All About Pocket Knives

I thought it might be fun if everyone interested posted a vintage knife brand, hardware, wholesaler, etc from their home state (country/locale for international members). It will also help some of use learn about some more obscure brands and see some cool knives, so please share the knife and what you know about it!

Marked ROSCO for George Rose Co. a California importer & retailer in the 50/60s

Dayton Ohio ad knife.

I'd be hard pressed to come up with a knife made in Florida. All we have down here are custom makers like Randall, Wilson or Ochs which I have none of. I do have this Schrade Melon slicer with a Fla. grocery chain ad.

Well I was born and raised in Massachusetts but am now residing in Michigan so I guess I'll post knives from both states.
The first is an Aaron Burkinshaw two blade swell center pen knife with pearl scales and (sadly)a broken blade.The blade must have been broken early in it's life as the rest of the knife is in excellent condition.
Goins lists Burkinshaw as being in business from 1881 to 1920 but in the description says he moved from Plymouth CT to Pepperell MA in 1856 and started making cutlery then.
The second knife is marked Fletcher Hardware Detroit Mich. Goins states they were in business from 1863 to 1913. The one they illustrate is almost identical to mine and they say it is cheaply made.Looks pretty decent to me.

I live in south east Iowa, about 80 miles from Chicago where Jack Knife Ben sold knives at Union Stock Yards. Here are two pocket knives that were probably made by Napanoch back in the early 1900's. It was kind of a ritual for farmers and cattle men to take their live stock to Chicago, Union stock yards and while they were there they would stock up on Jack Knife Ben knives.

Bert just made an Illinois connection with his Jack Knife Ben knives but I'm going to add another one with one from Klein Tools. While the knives were certainly made by someone else, the headquarters for Klein Tools is in Lincolnshire, IL.

I wish I had a Wabash to commemorate my Indiana roots but all I've seen of eBay seem to have Celluloid handles so I pass them by.

Ah, almost forgot. I have one from right here in Rockford, Illinois. Check out this Dasco Scout.

knife7knut wrote:Well I was born and raised in Massachusetts but am now residing in Michigan so I guess I'll post knives from both states.
The first is an Aaron Burkinshaw two blade swell center pen knife with pearl scales and (sadly)a broken blade.The blade must have been broken early in it's life as the rest of the knife is in excellent condition.
Goins lists Burkinshaw as being in business from 1881 to 1920 but in the description says he moved from Plymouth CT to Pepperell MA in 1856 and started making cutlery then.
The second knife is marked Fletcher Hardware Detroit Mich. Goins states they were in business from 1863 to 1913. The one they illustrate is almost identical to mine and they say it is cheaply made.Looks pretty decent to me.

You don't have a Michigan Olsen?

First 3 Wabash Cutlery Terre Haute IN.
Fourth is VanCo Indianapolis IN.

Here is an early Benchmade that was made in Clackamas Oregon, before Benchmade moved to their current Oregon city location. If I remember correctly it was made the first year Benchmade was open.

FAKE but with a Dayton Oh. tang stamp.

What's fake about it Bill?

jerryd6818 wrote:

knife7knut wrote:Well I was born and raised in Massachusetts but am now residing in Michigan so I guess I'll post knives from both states.
The first is an Aaron Burkinshaw two blade swell center pen knife with pearl scales and (sadly)a broken blade.The blade must have been broken early in it's life as the rest of the knife is in excellent condition.
Goins lists Burkinshaw as being in business from 1881 to 1920 but in the description says he moved from Plymouth CT to Pepperell MA in 1856 and started making cutlery then.
The second knife is marked Fletcher Hardware Detroit Mich. Goins states they were in business from 1863 to 1913. The one they illustrate is almost identical to mine and they say it is cheaply made.Looks pretty decent to me.

You don't have a Michigan Olsen?

Got a herd of them Jerry;both folders and fixed blades. Reason I posted the Fletcher is the OP wanted(I think)knives that weren't in the mainstream;although Olsen wasn't exactly a household word in knives. EDIT:
Actually a lot of the Olsen kine was made in either Germany or Japan. I do have a large folder by Olsen that was made in Howard City(the center knife in the picture).Also here are three Massachusetts knives by John Russell.

jerryd6818 wrote:What's fake about it Bill?

