All About Pocket Knives

BRIDGING the HUDSON

This Prentiss Knife Co New York, N.Y. tang stamp is stamped over a Valley Forge Newark, N.J. stamp.
The broken pen blade has Cutlery Co Newark N.J. stamp. I'm only assuming that it's Valley Forge
Neither blade looks original to this knife.
Note the tang on the pen blade has been ground down for spring clearance when the blade is closed.
Obviously there was no attempt to counterfeit anything.

Question is: Why is it over-stamped?
............... Were the two company's associated at one time?
............... Where did the Prentiss stamp come from and how did they get it?
............... Who, what, when, where and why?

Not much info. on Prentiss Knife Co. anywhere
Could someone please check p.150 of "Official Price Guide to Knives; 15th edi." for info. - Amazon has the page blocked out
Goins' p.218, has a "guesstimate" of 1910-1930
and another "guesstimate" of one with a "VF" inside a circle (Valley Forge) stamp on back of the tang, 1916-1930 (no pictures)

No sign of "VF" on this one, just grind marks

Could this be the missing link for the lack of information for the PRENTISS KNIFE CO NEW YORK, N.Y.?

............. Joe

Official Price guide pg. 150 only says: Prentiss Knive Co. New York, NY c. 1910, 3/4 stars for collectibility.
Goins: Prentiss Knife Co. New York NY g. 1910-1930
Prentiss Knife Co. New York g. 1916-1930 "VF" (Valley Forge) inside a circle is stamped on the back of the tang.

That's all they got.

Thanks TJ!

................. Joe

I would have to say that there is a family tie somewhere, maybe after the Boker U.S.A. buy out, based on the "VF" in a circle. Here is a scanned page from Goins of the Valley Forge Cutlery Co. And a couple of pics of a Valley Forge Cutley knife I got a little while back

The different pulls is why I thought neither blade to be original. Maybe the main blade is
The tang on the pen has defiantly been altered

Never noticed the different pulls on the Vally Forge before!

Thanks TJ

................ Joe

I'm kind of thinking that both our knives are from the same era, 1916 or before, based in the absence of the "VF" in a circle, probably after the Boker buy out in 1902 and that both knives were made by the same company, probably Valley Forge. I don't think that it was uncommon to have different pulls on the main and secondary blades, this based simply on observation.

Joe Dirt, tj, here is my Valley Forge with the vf in a circle. This knife dates later than tj's. Goins, p. 284 gives it from 1916--1950. (curved) Mine is 3 7/16"
tj, yours could be quite early. 1892 and on!

Joe

Thanks for the pictures, Joe!

Does any one have a clear PRENTISS KNIFE CO NEW YORK, N.Y. tang stamp?

............. Joe

Joe Dirt wrote: ↑Sun Jun 13, 2010 5:56 pm Thanks for the pictures, Joe!

Does any one have a clear PRENTISS KNIFE CO NEW YORK, N.Y. tang stamp?

............. Joe

Hey Joe, I know it’s been quite a many years since this thread not sure if you will see this but I have this Prentiss Knife Co. New York,N.Y. Jack I got recently in last couple weeks. Scales are not original, I do not see much information other than 1910 when made, the others I see have a VF in circle by Boker. There isn’t much information to be had and trying to find more about, I don’t see many examples out there. I also seen where there is one tang that is overstamped over a grinded down tang this doesn’t have that so taking it’s the original stamps/blades/frame from the original company.