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John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1968
Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 8:31 pm
by Miller Bro's
This company sold many nice knives over the years.
Their knives were made by some of the well know knife companies that are collected today.
Here is one made by Schrade Cut. Co.
If you have any Primble or Belknap marked knives post them here

Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 2:46 am
by trail
I have only one Primble which is also the only knife I own of my grandfather's. My uncle got the rest, as he should, but they were all lost in Katrina. According to my mother, my grandfather usually bought Cases, but this one may have been given to him or he could have taken it off a prisoner - he was a judge and it was not uncommon for prisoners to make it into court still carrying their knives. He would confiscate them before sending the owners to jail. This knife is a nice one. I have seen Bokers that are close to identical, so I will hazard a guess that this is one that Belknap sourced from Boker.
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:01 am
by big monk
Hey MB__________are these knives still being made ????_____theknifecenter.com has John Primble, knives,kisted for sale,USA made,Mayesville,Kentucky, is on the tang ???? as in the photos
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:40 am
by tjmurphy
Reckon who's knife makin' in Maysville? It's just down the road from me.

Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:45 am
by Another Knife Collector
Looks like it may be a contract by Utica/Kutmaster to me?
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:43 pm
by Miller Bro's
trail wrote:This knife is a nice one. I have seen Bokers that are close to identical, so I will hazard a guess that this is one that Belknap sourced from Boker.
The knives with a star under the pattern number were made by Boker.
big monk wrote:Hey MB__________are these knives still being made ????
I suppose they still are being made, by who I have no idea
I don`t keep track of modern knives

Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 2:19 pm
by edgy46
The John Primble name is now owned or licenced by bluegrass cutlery in Manchester, Oh. which is a jobber. (imo) This is from memory

The ones I have look like Utica's work. ( the handle material)
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:05 pm
by Miller Bro's
Here is an old Box.........
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:33 pm
by buckeyefan
"The knives with a star under the pattern number were made by Boker."
Thats great info M B, I diddnt know that.
Marty
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 12:54 am
by edgy46
Small congress
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:47 pm
by thawk
Schrade Walden made Primble
Edgy - Your congress is a Schrade Walden made 974 pattern
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:54 pm
by Miller Bro's
^^ Nice looking knives

Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:56 pm
by jerryd6818
Ooooh, I like that one Hawk. Those semi-tip bolsters and the swedge on that California clip master are sweeeeet !!
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:42 am
by orvet
Here are a couple I picked up recently.
Guess who made them.
Dale
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:13 pm
by robinetn
Miller Bro`s wrote:trail wrote:This knife is a nice one. I have seen Bokers that are close to identical, so I will hazard a guess that this is one that Belknap sourced from Boker.
The knives with a star under the pattern number were made by Boker.
big monk wrote:Hey MB__________are these knives still being made ????
I suppose they still are being made, by who I have no idea
I don`t keep track of modern knives

I have books by two different well-respected knife men ... one of them credits the star to Boker and the other credits the star to Camillus . Does anyone have documented info which could verify one or the other ?
Bob R,
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:26 pm
by knifeaholic
All of the Primble marked knives that I have ever seen with the star have resembled Boker USA tooling, patterns, handle materials, detailing, etc 100%.
In fact while I can trace a lot of Primbles to Boker or to Schrade/Ulster I can't say that I have ever seen one that looked to have been made by Camillus based on the pattern and tooling. Just my own observations.
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:20 am
by orvet
knifeaholic wrote:All of the Primble marked knives that I have ever seen with the star have resembled Boker USA tooling, patterns, handle materials, detailing, etc 100%.
In fact while I can trace a lot of Primbles to Boker or to Schrade/Ulster I can't say that I have ever seen one that looked to have been made by Camillus based on the pattern and tooling. Just my own observations.
While I don't know Bokers very well, some are very distinctive and sort of jump out.
I do think that most of the Primble I have seen are either Boker or Schrade.
I can't recall off the top of my head any Primble pattern I could say was definitely Camillus.
I would guess that Boker stopped making Primbles by 1969 when J.Wiss & Sons bought out Boker, but I don't know that for a fact. Any you Boker guys know?
I think most of the Primbles I have in my collection are probably from about 1970 to 1985 & most are Schrade made.
Dale
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:09 pm
by buckeyefan
Sorry guys, I should not have posted this junk knife.
Marty
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:20 pm
by ObsidianEdge
Cropped and blown up:

Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:30 pm
by buckeyefan
Thanks ObsidianEdge

I will try to clean the tang and post another pic of the 5517.
Marty
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 9:10 pm
by knifeaholic
That large congress is one made by Boker USA, circa mid 1960's to 1970's. Collector value would be low due to the fact that it has delrin handles and is in used condition. Value would be as a user.
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 11:51 pm
by FRJ
Here's a nice J. Primble Belknap Germany.
I think it's got a lot going for it.
Great jigging on the bone. Worked liners on back only. Two piece tang on the file.(never saw that before) Peened pins. Great action. Sunken joints.
The tang pins are set back from the ends of the long bolsters. It's nice. I don't think I have another knife designed that way.....3 1/16"
It's just a honey.
I hope you all like it.
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 1:39 am
by Miller Bro's
Nice looking knife Joe
Thanks for posting it

Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 1:45 am
by FRJ
Certainly my pleasure, Dimitri.
How often do you see a two piece tang like that?
And a huge pin (it goes through both pieces) that is, I assume, soldered.???
Re: John Primble Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co. 1940-1
Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 2:22 am
by johnnierotten
Joe...I like those milled liners.
Heres a few of mine......nice knives,everyone!!