Everything
It is a new knife that I bought on ebay about ten years ago when I was even more ignorant than I am now.
I have seen it at knife shows with at least four different tang stamps. It has been discussed here and someone posted their copy. New knife, well built, just not a one hundred year old knife. An expensive lesson

Lots to choose from in CT in terms of traditionals and finally got around to deciding what to post that is somewhat rare in terms of maker and pattern as well... Here is a American Knife Co Winsted CT (1919-1948) - note different company than American Knife Co Thomaston - in a rare style pattern - a "Fish" Jack with Rogers bone (3 & 7/16" closed)... This is only one of 2 knives I ever bought that had been professionally cleaned but I really liked the knife and the fit for me was perfect ....
Cheers
Lee

Very nice jack, Lee. It's in beautiful shape.

I'll have to get something in here.

Nice thread Another Knife Collector.

Offhand I can't think of any mass production knives made in Texas. So even though not what would be considered vintage, I'm gonna throw in a few from G. W. Stone (now deceased) who was a founding member of the Knifemakers Guild and made high quality knives back in the 60s and 70s in his shop in my old hometown of Richardson, TX. G. W. was outspoken and opinionated, and quite a character. His workmanship is excellent. He knew more about steel than anybody I've known, before or since.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote:Offhand I can't think of any mass production knives made in Texas. So even though not what would be considered vintage, I'm gonna throw in a few from G. W. Stone (now deceased) who was a founding member of the Knifemakers Guild and made high quality knives back in the 60s and 70s in his shop in my old hometown of Richardson, TX. G. W. was outspoken and opinionated, and quite a character. His workmanship is excellent. He knew more about steel than anybody I've known, before or since.

Ken

Ken: Didn't he have an artificial arm? Seem to remember seeing an article on him once. Lot of good makers in Texas(Ralph Bone; Jim Pugh for a couple).

knife7knut wrote:

Mumbleypeg wrote:Offhand I can't think of any mass production knives made in Texas. So even though not what would be considered vintage, I'm gonna throw in a few from G. W. Stone (now deceased) who was a founding member of the Knifemakers Guild and made high quality knives back in the 60s and 70s in his shop in my old hometown of Richardson, TX. G. W. was outspoken and opinionated, and quite a character. His workmanship is excellent. He knew more about steel than anybody I've known, before or since.

Ken

Ken: Didn't he have an artificial arm? Seem to remember seeing an article on him once. Lot of good makers in Texas(Ralph Bone; Jim Pugh for a couple).

Ray, you're probably thinking of someone else. G.W. didn't have an artificial arm. Interestingly, he and Ralph Bone were business partners at one time in a gun smithing and knife making venture called R&E Arms that was located in Richardson, TX. Eventually G.W. left and started his own knife making business. Here's an old article about G.W. Sorry it's not clearer but maybe if you can expand it you can make it out. He was definitely a unique and interesting guy with a lot of talent.

Ken

Ken, you sure can tell the ralph bone influence on the Stone knife , or maybe it's the other way around. I own a Bone hunter and met ralph at the 1980 NRA convention in KC. I bought my Bone knife in Boulder Co. in the late 60's. I really like the Stone stag folder! nice knife, the only knife I have with a local name is one that I made, I stamp all my knives with a number and Lodgepole,Ne stamp. This one has jigged bone handle and the blade was influenced by the spey blade on a trapper folder but a lot larger. Terry

Beautiful knives shown here, guys.

Here's a little 2 3/4" Waterville congress whittler from just down the road from me.
Notice long pull on both sides of the main sheepsfoot.

Nice work Terry. I think G.W.'s earliest influence was Randall. His later work was more his own inspiration, some of it was the first of its kind and copied by many.

Joe, once again you're makin me drool with that Waterville whittler.

Ken

Wow, great find on that Waterville, Joe!
Dan

Thanks so much, Ken and Dan. Appreciate the comments.