All About Pocket Knives

E.C. Simmons St Louis, Electric Cutlery Co./Walkill River Knife Works, C.F. Wolfertz, Berkshire Cutlery Co.

Really nice group Dan.

Sheffield knives: 2 IXL Wostenholm, Joseph Rodgers & Sons, Repeat Needham Bros.; Curtain and Clark; Naugatuck Cutlery Co.

Here ya' go Lee.
Thank you.

Beautiful group of knives, Dan.

Valley Forge, Schrade Cut Co, WR Case & Sons

OOPs, missed the WR Case last time

Four Case Tested XX

Thanks Roger and Joe. Joe, very nice Watervilles, that congress is really special!

Dimitri - Unique old Waterville ... I have another Waterville with a s-shaped curved shield but yours is even somewhat different in the center... though my Waterville MOP pen with that shield was a junk box pickup for $1 at Brimfield a few years back - it has a snapped master, and some cracks in MOP but the pen is good - never did take a photo of it but I did think the shield was unique. You have any others with that type of shield that are not Waterville or was that indeed a Waterville shield only?

BTW - my camera is an old digital Nikon bought probably 15 or more years ago - it had all the functions of a SLR including size (not a pocket point & shoot) and while the lens zooms from 28 to 125 it is not interchangeable.. it is 5.4 megapixel - but still takes magazine quality photos which I originally bought for fly tying photos... most importantly I bought it for the macro function which is great. If my camera goes I will be going to SLR with a macro lens.. I haven't looked seriously at cameras in a long time but the advances in digital tech since that time are exponential...

Dan - All those are beauties - the bone is gorgeous on the first set and quite enjoying the diversity in your knives... I think we all have posted most of these knives in the past as well so no worries there ... and thanks for the comment on the knives

Joe - That is the sweet old Congress Waterville Whittler It is a beauty for sure in my eyes!!!

While I was writing this reply you guys posted a bunch more - this thread is moving along at a good clip and all great knives

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Thank you Dan. Beautiful knives, yours.
Sorry I stepped on your toes back there.
We were posting at the same time.

Thanks Lee and Joe. No problem, Joe, never even felt it!

Way to go Dan!! Those are fantastic!

I especially like the group of Sheffield knives
What does that IXL read, Civil Service.......?

LongBlade wrote:Dimitri - Unique old Waterville ... I have another Waterville with a s-shaped curved shield but yours is even somewhat different in the center... though my Waterville MOP pen with that shield was a junk box pickup for $1 at Brimfield a few years back - it has a snapped master, and some cracks in MOP but the pen is good - never did take a photo of it but I did think the shield was unique. You have any others with that type of shield that are not Waterville or was that indeed a Waterville shield only?

BTW - my camera is an old digital Nikon bought probably 15 or more years ago - it had all the functions of a SLR including size (not a pocket point & shoot) and while the lens zooms from 28 to 125 it is not interchangeable.. it is 5.4 megapixel - but still takes magazine quality photos which I originally bought for fly tying photos... most importantly I bought it for the macro function which is great. If my camera goes I will be going to SLR with a macro lens.. I haven't looked seriously at cameras in a long time but the advances in digital tech since that time are exponential....

Lee, I would like to see a picture of the one you have

This is the only shield of its type I have found on any knife, so I would say it was exclusive to Waterville.

If you find out about a good camera let me know, I would hate to buy one and it doesn't take good pictures, that is why I have held off so long

Joe, that Waterville is special, no wonder Lee likes it so much!

Thanks Dimitri. I think it originally read Civil Service Canada, now it just reads Civil Service Cana. I think it must be some type of a service award, but a lot of internet searching has not revealed anything to me concerning when or why?

I looked at your knives several times Dan to pick out a favorite, couldn't do it, thanks for sharing

Danno, Joe you guys are rockin and rollin! Great knives all!

Thanks for the comments Bill and Greg.

Miller Bro's wrote: Lee, I would like to see a picture of the one you have
This is the only shield of its type I have found on any knife, so I would say it was exclusive to Waterville.

