Herrick Hardware; Waco, Texas.

[FRJ]

I asked, a while back, about congress jacks because I bought one on Ebay and was uncertain of the results of my itchy trigger finger.
Well, it showed up.
Can anyone help me with the maker of this knife and when Herrick Hardware was selling these things.
Impulsive purchase or not, this is about the finest knife I own. Absolutly bulldog solid and bulldog snappy.
And a congress jack to boot. I never knew of such a thing. I am really thrilled with this thing. 3 3/4"
If just fingerprints means it isn't mint, then it's not mint, but that's all that would be against this knife.
I looked up Herrick Hardware, but found nothing on the knife.
I will call University of North Texas to see if they can offer anything.
I would appreciate any help you could offer. Thanks a lot.

[jerryd6818]

Dang, Joe. I'm envious. I suppose you got it for a song and sang it yourself.

[gino]

What did it set you back if you dont mind me asking?

[OldGoat]

Joe, that is one beautiful knife!

I looked for it on ebay and didn't find where you got it, but did find this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1912-Waco-TEXAS ... 519ae1812b

Apparently the company is/was an old one.

Regards,
Russell

[IMBand]

That thing is AWESOME!! What a great shape it has, definitely a classy knife, CONGRATS!!

IM

[Paladin]

That is a drop dead georgeous knife! Most unusual pattern.
Good catch.

Ray

EDIT: And if no info available at U of North Texas, try calling Baylor University. It is in Waco.

[Miller Bro's]

Found this............

[FRJ]

Thank you for all your nice responces. I really like this knife, I'm glad others do too.
There was some competition for the winning bid however and I wound up paying $103 for it,
plus shipping, what ever that was. Aint it a beauty? Right from the jump it seemed like an important knife.
Thanks OldGoat, for that link. I found something similar (image that is) when I Googled Herrick Hardware.
Thanks IM and Ray for your nice remarks. Ray, thanks for the tip on Baylor U.

Yee Haww!!! Aint it a Beauty???!!!

[paulsvintage]

yes a real beauty ! someone took great care of it

[Paladin]

And now we need to figure out who made it for Herrick Hdw!!
I have no clue.

[Owd Wullie]

Apparently they were still in business mid-twentieth century.
http://www.smyth1.net/postoak/01-holt.html

[FRJ]

I was hoping some one would be able to peg it through the pictures, and they still might.
Probably not a well known stamp.
I haven't called Baylor U. or U. of N. Texas yet. I think I'll try for a historical society too. Thanks.

[philco]

I checked Blade's Guide to Knives and Their Values and Goin's Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings and didn't find a listing for that tang stamp in either one. Must be a fairly obscure tang stamp, but it sure is one fine looking knife. I think you did well to get it for the price paid.

Phil

[Big Barn]

Instead of a congress pattern - it sort of looks like a reverse Gunstock. Either way, one very fine piece of cutlery!

[FRJ]

Big Barn,
thank you.It could be one of my pictures is distorted to look like a reverse gunstock, but it's a congress.

Someone put a bug in my ear that it could be a reproduction.
That's not at all far fetched considering the links I read.
If it is a reproduction, someone did a heck of a job on it and needs to put their own stamp on their made knives.

[FRJ]

Well, from the sublime to the ridiculous...... to the sublime to the ridiculous.........

According to the seller, the knife is not counterfeit. He says he bought it from an honorable knife collector in OK. City, OK......... I like honorable knife collectors.
I'm assuming it's right. ...... either way, it's one helk of a knife. Thanks.

[Miller Bro's]

Joe, I hate to say this but IIRC I seen this pattern knife with several other "Old" defunct well known and collectable knife companies name stamped on the tang that were made up and being sold on flea bay back as long as 10 years ago by some guy who claimed they were assembled from original parts

I think Charlie may know who the fleabay seller of these was, or somebody else here.

[FRJ]

Hi Dimitri,
I read some old AAPK posts someone sent me that seemed pretty compelling against the knife, but
the guy I bought it from adamantly stands behind the knife. As one would expect. In my ignorance it's hard for me to draw a conclusion.
Check the grind and fit and finish on this knife in my pictures. It is absolutly very well built. Why would a huckster with all this talent be a huckster.......... still, I'm glad to have the knife. Thanks, D.

Willie, your link didn't have a heck of alot about Herrick, but a lotta lingo about Lueders. Thanks.

[msteele6]

FRJ,

I've been reading this thread for some time and didn't want to disappoint you since you seemed to really be enjoying the knife (and after all that's what knife collecting is about), however, now that someone has broached the subject of reproduction, I own a knife exactly like this one marked Paxton and Gallagher (an obscure hardware company from Omaha, NE).

I'm convinced that my knife is a reproduction and it seems that somewhere I read about a series of knives that were reproduced using these old hardware company stampings. Maybe someone can chime in on that subject.

As you say, the knife seems to be an extremely well made one and in a pattern that is rarely seen.

I've looked at my collection listing and see that I've attached the name Ken Toll and Parker shows to this knife. Not exactly sure how (or even if) he was connected to these knives, but that's the name I have.

JMO

[dcgm4]

msteele6, maybe you could post some pictures of your Paxton and Gallagher for comparison.

Joe, you could also try contacting AAPK members rigwelder and edgy46. They seem to have repro congress jacks. Maybe they can get you pictures of theirs so you can compare.

Dimitri, I went through the old posts in Counterfeit Watch and they show that the seller on eBay went by the name "obadyah". Just do a search of "congress jack" and you'll find the posts pretty easily.

[Miller Bro's]

I went through the old posts in Counterfeit Watch and they show that the seller on eBay went by the name "obadyah".

That`s him!!

Thank You

[edgy46]

I have seen this knife marked with several different tang stamps. The one I have is marked Thomas Mfg Dayton Oh.
I do not believe these knives are reproductions. I think they were built to deceive.
FRJ look at the shield, you will find no pins. My shield looks to be stapled into the bone.
Bought on E bay about 10 years ago from a seller in Nashville who listed his sales as from my sock drawer. He only lasted a few months before being banned.

[paulsvintage]

after reading this maybe my paxton is a fake

[FRJ]

thanks guys cant stay have this Pic...pinned shield. be back soon.

[Miller Bro's]

Same batch of knives I have seen with many different tang stamps, different shields, same jigged bone handles, all from the same fleabay seller I talked about earlier.