All About Pocket Knives

Here is a nice old "Enderes" three blade folder. It's interesting that the "Enderes" company moved from Iowa to Minnesota and then back to Iowa in the first half of the twentieth century. Anyone have others to show?

Knice knife, but you're killin' me......you gotta show all blades!

Aside from kitchen knives and a fairly large range of pocket knives, Enderes produced quite a variety of tools from screw drivers and pliers to saw blades and drill bits. It appears that they shut the doors in 1940.

From the examples that I have seen, ENDERES pocket knives were made on contract by Imperial.

knifeaholic wrote:From the examples that I have seen, ENDERES pocket knives were made on contract by Imperial.

Thanks for these advertisement cuts and I believe that you are right on the money in that this model was a contract knife from Imperial and made after 1926. Do you have a year for these ads? I would guess that they date somewhere from 1926 to 1940 when "Enderes" had moved back to Iowa. The catalog which I have dates to 1923 when they were located in Minnesota and does not appear that they were using Imperial as a contractor. I'm curious if they made all or any of their knives in this time period from 1916 to 1926? Enclosed is just one double page of knives to see if you or anyone else recognizes specific knife models or patterns from another American cutler. (most already know, but left click twice on image to enlarge)

Mason; at first glance the knives in your catalog appear to have been made by Utica. Hard to tell. I agree not Imperial though. Interesting contrast to the knives in my catalog pages, which are definitely Imperial. Mine has no date.

Steve

knifeaholic wrote: ↑Mon Feb 11, 2013 2:04 am Mason; at first glance the knives in your catalog appear to have been made by Utica. Hard to tell. I agree not Imperial though. Interesting contrast to the knives in my catalog pages, which are definitely Imperial. Mine has no date.

Steve

Here’s a 3 and 3/8 long ( closed) Cattle knife .
Steve ,this one is similar to Masons and would like your feedback . You mentioned Utica. This one could be but it looks and feels more like Camillus. Do you know if they ever made some for Enderes ? It’s in the catalog pages shown here under Cattle knives.
Anyone else have anything or another knife please have at it . As has been stated they moved a couple times .
Take care out there .

I have only one Enderes knife, this 4 blade Scout/camper model that is 3 and 5/8 inches long. I see it in the 3rd picture above for 98 cents. lol
It is a substantially built knife with a heavy brass center divider. Are the swedges on the master blade any indicator of who made it?

Knives posted by Ripster and by Olde Cutler are both definitely Imperial, IMO.

knifeaholic wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 4:00 pm Knives posted by Ripster and by Olde Cutler are both definitely Imperial, IMO.

Thanks Steve. Believe after more research and your feedback you’re correct. This one is well built and not the tin covered imperial that came later . And digging out a few older Imperial’s they were made better than the latter years.
Been fun and interesting ,thanks OC and Steve for your posts .

Most likely made by Utica, as was pointed out by Dimitri in comparing not only knives ( Utica bone and shield) but the catalog cuts' descriptions. Notice the same odd spelling of wharncliff.

The catalog page I have that Hank Hanson graciously gave me, I have no year date.

knifeaholic wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 4:00 pm Knives posted by Ripster and by Olde Cutler are both definitely Imperial, IMO.

Thanks Steve, I should have shown pictures of the blade swedges (both sides of blade) and thick brass center divider I mentioned.

wlf wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 5:24 pm Most likely made by Utica, as was pointed out by Dimitri in comparing not only knives ( Utica bone and shield) but the catalog cuts' descriptions. Notice the same odd spelling of wharncliff.

Enderes Albert Lea, Minnesota.jpg
Enderes181.jpg

That’s one heck of a Farmers Jack there ! WOW
Thanks for including the catalog cuts .
Hope things are well with you ,take care .

wlf wrote: ↑Sat Apr 22, 2023 6:53 pm The catalog page I have that Hank Hanson graciously gave me, I have no year date.

I think your add would date from the 1916-1926 time period when Enders were making their own knifes in Minnesota. .
I base my guess on the only Enders knife I have that that is a dead ringer to the second knife from the top left in your add .my knife has no reference to Gutenberg ,Iowa on tang stamps .