, so it doesn’t always (but often does) coincide with dates the firm was in operation. But there are errors also. Amazed he did what he did pre-internet.

There is so much history to mine in the area of hardwares and cutlery. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to edit my post but as long as members make contributions I’ll try to update it. And as I find more information - there’s stuff still to be mined in this thread alone. After that it’ll have to be a copy and paste operation.

Keep ‘em coming!

Ken

Seattle Hardware also made knives stamped.
SEATTLE
HDWE CO.

if you need to see it I have one. I don't know who made them.

Thanks David. My original post has been locked out of edit capability so I’m unfortunately left with copy and paste, so I’ve pasted it here, removed the quotes and added your input. This should act as a new post and allow a couple more days of edits so if y’all have more contributions please keep them coming!

I’m making a list of the more (or less) commonly seen cutlery stamps of hardware companies, be they retailers or distributors, their approximate dates of operation (courtesy of Goins’ or Levine’s). And based on research or best guess, who made knives for them. Please add or correct any errors or omissions you see.

Hardware firm, Dates of Operation, Stamps used, Maker
————————————————————- -—————————————— ————————————————- ———————————————
Ainslie-Martin Co. 1900-1922 — ????
AINSLIE-MARTIN CO.

Brown-Camp Hardware 1997-1959 — ????
BROWN-CAMP HDW. CO.

DASCO 1922-1962 — Schrade
DASCO

Florida Hardware Co. 1939 — Challenge
ALLIGATOR BRAND
FLORIDA HDWE. CO.

Frankfurth Hardware Co. 1862-1960 — ?????
WM. FRANKFURTH HDW CO.

Geller, Ward, Hasner Hardware Co. 1903-1939 — ????
E-Z CUTTER
G. W. & H. HDW. CO.

Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett 1855-1960 — New York Knife, Camillus
OUR VERY BEST
OVB
TRUE VALUE
REV-O-NOC
BLACK DIAMOND
HIBBARD
CRUSO
HIBSPEBAR

Montgomery Wards 1935-1950 — Utica, Camillus, Winchester
WARDS - USA
DURO-EDGE
POWR-KRAFT
LAKESIDE

Harris Brothers & Co. 1915-1926 — ?????
HARRIS BROS. & CO.

Belknap Hardware 1904-1985 — Valley Forge, Boker, Ulster, Schrade
JOHN PRIMBLE
BLUE GRASS
BELKNAP
PINE KNOT
BLUE RIBBON CUT. CO.

Canton Hardware Co. 1888-1938 — ????
KEEN EDGE CUTLERY CO.

McWhorter, Weaver, & Co. 1920-1939 — W.R. Case & Sons
WHITE HOUSE

Sears, Roebuck & Co. 1902-2010 — Napanoch, Camillus, Ulster, Schrade, Utica
WILBERT
SEARS
STA-SHARP
DUNLOP
KWIK KUT
HIGH CARBON STEEL
CRAFTSMAN
J.C. HIGGINS
T.T.C. (inside a diamond)

Dunham, Carrigan & Hayden Co. 1848-1964 — New York Knife
SPRINGBROOKE KNIFE CO.
CLEAN CUT
SEQUOIA
SUNSET
COMSTOCK
VOLKA
BRUNSWICK CUTLERY CO.

Fletcher Hardware Co. 1863-1913 — ?????
FLETCHER HARDWARE CO.

Kelly-How-Thomson Co. 1902-1947 — ??????
HICKORY

L.L. Bean 1937-Present — KABAR
L.L. BEAN

Maher & Grosh 1877-1963 — ????
MAHER & GROSH

McIntosh Hardware 1903-1911 — ?????
McINTOSH HEATHER

Miller, Sloss & Scott — ????
MILLER, SLOSS & SCOTT
STILETTO

Simmons 1868-1960 — Walden Knife, Winchester, Camillus
KEEN KUTTER
CHIP A WAY
WINCHESTER
LACLEDE
BANNER
FIDELITY
SENATOR
HORNET
AMERICAN ACE
CLIMAX
BIG BOY
ARISTOCRAT
BERKSHIRE

Shapleigh 1843-1960 — Schrade, Camillus, Empire
DIAMOND EDGE
D-E
SHAPLEIGH’S
KEEN KUTTER
NORVEL- SHAPLEIGH
SIMMONS
BRIDGE

Gray & Dudley 1885-1927 — Tidioute Cutlery
WASHINGTON

Henry Gilbert & Son 1920-1940 — Schrade
GILBERT HARRISBURG

Kruse & Bahlman Hardware Co. 1858-1962 — ????
K & B
CUTSURE
CUT SURE K & B HDW. CO.

Pacific Hardware & Steel 1901-1918 — Utica, Napanoch
STILETTO
PACIFIC HDWE

C. M. McClung & Co. 1882-1960 — ??????
CUMBERLAND
KEENER EDGE

Moore-Handley Hardware Co. 1882-1962 — Camillus
CHAMPION
AMERICA’S BEST

Hackett-Gates-Hurty 1912-present? — Boker
HACKET-GATES-HURTY

Henkel & Joyce Hardware Co. 1900-1939 —
HENKLE & JOYCE HDWE CO.

