All About Pocket Knives

I hope not but I would like to see those stamps more clearly.

In my area I've never seen a Miller Bros in the wild. It man o man the knives posted here are some of the best looking knives I've ever seen.

Miller Bro's wrote:I hope not but I would like to see those stamps more clearly.

You are a good inspector Dimitri, I think that asking Monte for better picture of the stamp is a smart idea as they do have a "cold" stamp appearance, although it could be just the light. Also, from my experience, the shield would be one that I would not associate with Miller Bros as they often used a federal shield that has 5 points on the top, rather than 4.

This is a Miller Bros Surveyor Moose. Thanks for looking.

Thats a beauty Ralph, thanks for posting.

Monte

Looks like I might not get those pics posted until tomorrow. I do have doubts about the knife's authenticity and everones opinion is greatly appreciated. The best thing is I rember where I bought it and have a record of what I paid. The dealer will reimburse me no questions asked.. My main concern wasn't the shield but the fact that the tang stamp on the main blade isn't totally visible. You cant read Meridan holding the blade partially open in any position. If it is a cold stamp then the dark color in the lettering must be ink and should be able to be scratched out. If I am wrong then someone please correct me. Thanks for all the input.

Monte

Wonderful Knife Ralph!

That is good to hear about the seller, Monte. The more I look at the stamps, the less comfortable I am with them.

Here is a little compilations of the "Miller Bros. Cut. Co. Meriden" stamps. The ones on the left are authentic, the two on the the right are fakes.

As for the shield, an interesting thing about the old Connecticut cutleries, and I would guess most others, they tended to have a specific set of shield dies that they would use. And, unless they were affiliated with another company (like Hatch-Challenge), there specific shield dies would only be used by them. Thus, Miller Bros actually had pretty particular types of federal shields.This is just what I have observed, comparing old knives and catalogs and is not necessarily a hard and fast rule, but I think it is largely true. I will try to take a few photos and compare the types of federal shields. I know there are at least 3.

Cheers,

I mashed the wrong keys. Well here are the best pics that I can take If this doesn't help I could mail knife knife for a hands on evaluation. I tryed the inked lettering test where you take a sewing needle and carefully try to scratch the Ink out of the lettering. No ink came out.

Monte

Here is a little compilations of the "Miller Bros. Cut. Co. Meriden" stamps.

Cheers,[/quote]
Beechtree, for some reason my phone wouldn't let me see the pics that you posted maybe I should use a computer

Thanks Monte

Monte that looks like a modern stamp to me.The end of the letters are rounded. Old stamps the letters are square at the ends.Also I can see remnants of another stamp on the master.

Thanks Roger I noticed the O and the S also. I will be taking this one back to the previous owner. I have more that I will post later
Thanks. Monte

Nice Miller Brothers are hard to find.Same is true for Empires.I like both.

Monte thanks for posting the additional pictures, what a difference in clarity!

I agree with Roger that is not an original Miller bro's stamp.

For many years there have been those in the knife collecting world that have been preaching "read the knife" not​ what the stamp happens to say.

I say read the entire knife including what the stamp happens to say.

You cannot discount the tang stamp it offers a lot of clues to authenticity of a knife. It seems what knife counterfeiters are doing now is they will use the frame from an old authentic knife and put more valuable counterfeit blades from a desirable brand like Miller bro's.

There's a ton of counterfeit Miller bro's knives out there, as demand increases supply will follow and you will see more enter the market place. A fellow member here (justbob) sent me a bag full of counterfeit Miller bro's knife blades all made long after Miller was out of business. Be careful out there.

Thank you Dimitri, Beechtree, and Roger. Thanks to all here at AAPK and Brian for making it all happen. I found another that I have with the same tang stamp. Actually the first Miller Bro's knife I bought. Oh well, I will post it in the counterfeit thread. I was up half of the night eye balling my Miller bros. I believe most belong in the battered and beat up thread. But I have a few that I think belong here. I will post them in the weeks to come. If anyone finds something wrong. Please speak up and let me know. I want to learn as much as I'm able.

Thanks Monte

I want to congratulate you on your positive attitude Monte. It is always hard to hear a knife one has is not authentic, but it has happened to all of us. As for not being able to see the photos, I am not quite sure why, I will try to post them again. In the photo, the 5 stamps on the left (vertical) are authentic, the 3 on the right are modern (horizontal)

Here is a collection of Miller Bros federal style shields, of 4 varieties, in addition to Ralph’s and the ones found on the next two knives I post, which seem to be of the most common.

Here is a lovely coke bottle jack with the federal shield type that I refer to above as seeming to be the most common.

Here is a jumbo sleeveboard measuring 3 5/8"

A couple of fine knives Beechtree!

Thanks Beechtree, I am a lil disappointed in the two I know are fake. But I'm learning and I hope to always be learning. This will make me a better collector. I will continue to collect miller bros knives. I dont give up easily and I am determined to have a great miller bros collection. I can see the photos you posted now and will study and remember them so that hopefully I will not make this mistake again.

Thanks again
Monte

peanut740 wrote:A couple of fine knives Beechtree!

Thanks Roger! They warm the cockles of my hart

Those two are great, I really like the ebony handles!

Thanks Dimitri! I love ebony handles.

Here is one I got at the Dalton Knife Show last week.Large 4 blade congress that is 4 1/16".Etched Miller 1863 Brand.

WOW Roger that is one sweet knife!!!