All About Pocket Knives

I got a new brand of shell knife in the mail today.
The tang stamp reads:
THORNTON (in an arch)/U.S.A.

Goins’ says; c. 1944-1947. A trademark used by Federal Knife Co.
Goins also says Federal Knife Co. was started by two employees from Colonial. He dates the company as c. 1944-1948/9.

The pattern is a watch fob knife. It is covered with a brass shell.
Length is 2-1/2"

These shells are starting to get real interesting as other companies pop up with shells!

Interesting knife, Dale!

It appears to be very similar in construction to the AW Wadsworth, as to the way the shell is attached.

Now for the Federal Knife Co. Was it mutiny at Colonial?? The two guys apparently abandoned ship!
Only in business for 4 or 5 years... did the Cutlery Mafia get um? What happened? Was it the ole concrete shoes
trick? Do they sleep with the fisheys?

All kidding aside, there are a lot more shell manufactures coming to light.
Makes me wonder about the patents and patent infringements. Being quite simple in design, the shell served
one purpose... it effectively covered the pins, while providing a handle. And a very cost effective manner to boot.
With the shell now dating back to 1905, I don't think it was solely to reduce cost. The "cost effectiveness" came
into play in the '30s with competition against other companies and the depression.
They hadn't reinvented the wheel, they just added the hub caps.

..... Joe

My latest Imperial USA fixed blade

Joe Dirt wrote:Interesting knife, Dale!

It appears to be very similar in construction to the AW Wadsworth, as to the way the shell is attached.

..... Joe

The tabs are less defined than those on an Imperial or an Imperial Hammer Brand, it more like the end is crimped to hold the shell halves on.
There is no rear pin through the knife like with the Wadsworth, just the crimped ends on both ends, which do not seem to work as well as the tabs on an Imperial; both shell halves are a little loose.



Nice one Gino.
I have not seen that pattern before.

Thanks dale, I never saw it either thats just one of the reasons I decided to drop a whopping 3 bucks on it!

That's a new one for me too, Gino!
Sweet deal!

Here's a solid construction THORNTON. U.S.A.
It is a VERY cheaply made knife. If it didn't have a stamp on it I would
have put it in the "usual suspects" category; Prov Cut Co., Ideal, or Novelty.

...... Joe

This is an interesting one. It appears to be a knock-off of the Camco "Dick Tracy."

I believe it is from the later fifty's because it has the "bright" yellow cell on one side.
The back side has the "dull" yellow cell wrap.
It does NOT glow in the dark as the Dick Tracy's do.

I have tried to research the F.B.I. Jr. that is printed on the knife, thinking it might be
linked to a comic book or TV show, but got no results.

Has anyone got any info on the F.B.I. Jr. character?

..... Joe

Never REALLY thought about it but long pull like that FBI Jr. ROCK!!!!

I still say I have yet to try a shell knife that didn't have as good of steel as most any other knife!

Here is my latest
Richards Sheffield England
Handle is a awesome silver.

Gotta love the tang stamp on those Richards I've got a few of them and pick them up when i see them fer cheap--Think I read somewhere on this site they was owned by Imperial??

Great knife, Gino!

It's difficult to get a good picture that will show the color and depth in it's true essence.
Pretty much a hands-on situation, to appreciate it's beauty.

The street lamp graphic on the Richards has always been a favorite of mine, also.
Wonder what the significance of it is?

..... Joe

The street light logo goes back to the original Richartz knife company in Germany. The brothers came to England in 1900 and for awhile had factories running in both countries or something along those lines. They kept their original logo for a few years. I have German and english made knigves with that logo. They changed their name to Richards to avoid descrimination during WWI. The older knives are much better quality.


Richartz Solingen with Lamplight logo stamped on main blade.

gino wrote:Here is my latest
Richards Sheffield England
Handle is a awesome silver.

Very cool Gino! As Joe stated the colors and hues go pretty deep on them.
Hey Joe, I have tried several times to get an FBI Jr. but never could seal the deal yet.
Love seein them!

Thanks Perry, I might be picking up another one or two this weekend.

Goodness, where you gettin them?

There is a lot of them floatin around PA for some reason

I used to have pretty good luck at the fleas here but they've kinda dried up at the last couple I hit in the fall. Can't wait to see'em Gino!

I picked up these three today

Camillus - Camco red handled jack. I never saw this handle before, anyone else?
Imperial advertising trick knife
Imperial jack

That Camco is cool Gino! Not sure what they called that but it sure pops

Thnks Perry, the pic doesnt show it but the handles have gold sparkles in them and it really pops.

That bottom Jack looks a LOT like this one:


Is that one about 2 and 3/4" long closed?

Very nice Dave! Hey Gino, I have had a trouble pulling the colors out in pics as well. Sounds like it has awesome color with that gold in there.

Snagged me one...

Anyone seen these colors before?

....... Joe

Got this little bitty Sheffield Richards fob knife off eBay. Bid before I looked and this is what i ended up with. I do like the metal handles but not the size and not the fact that it's a shell.

Dang Joe, what do you call that handle??