America's "Little Sheffield"

This forum is dedicated to the discussion and display of old knives. The rich history of all the many companies that made them through the early years will be found here as well as many fine examples of the cutlers art. Share pictures of your old knives and your knowledge here!
Post Reply
User avatar
KAW
Posts: 522
Joined: Thu Aug 03, 2017 8:33 pm
Location: was Ulster Co., NY; now Hanover Co., VA

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by KAW »

peanut740 wrote:Yes Joe,after 1931.I believe it is Imperial made.
FRJ wrote:My first early Imperial with the Hammer Brand stamp and bone covers.
Yeah... it probably should pointed out here that after NYKC went out of business... Imperial acquired the Hammer Brand logo and started using it as early as 1936... as we all know Imperial and Schrade merged but they continued the Hammer Brand line until 1955. However, I believe the line was produced in the Providence, Rhode Island factory altho I haven't come across any documentation to verify that... and I do have a peanut marked with the Hammer Brand logo but came in an Ulster cellophane wrapper (pg 11).

Now if I see a knife with only the logo & no NYKC stamped on any other tang, I assume its Imperial. The omission of a shield on a jigged bone handle was another red flag for me. Its nice addition to your exquisite collection Joe... ::tu::
'til later....
Ken

10031 means.... never having a dull moment. 8)
ObsidianEdge
Posts: 592
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:38 am

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by ObsidianEdge »

Some really nice knives Barry, Joe, Ralph and Lucky! Great thread.

I don't think I've posted this congress here. Also posting a box I won recently.
Attachments
new congress open.jpg
NYK co. tang 2.jpg
tang NYC congress.jpg
s-l1600-2.jpg
Mike Robuck

Author: "Gun Trader's Guide to Collectible Knives"
User avatar
LongBlade
Posts: 3417
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 3:00 pm
Location: Woods of CT

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by LongBlade »

Great looking Congress Mike ::tu:: ::tu:: ... Beautiful bone and cool shield!! Nice score on the box too!!
____________________________________________________________________________
Lee
User avatar
KAW
Posts: 522
Joined: Thu Aug 03, 2017 8:33 pm
Location: was Ulster Co., NY; now Hanover Co., VA

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by KAW »

Wow Mike!!! ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
Between being a Congress pattern... the etched blade... and that shield... I'm just drooling all over my keyboard... ::drool:: ::drool:: ::drool::
... and what a great complement that box is for the knife... 8)
'til later....
Ken

10031 means.... never having a dull moment. 8)
User avatar
FRJ
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 17136
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 1:43 pm
Location: Ct.

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by FRJ »

Beautiful knife, Mike, and what a nice clean box.
Joe
User avatar
peanut740
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 8123
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:32 pm
Location: Ohio, along the river
Contact:

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by peanut740 »

My kind of knife Mike! ::tu:: ::tu::
Roger
1fartsmella
Posts: 374
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:21 am
Location: Long Island, New York

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by 1fartsmella »

Mike, That is an outstanding NYK congress. That bone is about as good as it gets.
And that box, in the upper right corner has an incorporated date in roman numerals MDCCCLII = 1852 if I'm not mistaken. Very cool.
Barry
1fartsmella
Posts: 374
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:21 am
Location: Long Island, New York

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by 1fartsmella »

This easy opener is stamped Wester Bros Warranted New York on both blades. These guys were importers and wholesalers at the turn of the century.
They brought knives in from Germany until WWI, when German imports were banned. In order to continue selling pocket knives, they had to have them made in the USA. This knife has all the DNA of Walden NY. Either Schrade or NYK almost certainly made this one.
Opinions welcome....
Attachments
WESTER BROS FT.jpg
WESTER BROS BK.jpg
WESTER BROS OPN.jpg
Barry
JAMESC41001
Posts: 951
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:14 pm

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by JAMESC41001 »

ObsidianEdge wrote:Some really nice knives Barry, Joe, Ralph and Lucky! Great thread.

I don't think I've posted this congress here. Also posting a box I won recently.
Mike, what a great knife! Interestingly an auction for a Schrade with that shield just ended. I have a feeling it is a very early Schrade possibly among the first. Can you give the closed length and what year your knife was offered? The NYK pictured here is from a 1908 catalog.
Jay
D530C7BF-52CA-4AA3-884E-7A2E99302E4C.jpeg
029342B9-8381-4248-AB28-589DF1564149.jpeg
User avatar
gsmith7158
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 8617
Joined: Fri Dec 25, 2015 7:25 pm
Location: Canton, Ga. 100% of the time
Contact:

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by gsmith7158 »

1fartsmella wrote:This easy opener is stamped Wester Bros Warranted New York on both blades. These guys were importers and wholesalers at the turn of the century.
They brought knives in from Germany until WWI, when German imports were banned. In order to continue selling pocket knives, they had to have them made in the USA. This knife has all the DNA of Walden NY. Either Schrade or NYK almost certainly made this one.
Opinions welcome....
Hey Barry, here's one I have. Its stamped Wester Bros New York. Easy open sans the nail nick. It seems like in my research on this knife that I found the New York office was not active for too long so these USA made Wester Bros might be a bit of an oddity.
Attachments
20181224_083533.jpg
20181224_083605.jpg
------------------

Greg

IF YOU AIN'T BUYING OR LOOKING AT A KNIFE THEN YOU AIN'T LIVING.
Always looking to buy good quality Empire knives.

PROUD MEMBER AAPK, NRA.
ObsidianEdge
Posts: 592
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:38 am

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by ObsidianEdge »

Thanks Lee, Ken, Joe, Roger, Lee, Jay and Barry. The knife is 4 1/4 closed. The box has a pattern number on it but I'm away from all of my knife stuff over the holidays. I was going to see if it was in Barry's NYK Co. catalog. Must have been for smaller patterns because the box isn't that big. I didn't see that about the date on the box Barry, so thanks for pointing that out.

