All About Pocket Knives

Knives made by Orange Culery Co. show up VERY infrequently. Here's what I have manged to find out about this company so far, someone (LT?) correct me if I'm wrong. Walden Knife Co./Keen Kutter, (old timers in Walden still call the old factory Keen Kutter. It's now a shopping center, but in the original buildings), was sold to Winchester in 1922-3, at which time all of the equipment was moved to Connecticut, along with most of the cutlers. Now I should say most of the equipment, because some stayed behind under the ownership of an individual who's name I don't know, who started his own cutlery company with said equipment in a small shop in Walden in 1923. I have no idea how many folks were employed there, if any, but the firm only lasted about a year. I believe the knives that were made there were pretty much all celluloid. if anyone's got any of these elusive characters, by all means post 'em! Here's one to get things started:

Eric

Yes Sir Eric Orange Cut Co. Walden NYstamping, but here is a Royal Order of Moose same knife. Looks like they made them for whoever would purchase enough.

Nice one Bernie! it seems that lobster was a popular pattern (or maybe the only pattern ).

Eric

Be patient I think more will show up in time. We can't be the only two guys with one. If we are they are super rare! That could be a good thing.

I've been hunting everywhere for one and haven't had any luck yet.

I have had one in the past, same pattern.

Not sure it’s still here.

It had a Green celluloid handle.

Charlie

I had one with gold sparkle cell. Can’t remember the pattern but I gifted it to a friend. He has since passed but told me he grew up near the Orange shop and use to visit. Said it was small like in a garage. He gave the knife to his wife who grew up in the same neighborhood. She must have really treasured it, he said she kept it in her jewelry box. I have not seen another come around since. I only know of one other collector who has one. They are rare birds

And interestingly, do not command much monetary value.

Charlie

That’s very true Charlie. Go figure??

There was one on eBay recently altho with the main blade snapped off right above the tang stamp.
Other than that, it seemed to be in nice condition especially the handles.
Seller was asking $22 + S&H. I think he ended up taking it off after posting it for months...
I had it on my watch list, but never pulled the trigger due to the broken blade...

A long time Walden resident, with whom I have been communicating, sent me the newspaper clipping below. It is from the Walden Citizen Herald, dated May 9, 1929, and is announcing the start up of the Orange Cutlery Co.
Subsequent searches of the archives of the Walden Citizen Herald produced the following two newspaper clippings.
The first is from September 4, 1930, stating that business is picking up for Orange Cutlery.
The next clipping is from the WCH dated August 17, 1933. It is an article about Walden businesses meeting in support of the NRA (Roosevelt's National Recovery Act). The Orange Cutlery Co is the 7th down on the list of businesses. (clicking on the image will enlarge it to be easier to read.
Digitized copies of the Walden Citizen Herald are available on the digital archives of the Josephine-Louise Public Library for 1926 to 1972. These are the only three clippings regarding the Orange Cutlery Co that came up.

Orange Cutlery Company Newspaper Articles.
Picture #1 - The Newburgh News (New York) - April 4, 1929 (Orange Cutlery Company perhaps?)
Picture #2 - The Newburgh News (New York) - September 3, 1930
Captions, if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE (Not picture #2).

As I find them, I'll post them.
Also check out the "Knives in the news" thread.
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=65706

Orange Cutlery Company Newspaper Article.
Picture #1 - The Newburgh News (New York) - April 18, 1929
Picture #2 - (ENLARGED) Names of the Orange Cutlery Company starting lineup.
Captions, if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on the picture to ENLARGE.

As I find them, I'll post them.
Also check out the "Knives in the news" thread.
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=65706

Hey Skip, thanks for posting articles about Orange Cutlery. Makes me want to find one of their knives. Steve B.

bladebuddy wrote: ↑Sun Apr 25, 2021 5:38 pm Hey.....

Hey Steve, you're welcome.
I feel the same way. Now I've got to find at least one,
Orange Cutlery Company pocket knife. After I posted the
article(s) on the Warwick Knife Company, I had to have one of those.
I now have one.

Orange Cutlery Company Newspaper Article.
The Newburgh News (New York) - December 20, 1929

Also, check out the "Knives in the news" topic/thread.
viewtopic.php?f=35&t=65706

Orange Cutlery Company Newspaper Article.
The Newburgh News (New York) - December 21, 1949.
Click on the picture to ENLARGE.

I was researching the Orange Cutlery Company and came across this feed. The information was helpful. I grew up in Walden in the 70's and 80's and started collecting knives from there when I was around 15 years old. I remember finding blades, handles and sometimes full knives around the old Schrade, Walden and New York Knife Company sites. I visit Walden once in awhile and as I walk or drive past the old sites, I reminisce of scavenging around and finding treasures.

I am attaching two knives from the Orange Cutlery Company that I have in my collection. They are the same style knife with slightly different blades. I have not found many knives from this company.

Very cool.

I FINALLY FOUND AND OBTAINED ONE.....
This morning, my visit to the post office produced this lobster or gentlemans' pattern or style of pocket knife. It now becomes my FIRST example to be posted under this topic or thread. It also becomes the FIRST example to be added to my general, pocket knife accumulation. It is an ORANGE CUTLERY COMPANY, one blade, one tool (a file with a blade tip), two tang stamps, 3" closed, lobster or gentlemans', pattern or style of pocket knife. The main blade front tang stamp says, "ORANGE (over) CUT. CO. (over) WALDEN, N.Y." The tool back tang stamp also says, "ORANGE (over) CUT. CO. (over) WALDEN, N.Y." The main handle side has a MASONIC symbol, logo or emblem. The main blade has a SOFT half stop, a GOOD opening snap and a GOOD closing snap. The tool also has a SOFT half stop, but it does have a GOOD opening snap and a GOOD closing snap. Overall, this pocket knife is in VERY GOOD condition. This pocket knife did NOT need any cleaning at all. I just wiped it off. I took some pictures and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

***** NOTE ***** NOTE ***** NOTE ***** NOTE *****
AAPK member lt632ret, wrote a short article regarding ORANGE CUTLERY COMPANY and included pictures of
three tang stamps and four different ORANGE CUTLERY COMPANY pocket knives. The article and the pictures
can be found in his book, "Knives of the Hudson Valley - 160 Years of American Cutlery History"
The whole book is a VERY INTERESTING and VERY INFORMATIVE read.

Congrats Skip your perseverance paid off.

wlf wrote: ↑Tue Apr 09, 2024 8:17 pm Congrats.....

Thank you, Lyle.

Way to hunt that one down Skip - the hunt is easily half the fun to me

bestgear wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 12:22 am Way.....

Thank you, Tom.
I too enjoy the hunt, especially when it's a successful hunt.

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 1:25 am

bestgear wrote: ↑Wed Apr 10, 2024 12:22 am Way.....

I too enjoy the hunt, especially when it's a successful hunt.

That's by far the most enjoyable.