All About Pocket Knives

I just bought this knife on Ebay for $4.75. I saw it and bid on it today so I didn't get a chance to ask the seller if there were any markings. It is 2" closed and 3.5" open with nickel bolsters, brass liners and carbon steel blades.

I'll take a good look at the tangs when it gets here but in the mean time does anyone have any idea on who made it?

Thanks in advance.

I'm going to take a shot in the dark and GUESS it is an Imperial. The reason I say this is that several old Imperials I own have a very lightly stamped tang stamp, making it hard to read if there is any aging to the blade. I can't make any tang stamp out on my little lap top screen.

Let us know what you find out.

philco wrote:I'm going to take a shot in the dark and GUESS it is an Imperial. The reason I say this is that several old Imperials I own have a very lightly stamped tang stamp, making it hard to read if there is any aging to the blade. I can't make any tang stamp out on my little lap top screen.

Let us know what you find out.

Thanks Phil.

Could be an Imperial but if it is it would be an older model because of the relatively thick brass liners and steel springs. I've seen newer Imperials and they aren't built as hefty.

I have a strong magnifying glass at home and I will look hard when it gets here and let you know if I find any markings.

I figured I couldn't go wrong for less than 5 bucks.

It looks more like a Kutmaster than Imperial. I have several Kutmaster knives with green cracked ice scales that look similar.

popcornpicker wrote:It looks more like a Kutmaster than Imperial. I have several Kutmaster knives with green cracked ice scales that look similar.

How old do you think it is?

howdy,
this one is a hammer brand, same size as the one you posted...tiny, strong snap, a real knife, not a keychain ornament.

gringo wrote:howdy,
this one is a hammer brand, same size as the one you posted...tiny, strong snap, a real knife, not a keychain ornament.

Is your knife clearly marked?

it appears the blades are ground on one side only. colonial made many such inexpensive knives. some have U.S.A. as the only stamp or no stamp at all. most used tip bolsters.

jonet143 wrote:it appears the blades are ground on one side only. colonial made many such inexpensive knives. some have U.S.A. as the only stamp or no stamp at all. most used tip bolsters.

It's not going top be the gem in my collection but I still can't wait to get it in the mail. Johnnie, how old do you think it is?

I'm pretty sure they were made by Utica (Kutmaster). The few I opened when I shot these pics did not have tang stamps, but I haven't opened all of them. But I remember verifying the manufacturer years ago as Utica.

EDIT: Found a tang stamp on only one knife (the red & black Xmas tree): IROQUOIS / UTICA, N.Y.

I've had others with shell handles and tip bolsters (Imperial and Colonial), but these little Kutmasters always struck me as being solid and decently made (for what they are).

--Karl

Here's a few I picked up over the years:

hey george, the colonials would be post 1926. yours i have no idea.

hey karl, cool collection. are they one side grind only?

jonet143 wrote:hey karl, cool collection. are they one side grind only?

Nope, ground on both sides.

--Karl

pointythings wrote:I'm pretty sure they were made by Utica (Kutmaster). The few I opened when I shot these pics did not have tang stamps, but I haven't opened all of them. But I remember verifying the manufacturer years ago as Utica.

I've had others with shell handles and tip bolsters (Imperial and Colonial), but these little Kutmasters always struck me as being solid and decently made (for what they are).

--Karl

Here's a few I picked up over the years:

Oh you have an awesome collection of Easy Openers! I'm jealous. I have a real sweet bone handled Camillus 4 line. The blades are mint! I like it a lot. The main blade is a little slow. I'm going to post a question the the right thread to see if there are any techniques to tighten the blade.

Found a tang stamp on only one knife (the red & black Xmas tree): IROQUOIS / UTICA, N.Y.

That makes it Utica Cut. Co.

Build on all of the knives is about identical.

--Karl

gcrinnion wrote:Oh you have an awesome collection of Easy Openers! I'm jealous.

This was an accidental collection. I picked these little guys up over 20 years and kept tossing them into a drawer. Dug them up one day and said "D*mn! I have a collection!"

had to run errands sorry,

yes, the hammer brand is clearly marked...it is a 1938-41 stamp.

Here's the big brother to the little guys.

Bone EO with bail from Utica. Probably a second because the missed rivet spun into the bone near the bail and the small black patch on the back side (at the point of the EO cutout). Each blade has these two dots stamped into them.

Thought they were from hardness testing, but maybe a way of marking decent seconds?

--Karl

OK, the knife that started this thread came in today. I cleaned it up and there is no visible markings. I looked at the tangs with a 10x loop and nothing.

After playing with it I can say for sure that it is a fairly well made vintage 2" easy open jack and it will go well on my key chain.

My guess is that it is American made vintage 1940 to early 50's.

Howdy Gcrinnion! I have the identical knife. I paid $7 for it several years ago. I have always considered it a little jewel! I have one other like it in cracked ice that I stole for about 3 bucks. I have never known who made them but they are extremely well built. I have seen many Imperial and other copies that were quite inferior. Also, they are the only ones I have seen with 2 blades. Great Info! Gunstockjack

Gunstock Jack wrote:Howdy Gcrinnion! I have the identical knife. I paid $7 for it several years ago. I have always considered it a little jewel! I have one other like it in cracked ice that I stole for about 3 bucks. I have never known who made them but they are extremely well built. I have seen many Imperial and other copies that were quite inferior. Also, they are the only ones I have seen with 2 blades. Great Info! Gunstockjack

Hey Jack! I paid $4.50...Yahoo! I like it a lot and I put it on my keychain today. It is a little jewel.

the only thing i could say is with the pins being brass most likely its not imperal. but at first glance thats what i thought it was. no stamp my guess would go to utica as well.

peterforce wrote:the only thing i could say is with the pins being brass most likely its not imperal. but at first glance thats what i thought it was. no stamp my guess would go to utica as well.

Could be. Looks like we will never know unless someone comes across an old catalog with that knife shown.

pointy things...thats a beauty of a utica!