That's a great knife and pattern Barry. Sure does seem likely that one of those two companies made it. The shield makes me think NYK Co.

Jay, great pattern as well and cool that you have the catalog cut. I like the bolsters as well. Maybe older than mine? I did look for my congress in the Biddle catalog but didn't find it.

Beautiful knife Greg! I like that full main blade.

I posted this in the NYK Co. thread but I don't think I've posted it here.It is in the Biddle hardware catalog.
Attachments
NYK open.jpg
Mike Robuck

Author: "Gun Trader's Guide to Collectible Knives"
User avatar
RalphAlsip
Posts: 2384
Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2014 9:01 pm
Location: Southern Illinois

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by RalphAlsip »

Mike, WOW! The NYK Hammer Brand moose is phenomenal! ::tu:: ::tu::
ObsidianEdge
Posts: 592
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:38 am

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by ObsidianEdge »

Thanks Ralph. It's one of my favorites. Merry Christmas all.
Mike Robuck

Author: "Gun Trader's Guide to Collectible Knives"
User avatar
wlf
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 6245
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:55 am
Location: WV

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by wlf »

Did you win that one Jay? I’d like to get an arched Schrade Cut Co. some day.

Mike and Barry, keep those beauties coming. Great information Barry on Wester Bros.

Mike, I agree, Ken had a great idea in this thread and thanks for contributing.

Code: Select all

[b][b]Wanted GEC 641113s Trade or buy[/b][/b]
GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

May the Father and Son bless
Lyle
1fartsmella
Posts: 374
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:21 am
Location: Long Island, New York

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by 1fartsmella »

Greg, That Wester Bros looks like another knife made in Walden. Mike, that is one of the nicest NYK I've seen. A great pattern, Etched with Factory finish and amazing Bone handles. A keeper for sure. If knives could talk, that knife would not have much to say .... I spent the last hundred years at the bottom of some guys underwear drawer....
Barry
ScoutKnives
Posts: 1650
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 9:58 pm
Location: Florida

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by ScoutKnives »

A couple I would like to add to this thread NYK Boy Scout and an OVB Army Knife .
Thanks for looking , Mike
Attachments
146EB6E9-8FDC-42BD-B6E6-4FCB50E415DA.jpeg
0B44DFA6-EE76-4E8F-82F7-29EE07A6DC7B.jpeg
CC805C26-1557-4040-B91D-5CBBF3E32198.jpeg
52E571FB-AD12-4905-8F84-2D29ECA900BC.jpeg
E7C7BB42-F348-4EC9-978E-E5D781BCF291.jpeg
4AD84D6E-9DF9-4351-9AE5-32D144484FAC.jpeg
Always looking for Mint pre war scout knives
stockman
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 4119
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:19 pm

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by stockman »

Two outstanding knives. The NYKC is beautiful, the HS&B OVB is NYKC made in my opinion.

Harold
User avatar
wlf
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 6245
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:55 am
Location: WV

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by wlf »

Mike, that Army knife has beautiful bone.

Code: Select all

[b][b]Wanted GEC 641113s Trade or buy[/b][/b]
GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

May the Father and Son bless
Lyle
User avatar
FRJ
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 17136
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 1:43 pm
Location: Ct.

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by FRJ »

Very nice Boy Scout and Army knives, Mike.

Mike Robuck, that last NYK on previous page is a knockout. Just the best. ::tu:: ::tu::
Joe
User avatar
peanut740
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 8123
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:32 pm
Location: Ohio, along the river
Contact:

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by peanut740 »

Mike,those are exceptional!I agree with Harold about the OVB.
Roger
1fartsmella
Posts: 374
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:21 am
Location: Long Island, New York

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by 1fartsmella »

Fantastic Scouts, Mike. Born in Walden for sure.
Barry
1fartsmella
Posts: 374
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2016 3:21 am
Location: Long Island, New York

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by 1fartsmella »

This easy opener is stamped Schrade Cut Co. Walden NY. on both blades. In the bottom photo it's with the Wester Bros for comparison. They are both 3 5/8" closed.
Attachments
SCC  EO FT.jpg
SCC EO BK.jpg
WESTER & SCC OPN.jpg
Barry
ScoutKnives
Posts: 1650
Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2014 9:58 pm
Location: Florida

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by ScoutKnives »

Thank you fellas .
Mike
Always looking for Mint pre war scout knives
User avatar
edge213
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 8458
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:48 am
Location: The Crossroads of America

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by edge213 »

ScoutKnives wrote:A couple I would like to add to this thread NYK Boy Scout and an OVB Army Knife .
Thanks for looking , Mike
The HSB&Co. Army knife is really cool.
David
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
ObsidianEdge
Posts: 592
Joined: Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:38 am

Re: America's "Little Sheffield"

Post by ObsidianEdge »

Great scout and army knife Mike!

Barry, they sure do look a lot alike. Hard to imagine they were made in separate companies.

Thanks for all of the nice comments on the moose. I know we're supposed to read the knife and not the story, but the story I got on that one was grandpa thought the knife was too nice to use so it sat in a box on his dresser until he passed away.

I have one more NYK Co. I Googled the etched name on the blade and found out the remains of the company are still operating as a charitable foundation. http://www.tullfoundation.org. I exchanged a few emails with a lady at the foundation.

I sold this one to Charlie Campagna a while ago and he was nice enough to sell it back to me this year.
Attachments
picture 83.jpg
Mike Robuck

Author: "Gun Trader's Guide to Collectible Knives"
Post Reply

Return to “Knife Lore - Traditional Knives From the Old Days”