All About Pocket Knives

JohnR wrote: ↑Mon Aug 19, 2019 9:50 pm I've picked up a few Old Cutlers, as others have stated they are nice knives. This is the latest.

That's a really nice looking puppy John! Beautiful handles! Nice find!
Does that etch read "1 of 30"? I can't make it out.

TPK wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:13 pm

JohnR wrote: ↑Mon Aug 19, 2019 9:50 pm I've picked up a few Old Cutlers, as others have stated they are nice knives. This is the latest.

That's a really nice looking puppy John! Beautiful handles! Nice find!
Does that etch read "1 of 30"? I can't make it out.

Thanks Tom, yes it reads 1 of 30.

My first Old Cutler was in today's mail.

Near mint condition. Fine F&F. A wonderful addition to my collection! I am very happy to own this one! Here are some pictures of it. Thanks for looking!

Additional Information:

If anyone has ever wondered about the Patent Nr. on these Old Cutler knives, I found out that it had to do with the Bolsters. The idea behind them was to allow them to be mounted when the rest of the assembley steps were nearly completed. Here's a picture I found that makes things a bit clearer as to how these bolsters were designed.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

I'm curious if any of our Knife Mechanics & MOD Makers have ever worked on one of these knives.
It would be interesting to know what they thought of these, I'll call em " click into place bolsters". Or do other knife brands also have these?

TPK wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 6:51 pm Additional Information:

If anyone has ever wondered about the Patent Nr. on these Old Cutler knives, I found out that it had to do with the Bolsters. The idea behind them was to allow them to be mounted when the rest of the assembley steps were nearly completed. Here's a picture I found that makes things a bit clearer as to how these bolsters were designed.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Tom,
Did you notice the name of the attorneys at the bottom of the page?
Treefarmer

Not a knife mechanic Tom. But congrats on a sweet knife.

The way that they are assembled appears to be similar to Schrade's Swinden system.

I picked this set up not long ago.

This makes sense, since the pins are all invisible in the bolsters.

I was selling them at gunshows in 1979 - 1983, and was my best selling brand. I used to buy them from a wholesaler for $35 a dozen and sell them for $9-$10 each. Some nice ones being displayed here. I remember my best sellers were the trapper, stockman, and Barlow. All the ones I ever had and sold were Delrin handled.

TPK wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 7:05 pm I'm curious if any of our Knife Mechanics & MOD Makers have ever worked on one of these knives.
It would be interesting to know what they thought of these, I'll call em " click into place bolsters". Or do other knife brands also have these?

I’ve had one or two of these apart. The system is a bit different than the Swinden key. I originally thought I could drill out the bolsters for some new pivot pins (similar to what’s done with the Swinden key knives), but it wasn’t something that could be done. I’ve got one disassembled in a bag somewhere in my shop, I’ll have to dig it out and snap a few photos.
The system itself seemed pretty solid but it wasn’t exactly friendly to modifications. If I remember right the disassembly process was fairly difficult. And the bolsters on the one I had disassembled weren’t nickel silver, I tried to solder one to the liner and the metal just disintegrated (maybe some sort of cheaper, lighter alloy?)
Jeff

treefarmer wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 8:41 pm

TPK wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 6:51 pm Additional Information:

If anyone has ever wondered about the Patent Nr. on these Old Cutler knives, I found out that it had to do with the Bolsters. The idea behind them was to allow them to be mounted when the rest of the assembley steps were nearly completed. Here's a picture I found that makes things a bit clearer as to how these bolsters were designed.

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

Tom,
Did you notice the name of the attorneys at the bottom of the page?
Treefarmer

No I didn't but that's funny. Thanks for pointing that out Philip!

doglegg wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 9:23 pm Not a knife mechanic Tom. But congrats on a sweet knife.

Thanks Floyd!

knifeaholic wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 10:24 pm The way that they are assembled appears to be similar to Schrade's Swinden system.

I picked this set up not long ago.

This makes sense, since the pins are all invisible in the bolsters.

Great looking knives knifeaholic! Those Look Awesome!

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 11:25 pm I was selling them at gunshows in 1979 - 1983, and was my best selling brand. I used to buy them from a wholesaler for $35 a dozen and sell them for $9-$10 each. Some nice ones being displayed here. I remember my best sellers were the trapper, stockman, and Barlow. All the ones I ever had and sold were Delrin handled.

$35 a dozen. Wow! I paid that much for this one. Ya should have saved 4 or 5 dozen of them, they'd be a hot seller now as well. I hope I find a couple more of them over here some time in the future to add to my collection.

Jeffinn wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 12:25 am

TPK wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 7:05 pm I'm curious if any of our Knife Mechanics & MOD Makers have ever worked on one of these knives.
It would be interesting to know what they thought of these, I'll call em " click into place bolsters". Or do other knife brands also have these?

I’ve had one or two of these apart. The system is a bit different than the Swinden key. I originally thought I could drill out the bolsters for some new pivot pins (similar to what’s done with the Swinden key knives), but it wasn’t something that could be done. I’ve got one disassembled in a bag somewhere in my shop, I’ll have to dig it out and snap a few photos.
The system itself seemed pretty solid but it wasn’t exactly friendly to modifications. If I remember right the disassembly process was fairly difficult. And the bolsters on the one I had disassembled weren’t nickel silver, I tried to solder one to the liner and the metal just disintegrated (maybe some sort of cheaper, lighter alloy?)
Jeff

That's interesting information Jeff! Thank you for sharing that! I figured it looked easier to install them on that plan than it actually is to do. The overall quality of the knife seems to be pretty good though. These knives would make a nice little EDC but since I only have this one in very nice condition, it's in my little showcase. If you ever finish the ones you have, I'm sure they will make a knifer very happy. Wouldn't mind having one of them myself. But if I know me, it would end up in my showcase instead of my pocket.

