All About Pocket Knives

WOW.... Thanks for that info Tom.
What catalog are you looking at?
Is it a repro catalog or an actual catalog from 1919?

Mike

I went back and looked and the guy had another LF&C so I bought it too.
Here it is:
Mike

No it's from the actual catalog......they are tough to find but occasionally one will pop-up......I've accumulated a number of them.

Great Knife Mike, looks like it was never used!

Just got this one today from a fellow member. Cosmetically tired, but almost un-used. Tight and snappy. Two questions:
Who made it?
Who should re-handle it?

Landers, Frary & Clark of New Britain Connecticut manufactured that knife. My 1919 catalog lists it as model 00216, 3 5/8", brass lined with nickel silver bolsters and shields and they sold for $27/dozen. I would clean it up or better yet send it to Scott (TripleF) for a spa treatment. Personally I wouldn't swap out the handles unless they became unstable. Nice vintage knife.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that L.F.& C. was the largest manufacturer of knives in the U.S. at one time.

msteele6 wrote:I seem to remember reading somewhere that L.F.& C. was the largest manufacturer of knives in the U.S. at one time.

And so many other household items .....................

bestgear wrote:Landers, Frary & Clark of New Britain Connecticut manufactured that knife. My 1919 catalog lists it as model 00216, 3 5/8", brass lined with nickel silver bolsters and shields and they sold for $27/dozen. I would clean it up or better yet send it to Scott (TripleF) for a spa treatment. Personally I wouldn't swap out the handles unless they became unstable. Nice vintage knife.

This one is stamped 5016 1/4. I did not realize that LF&C manufactured knives; I thought that they were distributors.

Interesting, I'll recheck my service catalog in the am. Oh yes, LF&C had a significant manufacturing operation and a very prolific distribution network. I believe the earlier post from msteele6 is correct.

bestgear wrote:Interesting, I'll recheck my service catalog in the am. Oh yes, LF&C had a significant manufacturing operation and a very prolific distribution network. I believe the earlier post from msteele6 is correct.

Thanks! I learned something.

My one LF&C, a small pen in that black rubberized faux stag they used. Full blades and fairly clean for its age. Both blades have some play to them so I don't carry it all that often, but I can't be moved to get rid of it. I might ask around and see if one of our esteemed knife mechanics would take a swing at it, so to speak...

FRJ wrote:

msteele6 wrote:I seem to remember reading somewhere that L.F.& C. was the largest manufacturer of knives in the U.S. at one time.

And so many other household items .....................

Yep, here is a straight razor I just had to have. Its a LF&C...

Nice one, Mike.

Really nice Mike, for anyone that didn't know there is an Industrial Museum in New Britain Connecticut that is run by students at Central Connecticut State University. This is their website: http://nbindustrial.org/ While not the finest representation of the wares produced in New Britain, it's worthy of a solid look.

How about you Connecticut Yankees (Lee, Joe, etc.), have you visited this museum and can you offer any insight?

Nice info on the site.
I really like the heater and the portable stove. Cool items!

bestgear wrote:How about you Connecticut Yankees (Lee, Joe, etc.), have you visited this museum and can you offer any insight?

I haven't been there, Tom. It's just the kind of place I would enjoy. I would love to get there sometime.
Thanks for the link. I've got it on my favorites.

I posted a picture of the 9 LF&C service catalogs that recently found their way into my collection. Here's a few more pieces that came with the purchase, I feel very blessed to be the current conservator of these items. Sorry for the reflection of the bad photographer in the display glass.

Here's a few more pieces that came with the purchase that included the display cases above and service catalogs. I feel very blessed to be the current conservator of these pictures and genuine advertisements from the magazines.

Those display cases are sweet!!!!!! I hope you get them filled up and show them off. I really like them. Thanks for sharing.

Incredible find, Tom! Great display cases, they appear to be in very good condition. Looking forward to seeing the catalog scans, to find that many catalogs from the same company is amazing to me.
Dan

Fabulous find Tom! I love those cases and the catalogs are unbelievable.

Very nice Tom !

Thanks Mike, I'm really happy how things turned-out.

Just awesome Tom ... the landing of those beauties that are right up the LF&C alley for your collecting is a great find - congrats and enjoy!!