All About Pocket Knives

I am buying a couple of Keen Kutters from an individual that has a large collection. By doing a search of AAPK I found a wealth of information and have ordered the 2004 book by Alvin Sellens. Here is the problem, some of the knives the seller has only have numbers as the pattern they do not have a K prefix. From the information I downloaded from here and from what I have been told about the Alvin Sellens book, all the Keen Kutters have the K prefix if they are prior the Shapeilgh buying Simmons. I was wondering if these knifes could have been the original Walden knives or if Keen Kutter sometimes left of a part of the pattern number as Case does.

I don't have pictures yet, but was wondering if anyone had any Keen Kutters with the Simmons St Louis stamp that the pattern number was not preceeded by a K? Whoa that's a mouthful.

Joe

I need to go back and look, however, if memory serves, it is actually uncommon to find the "K" prefix on the early Keen Kutters. You're actually more likely to find it on the later knives. Also, remember, Keen Kutter used inked on pattern numbers on some knives and, naturally, these inked on pattern numbers are much more likely to wear off with time than the stamped ones. For that reason it is not super uncommon to find a genuine knife without a pattern number.

I'll try to check at lunch but I believe that the above is accurate (in terms of the "K" prefix), maybe someone else knows off hand.

I have only a dozen Keen Kutters , of these only 7 have stamped pattern numbers, of these only 2 have the K prefix. Those two are listed by Alvin Sellens as being circa 1939 to 1942. The others are all pre 1939 (according to Sellens).

Dan

Thank you both for the good information. I just got the knives and will post pictures one I take them.

Joe

Hi JoeBob,

Yes....what they said. I have over 40 Keen Kutters, almost all of them pre-1940 E.C Simmons knives. Very few have the model number stamped on them.

Would live to see pics of your knives.

These are the 2 knives I bought. Both have been cleaned and are in good condition. I am not sure of the pattern number for the doctor’s knife. It has wood handles and the Keen Kutter stamp used until 1940 (by far not the oldest stamp), but does not have a pattern stamp. I love the cap for a back bolster.

The “Gunstock” is I think 22203 but all that is stamped on the back of the spear blade is 2203. It has a kind threaded front bolster along with the scroll work. I believe it is what Keen Kutter called bonestag (bone) They made a fine knife handle and the rear coffin bolster is easy to look at.

I think the latest the gunstock would have been made was 1939 and the doctor knife could be the same, but I found one reference that said 1905 to 1927. Pretty hard to find definite dates.

These 2 have me looking for others. If you have any information about these 2, please share.

Thanks,
Joe

Hi JoeBob,

I think the Doctor's knife is a KS 601. I think the "S" denotes that it was made under contract by Schrade for E.C. Simmons.

As I understand it, the E.C. Simmons brand was the "House" Brand, while with E.C. Simmons "Keen Kutter" brand was their premier line of cutlery. Attached is a pic of an example of each stamp. Simmons had quite a few brands & stamps over the years, as you will find in your copy of Sellens book.

While I collect many different brands of old knives, the Keen Kutters are my favorite. Happy Collecting!