All About Pocket Knives

Posted: **Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:15 pm**

Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Pocket Knife

I saw someone in the group selling one of these in the AAKP Knife Store but when I went back to look for it I could not find it, perhaps it was sold? Anyways, I like the knife and found one to buy for a few dollars more than I could have gotten the one from the AAKP store (but if you snooze you loose)...:+)

Description: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Co. - Vintage Condition. Blade is tight and snaps open and closed! It is 3-1/2" long closed.

Question: Does anyone know the year of these types of knives were made (I'm thinking maybe in the 1940s)? I know Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Co. was a tool company for the most part. I found plenty of info on their tools but could not find anything about their knives.

Draac

Posted: **Sat Aug 27, 2011 6:28 pm**

I think the knife was based on a patent issued to a Mr. Allen.

I've seen Allen marked examples, but do not know if there was actually an Allen Cutlery Co. factory or if they were not made on contract by someone else.

The patent date year is 1917, so they're earlier than the 1940's, but I suspect they were made into the 50's.

Do a Google patent search for the actual patent information.

Charlie Noyes

Posted: **Mon Aug 29, 2011 6:13 pm**

I did find this out I that I found interesting, so I thought I would post it.

History: Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co.
This leading hardware dealership was the descendant of a Chicago store called Tuttle, Hibbard & Co., which took that name in 1855 when William G. Hibbard became a partner. In 1865, Hibbard was joined by Franklin F. Spencer, and the enterprise was renamed Hibbard & Spencer. By 1867, the company's annual sales of hardware had reached $1 million. When longtime company employee A. C. Bartlett became a partner in 1882, the company's name became Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett & Co. When Spencer died in 1890, the company was already among the leading wholesalers of hardware in the United States. In 1903, the year Hibbard died, the company opened a 10-story warehouse next to State Street Bridge in downtown Chicago. In 1932, the company introduced a new line of hand tools under the brand name “True Value.” By 1948, Hibbard's annual sales reached nearly $30 million. Business slowed and profits were shrunk, however, as new hardware cooperatives began to bypass traditional wholesalers. In 1962, the company's owners, who wanted to move into the real-estate business, sold the hardware operations and the “True Value” brand to John Cotter for $2.5 million

Draac

Posted: **Wed Aug 31, 2011 12:59 pm**

Great history Draac.
Thanks for posting it.

All About Pocket Knives

Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Pocket Knife

Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Pocket Knife

Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Pocket Knife

Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Pocket Knife

Re: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Pocket Knife