All About Pocket Knives

The Walden Knife Company, circa 1870-1923. Located in Walden, Orange County, New York. this company made excellent quality knives during their time in business. In 1870 the company was called "Walden Co-operative Knife Co.", knives with this stamp are very hard to find, they used that stamp for about four years. Then they reorganized and the company was renamed Walden Knife Co. in 1874

They produced knives on contract for other companies, you will see old knives marked Press Button, Keen Kutter, and others. They had their own unique jigging pattern on the bone handles of their knives, so if you see an old knife with the same bone jigging as a Walden, chances are they made it for that company on contract. I have posted an example below to compare to.

By 1893 George Schrade was looking for a place to manufacture his patented Press Button switchblades. He found a place at Walden Knife Co. These knives were made in their factory until about 1903, when George Schrade sold his patent and interest to Walden Knife Co. They continued to manufacture lots of them, about 10,000 dozen Press Button switch blades a year! That patent purchase was a very good investment indeed.

In 1902 the E.C. Simmons Hardware Co. took over mangement of the company and ran it sucessfully for the next nineteen years, till Winchester bought them out. They made knives at the Walden plant for another year until Winchester decided to sell the property to Schrade Cut. Co., and move all the knife making equipment to their New Haven, Conn. manufacturing facility.
Winchester used this equipment to make knives until the early 1940`s, then they too stopped making pocket knives.

Walden Knife Co. has a rich history and some big names in the cutlery industry associated with them. Below is a picture of a pocket knife and an old knife box from Walden, if you have any post them in this thread

That is a super cool knife and a great thread!
Here is a photo of the press button knife you mentioned.
I cant wait to see more original Walden knives if posted.
Thanks Gino

Excellent thread M-B!! The Co-Op guys, I believe there were around fourteen of them, were actually former NY Knife Co. employees who quit after baseball games were banned during lunch hour! They got their start by renting space from the Rider Ericsson Engine Company (the building still stands today) for about four years. Here's a shot of a Walden Co-Op knife:

Here's a little congress, Walden Knife Co. stamp:

Eric,

Nice old knives

The Co-Op. is so rare to find


Any more Walden`s out there?

I do have a Walden Knife Co. pen knife. It's one of the first knives I came across when I started serious collecting. The main blade has a model # 4353 opposite the Walden Knife Co, made in the U.S.A.. If anyone has any info on model numbers please let the sight know. Bull

3 1/4" whittler, note the pull master blade

here are my Waldens to add, I've shown them before but they belong in this thread.

Bull, Stockman, and Paul- NICE examples!

All nice knives shown so far


Paul,

The bolsters and shield on that Walden are very attractive!


Anyone have any Walden Knife Co. ephemera?

Nice knives guys!
Here is the best example of a Walden that I have.

Dale

Nice Dale!

Couple more here, also on the well used side with evidence of the dreaded steel mites and grinder wheels :

Eric

ea42 wrote:Nice Dale!

Couple more here, also on the well used side with evidence of the dreaded steel mites and grinder wheels :

Eric

STEEL MITES!! Love it! LMAO

Eric, I really like that shield on the two bladed Walden pictured above.

I am seeing now that Walden put some attractive and unique shields on their knives


Don`t stop now, let`s see more

My contribution; a Teardrop Jack. Very nicely made knives!!
Some rare beauties showing up here!!

I never cease to be amazed at the quality of knives that all you guys can bring to the table.

KEEP 'em coming!!

Maybe it is just me, but there is something very appealing about an old spear blade jack!

Dale

I think that I might have posted this one before on a different thread but am not sure but thought it should go again. Walden Knife Co. All hardware is nickle silver and the main blade has the Walden etch. Yes that is ink on the back of the main blade.

I had another etched Walden with fancy blue swirl handles but gave it to my oldest daughter many years ago. I asked her to get it out and send me some pictures of it so I can post here.

^^Very nice!

Mike, that's one helluva beauty! And a sample no less!:shock:

Charlie, I somehow missed that teardrop

Eric

Here is a swell ctr whittler, 3 5/8 closed. Pearl is cracked on both sides, but its got some fire!!!

Ok, here is the other one that I gave to my daughter. Funny that it seemed like a few years ago that I gave it to her but it's been 15 years ago!!!

Some nice old Walden`s turning up here

I have been looking for a W Bingham etched knife for awhile and finally got one. I am posting it to the Walden Thread because I think it was made by Walden. Faint salesman's ink on the back.

The counter felt I have had for many years and had framed!!!

That's a nice knife, Mike. Congratulations!
Charlie Noyes