Here's my Waterville with the curved shield - as I said abit different than yours... perhaps this is evidence that Waterville made their own shields ... I still am not convinced there was not a supplier of shields somewhere for some old companies - but do believe many made their own as well ... I posted this question in the shield thread awhile back but no takers for a reply but will post this shield there soon...

I think you can see my Waterville tang stamp if you double click (Water-/ville Co) - it looks like it may have the same tang stamp as yours Dimitri but can not enlarge your photo enough to see - curious if it does as maybe these shields were used in a similar period of time - though we'll never know what time period and even if the tang stamps indicate anything (unless they were marked Waterbury as well)

BTW - I'm a half blade and a few cracks away from another nice Waterville for $1 though pen blade saw some sharpening (looks better on other side) - blades had fully sunk joints as well - believe it or not both the blade & 1/2 still snap open and closed

LongBlade wrote:Here's my Waterville with the curved shield - as I said abit different than yours... perhaps this is evidence that Waterville made their own shields ... I still am not convinced there was not a supplier of shields somewhere for some old companies - but do believe many made their own as well ... I posted this question in the shield thread awhile back but no takers for a reply but will post this shield there soon...

I think you can see my Waterville tang stamp if you double click (Water-/ville Co) - it looks like it may have the same tang stamp as yours Dimitri but can not enlarge your photo enough to see - curious if it does as maybe these shields were used in a similar period of time - though we'll never know what time period and even if the tang stamps indicate anything (unless they were marked Waterbury as well)

BTW - I'm a half blade and a few cracks away from another nice Waterville for $1 though pen blade saw some sharpening (looks better on other side) - blades had fully sunk joints as well - believe it or not both the blade & 1/2 still snap open and closed

Waterville Curved S Shield DSCN4611.JPG

Lee, I am sure there were suppliers of shields. I have seen a factory display of all the different types of shields the company offered wired to a board, trouble is I can't remember the name of the company Also I have seen several ads offering the same to English cutlery companies.

That shield you have shown I have seen before, I think Holley used that as did others.

The tang stamp on mine is the same as yours

Yes, people did abuse these old knives, that's why the good ones are hard to find

I had to look and see what I have that may have been made before 1960. A few pictured below:
Winchester Store Camper Brantford Stockman Paxton & Gallagher harness jack Wilbert Moose Bridge Stockman Nelson knife whittler Valley Forge Plier knife Atlantic Cutlery Jack

Ten a day keeps the doctor away? ...............

OLDE CUTLER wrote:I had to look and see what I have that may have been made before 1960. A few pictured below

Nice, I really like that Paxton & Gallagher harness jack!

Dimitri - Thanks for the info on the shield - I thought it was abit more rare than many others I have seen (maybe I have seen it but don't remember on others like Holley ) and abit different than your Waterville curved shield.... Also appreciate confirmation on a shield supplier - great info to know for future reference ... Now who can that shield supplier be ...

Olde Cutler - Very nice old selection - I have a Empire-made Shapleigh Cattle knife (actually posted back a few pages in this thread) with that same exact celluloid (one of the few celluloid handled knives I own) - I understand it was called "wood grain"...

Dimitri - Ten knives a day is better than an apple a day keeping the Dr away - another sweet selection of knives ... and my choice for this batch - believe it or not - is the quill with GcrownR & those "warm" handles

Miller Bro's wrote:

OLDE CUTLER wrote:I had to look and see what I have that may have been made before 1960. A few pictured below

Nice, I really like that Paxton & Gallagher harness jack!

Every time I carry that Paxton & Gallagher Harness Jack in my pocket, I think about back in the day when the person owning it may have carried it to keep all the leather harness on their team adjusted and working. The awl had to be sharp as a razor to punch an extra hole in the thick leather straps and the blade equally sharp for this use. Old knives kind of do that to me.

Olde Cutler - Very nice old selection - I have a Empire-made Shapleigh Cattle knife (actually posted back a few pages in this thread) with that same exact celluloid (one of the few celluloid handled knives I own) - I understand it was called "wood grain"...

I went back and looked at that wood grain celluloid Shapleigh and it is a nice one. The Bridge I pictured is not in the best shape, it has been tipped and sharpened a lot, but it still takes a fine edge and I carry it occasionally.