Here's a really nasty Keen Kutter
I cleaned up one of the blades to find the tang stamps. I thought it might be a boker at first looking at the bolsters, but alas its a Keen Kutter.
Any info on this would help. Not a great specimen but a good opportunity to learn abit the knife brand better.
Thx
Hawke
Keen Kutter knife info?
- Hawke
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Keen Kutter knife info?
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- El Lobo
- Gold Tier

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OK hawke...I'll take a flyer...
Keen Kutter was a trademark first used by Simmons Hardware of St. Louis beginning around 1870. It then became the property of Shapleigh Hardware in 1940 when Simmons's assets were purchased by Shapleigh.
In 1960 it was used by Val Test for a few years...then it was dormant until I believe Jim Parker bought the trademark...but I don't know exactly when. None of the people/companies actually made knives...so, they were made on contract, some by Walden, some by Schrade, probably others.
If it is marked only on the master blade, it was probably a Shapleigh, or a more recent version. If marked on all blades, it could be a Simmons.
Looks like it was carried regularly (bolster wear) and had a useful life (blade wear). May have been a cattle knife pattern, if that's a punch at the single blade end.
MOST of this info came from books by John Goins and Houston Price.
Best I've got.
Bill
Keen Kutter was a trademark first used by Simmons Hardware of St. Louis beginning around 1870. It then became the property of Shapleigh Hardware in 1940 when Simmons's assets were purchased by Shapleigh.
In 1960 it was used by Val Test for a few years...then it was dormant until I believe Jim Parker bought the trademark...but I don't know exactly when. None of the people/companies actually made knives...so, they were made on contract, some by Walden, some by Schrade, probably others.
If it is marked only on the master blade, it was probably a Shapleigh, or a more recent version. If marked on all blades, it could be a Simmons.
Looks like it was carried regularly (bolster wear) and had a useful life (blade wear). May have been a cattle knife pattern, if that's a punch at the single blade end.
MOST of this info came from books by John Goins and Houston Price.
Best I've got.
Bill