Moore Maker Inc. 1975-present — Queen, Canal Street, Utica, Bear & Son, Böker, W.R. Case & Sons
MOORE MAKER

Trustworthy Hardware 1860-1964 — Ulster
TRUSTWORTHY

Marshall-Wells Hardware 1893-1963 — New York Knife
ZENITH
MARSHALL-WELLS HARDWARE CO.

Seattle Hardware Co. 1892-present? — ????
OCCIDENT
SEATTLE HDWE CO.

Wyeth Hardware Co. 1860-present? — Phoenix Knife Co., Utica
WYETH’S WARRANTED CUTLERY


Van Camp Hardware Co. 1888-1960 — Capitol Cutlery, Schrade
VAN CAMP
CAPITOL
BEN HUR
RAOLA
VANCO
V.C. CUT. CO. GERMANY
V CAMP GERMANY

Blish-Mize & Silliman Hardware 1871-present? — Utica, Camillus?
MOHAWK
BLISH-MIZE & SILLIMAN HDWE CO

Farwell-Ozman & Kirk Hardware 1881-1959 — ????
HENRY SEARS & SON 1865
GILT EDGE

W. Bingham Co. 1841-1948 — Empire
W.BINGHAM CO.
BBB
XLCR

Virginia-Carolina Hardware Co. 1920-1940 — ????
V.C. HDW CO

Wimberly & Thomas Hardware Co. 1900-1944 — ????
WIMBERLY & THOMAS HDW

Witte Hardware Co. 1865-present? — ????
WITTE HDWE CO.


Missing a lot, including many manufacturers that contracted to make knives for these hardware firms. If you know any of the missing cutlery manufacturing firms, any other related info please advise.

Ken

Here’s one I have not seen mentioned.
Geller, Ward and Hasner Hdw co St Louis.
Goins says 1909 to 1939. It’s a mint iron handle with the original grind, etch and Japanning.

Thanks, Kerry. I added it. Can’t read the stamp on your picture so I input the info from Goins’ for the stamps. Please check my work and let me know it it isn’t correct.

Ken

Florida Hardware Jacksonville FL

Not sure of the maker ?
Ulster , Napanoch , Winchester ?

Thanks Mike! I added them. According to Goins’ they also used the “Alligator Brand” stamp, so I added it too.

En

ScoutKnives wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 1:46 pm Florida Hardware Jacksonville FL

Not sure of the maker ?
Ulster , Napanoch , Winchester ?

I have a Florida Hardware that is unquestionably a Challenge.

Hey Ken here is a McIntosh Heather, Cleveland, Ohio. It’s 1906-1911 according to Goins.

A very good possibility of it being a Challenge

I picked this knife up at a flea market in 3 dollar bin lol
Just outside of Jacksonville .
It’s a big knife , around 4 1/2” closed .

Mike

peanut740 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 4:34 pm

ScoutKnives wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 1:46 pm Florida Hardware Jacksonville FL

Not sure of the maker ?
Ulster , Napanoch , Winchester ?

I have a Florida Hardware that is unquestionably a Challenge.

Thanks Roger and Bill, I made those additions.

Ken

BROWN-CAMP HDW. CO. DESMOINES IA 1909-59. Has an M on back tang. 3 3/8” closed.

ludwig26 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 10:57 pm BROWN-CAMP HDW. CO. DESMOINES IA 1909-59. Has an M on back tang. 3 3/8” closed.

Added! Thank you.

Ken

MPEG: Posted this before. Didn't see it on your list. ROBBINS HDWE CO.. Levine and Price list ROBBINS, CLARKE and BIDDLE in Philadelphia c.1837 who later became Biddle Hdwe. Not sure if there's a relationship here. No location on the 4 stamped blades.
Enjoying your efforts on the list. Thanks, J.O'.

Did a little research re: the ROBBINS. Found this on BIDDLE HDWE. Their knives, or some of them, were made by NYK. The ad said they sold 600 patterns. Here are two pics of boxes from the source. Nothing more on ROBBINS. J.O'.

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sat Mar 05, 2022 2:43 pm MPEG: Posted this before. Didn't see it on your list. ROBBINS HDWE CO.. Levine and Price list ROBBINS, CLARKE and BIDDLE in Philadelphia c.1837 who later became Biddle Hdwe. Not sure if there's a relationship here. No location on the 4 stamped blades.
Enjoying your efforts on the list. Thanks, J.O'.

J.O., sorry about that. I somehow missed it - I was trying to include all examples that were included in this thread.

I’ve been locked out from editing the list (again). I’ll try doing another copy-paste-edit of the list but I’m going to wait a while to see what else gets added by others before doing it again.

Keep the contributions coming, especially if it’s an addition not already on the list.

Ken

Ken. You didn't miss that. I was referring to a post I did a year ago. J.O'.

Townley Metal & hardware co.
Goins says 1884 to present. Marked Germany on 1 blade.

Meet Me in St. Louis
Top to bottom: Simmons, Shapleigh, Witte