All About Pocket Knives

This just came in the mail off ebay. Old Walden Knife Co. Don't know what to call it other than curvaceous. I rubbed the handles and bolsters with some 0000 steel wool and RenWax and they really woke up. Closed length 3- 3/4" It has some chips in the blades like another old Walden l have, lots of carbon in the steel I suspect. Any info on age etc. would be welcome.

Paul, that's a real beauty, thanks for rubbing it in, I had that one on my watch list but never had a chance to bid on it . You don't see many in that kind of shape and with so little blade wear. I think the steel problems were inherent in a lot of the early Waldens, three out of the five I have are similarly chipped. I think someone was asleep at the wheel during tempering. That knife would date to sometime around the turn of the century, late 1800's to early 1900's. Simmons took controlling interest in Walden in 1902 and eventually ramped up production of Keen Kutter knives until that's all that was produced there. I don't see any Keen Kutters resembling yours in any of their catalogs, so I believe that model was phased out before the take-over. Nice snag!

Eric

Chips or not, I have some serious knife envy here! Great score!
Beautiful, rare and old, what more can you ask for??

Hey Paul,

That pattern was pretty common around here, once upon a time. We just called it a "swell-centered, dog-legged, bare-headed, rat-tailed, long-pull Empire Jack". There wasn't a large demand for 'em, tho', because the blades were prone to chip - which made a mess of whittlin'.

Seriously, that's a great knife, pal.

Tongue-in-cheek,
JR

Thats another reason to love old knives!! Just look at the fancy bolster!! Seriously WoooHooo I like that knife chips or no chips the pattern and craftmanship from that era is wonderful!! Thanks for posting the pic!!
Leo

Thanks for the kind words everyone! Great info Eric, I remember posting my other old Walden and you commenting on having similar chipped blades. My favorite old knife so far until the next curvey one comes by.

Great score Paul !!! I love the shield being larger on one end

Paul, here are a couple of those chipped Waldens I mentioned: The clip on the single blade and the pen (or what's left of it) on the two blade jack. I've noticed that the blades on the smaller pocket knives, like the senators and congress, usually don't fair so badly, maybe because they're not subjected to the rougher handling that the jacks go through (or the blades have gone through a better heat treat).

Eric

Paul,
I have no idea what to call that pattern, it defies all classification but it is damn sexy, I'll tell you that nice find!

Darksev wrote:Paul,
I have no idea what to call that pattern, it defies all classification

May I suggest you call it a reverse serpentine swell tailed jack.

What I wish I could call it is "MINE" . Nice one Paul!

I'm going to place that pattern somewhere between a Eureka and Serpentine Jack...

Barehead, doglegged, humpbacked fancy jack

Darksev wrote:Barehead, doglegged, humpbacked fancy jack

Say that 5 times as fast as you can with out laughing

4ever3 wrote:

Darksev wrote:Barehead, doglegged, humpbacked fancy jack

Say that 5 times as fast as you can with out laughing

I tried but I just can't!

I'd call it Eureka for the shape and the joy in getting it!!! Here's my only one.

Mike, my doctor says stay away from you!! Your knives are bad for my blood pressure!!

Paul, I'd call your Jack a Eureka. The backspring "bump" isn't as pronounced as usual, but it's there! Looks good hanging around with your other jacks as well!

Very nice thread, thanks for posting.

I have one that might fit the curvaceous category.
Made for Montgomery Wards. I like the bone handles.

Dale

That is one sweet looking dogleg!!!!

galvanic1882 wrote:That is one sweet looking dogleg!!!!

i agree....woof-woof.

orvet, Was just looking at some Winchesters today in my books. That knife was Winchester made for sure.

Stockman