Morning gang ,looking thru some of my knife trays and found this old cutler among some old timers. Don’t know much about these ,other than what I have read hear on this post, good info here ,thanks to all for sharing . This feels like a good solid knife, this one looks unsharpened.If anyone is really into this brand ,and interested in this knife ,let me know. Its the only old cutler that I have, and have enough EDC Knives ,So it’s just laying around ,waiting for a new home. Have a good one out there and be safe.

knifeaholic wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 10:24 pm The way that they are assembled appears to be similar to Schrade's Swinden system.

I picked this set up not long ago.

This makes sense, since the pins are all invisible in the bolsters.

Cool set, very knice.

Ripster wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:38 am Morning gang ,looking thru some of my knife trays and found this old cutler among some old timers. Don’t know much about these ,other than what I have read hear on this post, good info here ,thanks to all for sharing . This feels like a good solid knife, this one looks unsharpened.If anyone is really into this brand ,and interested in this knife ,let me know. Its the only old cutler that I have, and have enough EDC Knives ,So it’s just laying around ,waiting for a new home. Have a good one out there and be safe.

Nice looking knives JP! Don't remember ever seeing one with a " SEARS" shield before. That's pretty cool!

TPK wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 4:46 am

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 11:25 pm I was selling them at gunshows in 1979 - 1983, and was my best selling brand. I used to buy them from a wholesaler for $35 a dozen and sell them for $9-$10 each. Some nice ones being displayed here. I remember my best sellers were the trapper, stockman, and Barlow. All the ones I ever had and sold were Delrin handled.

$35 a dozen. Wow! I paid that much for this one. Ya should have saved 4 or 5 dozen of them, they'd be a hot seller now as well. I hope I find a couple more of them over here some time in the future to add to my collection.

I recall that 40 years ago table rental at gunshows was 7 or 8 bucks each for an 8 foot table, motel rooms were about $12 a night. About buying a few dozen to "put away for the future", are you doing that now? We all woulda, coulda, shoulda.

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 6:36 pm

TPK wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 4:46 am

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Wed Aug 19, 2020 11:25 pm I was selling them at gunshows in 1979 - 1983, and was my best selling brand. I used to buy them from a wholesaler for $35 a dozen and sell them for $9-$10 each. Some nice ones being displayed here. I remember my best sellers were the trapper, stockman, and Barlow. All the ones I ever had and sold were Delrin handled.

$35 a dozen. Wow! I paid that much for this one. Ya should have saved 4 or 5 dozen of them, they'd be a hot seller now as well. I hope I find a couple more of them over here some time in the future to add to my collection.

I recall that 40 years ago table rental at gunshows was 7 or 8 bucks each for an 8 foot table, motel rooms were about $12 a night. About buying a few dozen to "put away for the future", are you doing that now? We all woulda, coulda, shoulda.

I'm putting knives away that my kids will sell underpriced when I'm gone. LOL!

TPK wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 5:52 pm

Ripster wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 11:38 am Morning gang ,looking thru some of my knife trays and found this old cutler among some old timers. Don’t know much about these ,other than what I have read hear on this post, good info here ,thanks to all for sharing . This feels like a good solid knife, this one looks unsharpened.If anyone is really into this brand ,and interested in this knife ,let me know. Its the only old cutler that I have, and have enough EDC Knives ,So it’s just laying around ,waiting for a new home. Have a good one out there and be safe.

Nice looking knives JP! Don't remember ever seeing one with a " SEARS" shield before. That's pretty cool!

Thanks TPK ,they just accumulated over the years, not sure where I picked up the Sears. Don’t know much about that shield! Might have to dig into that one tomorrow and then put it in the pocket.Was that not a normal shield for Sears? Going to search around a bit on that. You all stay safe .

Seems like this thread and the whole Colonial forum is about dried up but I'll put these here for posterity I guess. They came in a pretty beat up wooden box but I just keep them on my shelf where I can see them. Old Cutler salesmans case I think.

Thanks for posting, I have about 10 or 12 Old Cutlers and they are a very well built knife.

doglegg wrote: ↑Thu Feb 04, 2021 7:27 pm Thanks for posting, I have about 10 or 12 Old Cutlers and they are a very well built knife.

Yeah, I've gotten a little carried away lately with old cutlers...and still looking

I'm gonna post this here, don't know if anyone will see it but I was wondering if someone might have any idea about this knife. In my new 2 month long quest to buy every Colonial Old Cutler knife in the world I came across this knife on Ebay. Probably paid way too much, ( ok I'll tell 50.00 ) but the RAP Cutler hooked me. It was sold to me as a factory second with all defects in full view but I still like it. Do you think it is really one of Bonfire Bob's knives and is it really a stag handle? It has the misdrilled pin hole and they actually bent the spey blade to make it fit in the pocket. Not crinked it like normal but actually bent the blade. It all looks pretty sloppy work to me. One side of the handle is a lot fatter than the other but it feels great in hand. Any opinions? Don't sugar coat it. I'm new at this stuff and am sure to screw up now and then.