All About Pocket Knives

I have a multi-knife kit that has an arm holding a hammer on one of the tangs. It is in a leather case with purple cloth covering the blades, and rolls up to tie. It is missing only the corkscrew tang.The pocket knife-type base has a horn inset. Could you give me any ideas how old it is? I'm guessing from the looks that is is circa 1910 or so. Thank you.

Please Note: Asked for pics. Will post if received.

Some pictures would definitely help. Is the tang also stamped NY Knife Co.? If not, it's likely made by Imperial, who took the Hammer Brand trade mark over in, I believe, 1936 or there-abouts. If it's Imperial the handles are likely celluloid. If it's NY Knife Co, they're likely bone, although I'm not certain that NYK even made one of those kits.

Eric

Eric,

I have a set by NYK, it is in a leatherette roll with a faded purple felt liner.

The only set I have ever seen, so it is possible this person has one too.

I would like to see pictures of this set

Wow! Leave it to you to find one MB!

I'd definitely like to see a pic as well.

Eric

ea42 wrote:Wow! Leave it to you to find one MB!

I'd definitely like to see a pic as well.

Eric

I will second that motion.

Phil

I sent 4 pictures this week, hope they're posted soon. They were found in our basement when we moved in about 10 years ago. I left them in the condition they were found in, being afraid to possibly ruin the set.

Here are the pictures sent by Dragonlady ...

Sent again ...a bit larger...

OH my! Looks like a restore job for MM.

I like it! Could use a little TLC, but it's in great shape nonetheless. If you ever want to sell it, drop me a PM.

Eric

WOW!
A tool set, hobo set and kitchen set all in one!

That is nice!

Dale

Moved to Knife Lore Forum.

Dale

Dale,

Thanks for moving this thread to Knife Lore

What follows next are pictures of this picnic/tool set as I received it and after my attempt to stop the active rust/corrosion. The whole process took about 10-12 hours to complete. It is a slow hand process, no power tools of any kind were used to complete this task. All rust was removed chemically, no sand paper, steel wool, etc.

The object is to remove crusted active rust without removing any other metal, patina, or factory finish. As everyone knows by now I am against "cleaning, polishing, buffing, refinishing" etc. of old knives. This set was found in a basement, it got wet and the result is what you see in the first photos. Left like this it would continue to oxidize and further deterioration would be the end result.

Upon close inspection it is clearly evident to me this set was never used, the tangs of all the implements have no scratches from being placed into the knife frame. The non-removable punch blade has been opened a few times, it has tremendous snap and the very tip has broken off from it slamming closed. Unfortunately there is one tool missing I believe it is a corkscrew. The only markings on the set are the patent number on the punch blade and the spear blade is marked with the Hammer Brand trademark. The odd thing about this set is the blade coverings, they are tin plated steel, that have a ruler stamped into them. The one that covers the fork is a piece cut from the same ones that cover the two blades. When I first found one of these sets I thought someone cut an extra blade guard and placed it on the fork tines. But now that this second set has surfaced and it has the same thing, then they must have come from the factory this way.

I have yet to find an old Ad or catalog showing this set, if anyone has one please show it.
There are lots of pictures as I have shown all the pieces before and after. I am pleased with the results

Second batch of pics.

Third.

Nice old set, The blade cover are unique, but they are factory I would guess because they seem to be with all complete sets. They also make a set with two handles one with the punch and one with a spear blade. There were different rolls or cases to hold the knife, knives and the
tools. I think they are in Levines book. There is a old thread on these way back LT showed some
sets if my memory is correct.

The End!

Wow!
And so many parts!
I wonder if these ever gained much popularity. Certainly not an item for everybody and they must have cost a fortune..? How long were they made?
Great find!

Nice work Dimitri!
You said you removed the rust chemically.
Out of curiosity, what did you use?
What ever it was, it sure worked well!

Dale

Froggyedge wrote:I wonder if these ever gained much popularity. Certainly not an item for everybody and they must have cost a fortune..?

Froggy,

These sets were popular at one time, several knife companies made them.

This set cost $3.75 when sold new!

Froggyedge wrote:How long were they made?

Several decades.

orvet wrote:You said you removed the rust chemically.
Out of curiosity, what did you use?
What ever it was, it sure worked well!

Dale,

I ended up using Phosphoric Acid, done properly you can achieve very good results.

If you have never used it before be carefull it can damage a good knife.

That's a beauty of a set, nice to see it so carefully cleaned!