All About Pocket Knives

I'm venturing off into an area where I have virtually zero knowledge here.

Heck, sometimes I think I've barely scratched the surface of my chosen area of knife collecting.

But, as someone that looks at every single new auction item in EBay's Pre-1970 Folding Knife category everyday, I see some really interesting stuff at times.

If I know someone that I think might be interested in something I've seen, I will alert them to the auction.

Sometimes they jump on it. Sometimes they politely tell me it's not what I thought it was.

Such is life.

This past week, I came upon this knife, listed as a PENNSYLVANIA / KNIFE / CO. ebony handled jack.

Goins lists the brand as 1910 - 1920 and suggests the knives were probably made on contract by Tidioute Cutlery or Hollingsworth Knife Co. for Supplee Hardware Co. of Philadelphia.

I alerted someone on AAPK that collects Pennsylvania cutlery and they responded that they had never actually seen a knife from Pennsylvania Knife Co., but they would like to see the knife in hand.

Personally, I was a bit put off by that fancy bolster. It looks like something to which one would apply a wrench. Fancy bolsters seem to be favored by some of the most prolific knife fakers today.

However, the knife illustrated in Goins, although a different pattern, has equally fancy multi-grooved bolsters.

So, what think you all that know more about this than I?

Charlie Noyes

I had a knife with the same pattern and it was stamped UNITED KNIFE CO.

JKB, without going to Goins, was United Knife Co. a German manufacturer?

Looking at the stamp on the knife in question, the "o" in "Co." is lower case and it's underlined, thusly,
"Co.".

That's very indicative of German make in my limited experience.

Charlie Noyes

The early Pennsylvania knife company knives were made in Germany and sold by Biddle Hardware in Phili. Tidioute did make some of the Razors and knives, but..................... Tidioute is stamped on the backside of the tang.

I have never seen this particular pattern before, I love to hold it and examine.

I sold this one, wish I had it back.

Goins dates that Union 1887 - 1888; just one year.

I wish you had it back, too. What a great knife.

And, it appears to be a dead ringer to the Pennsylvania Knife Co. that sold on Ebay.

Your knife, even if made in Germany, would not have been so marked, given Goins' stated dates preceding the 1891 Tariff acts.

Pennsylvania Knife Co., however, dates later and should have been marked with a country of origin if imported.

Charlie Noyes

Mr. Goins was incorrect on his dating of Pennsylvania knife Company. I have proof of them being much earlier. 1880's This is a rare box from them, but I have catalog sheets from 1884. Mostly imported from Germany, but as the box says, English as well.

So, the subject knife continues to look possibly genuine.

Beautiful box, BTW.

Charlie Noyes

I found the knife in the catalog. So yup she's a real one for sure.

The knife sold for $100.00.

Somebody got a goodun.

CNoyes

Thanks Charlie, that would be me I am really happy I could snag this one it's a beauty for sure. Cattaraugus made a knife with similar bolsters and they called it a Coffin Jack but it was not swell ended like this one.

That United Knife is also a sweet one!!

I have a simular knife in my accumulation marked the Chas Cristenson CO Phila Pa.Sorry tang stamp is faint.Will post a pic tonight.

Great. Info guys. Thanks