All About Pocket Knives

For years I never owned an Orange Blossom then suddenly about a year ago I went on a spree, pretty much by accident, and picked up four of them (from top to bottom a Keen Kutter, two Remingtons and a Cattaraugus), here they are:

Great pickups, I have owned a couple at one time, I had to have it pointed out to me what they were. Thanks for posting them!!

Tom

Beautiful ones! I got a Simmonds awhile back with beautiful scales and very lightly sharpened.Only problem was the tang was soft and the master blade sits proud.Only paid $3 for it;almost worth having it repaired.

$3? Holy smokes, I thought I got great deals on mine.

First I've heard of an orange blossom but thanks to you I know what they look like. So a master blade(spear) on one end and lobster like array on the other?

Nice showings of knife fellas, and great information I never new what they were as well.

Orange Blossom eh? One more time, I have been educated on AAPK.

Very nice.

But, it's possible you do not really own an "Orange Blossom" until you have one by New York Knife.

Mr. Bradley of New York Knife named the pattern after his old Union Army outfit from Orange County, New York. They were called "The Orange Blossoms".

Nowadays, any gunstock lobster whittler with a long file on the underside is referred to as an "Orange Blossom".

I need a nice one by Terrier Cutlery.

Charlie Noyes

Charlie Noyes

RobesonsRme.com wrote:Very nice.

But, it's possible you do not really own an "Orange Blossom" until you have one by New York Knife.

Mr. Bradley of New York Knife named the pattern after his old Union Army outfit from Orange County, New York. They were called "The Orange Blossoms".

Nowadays, any gunstock lobster whittler with a long file on the underside is referred to as an "Orange Blossom".

I need a nice one by Terrier Cutlery.

Charlie Noyes

Charlie Noyes

This orange blossom I'm of aware of this would be a walden knife co

I try to use Levine's nomenclature when I refer to knives, not necessarily because Mr. Levine is infallible (even though he certainly is knowledgeable) but because it does at least impose some standardization to the terminology.

He tells the story of Mr. Tom Bradley, the leader of the Orange Blossom brigade and also of New York Knife Company who gave the name to this specific knife. He further states that the knife was one of the most expensive pocket knives and gives as an example that the pearl Remington Orange Blossom cost 2 1/2 times as much as a Bullet trapper. You can see why when you look at the complicated construction of the Orange Blossoms, which are essentially a gunstock whittler with a manicure blade on the back.

They are interesting little knives.

I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek.

Levine identifies all such knives as Orange Blossoms and I've seen one made by other than NYK with "Orange Blossom" etched on the master blade.

Tom Bradley of New York Knife called their version Orange Blossoms. I have no idea when or by whom, the pattern was first made.

I know I like them. They are elegant little knives.

Here's my Robeson. Ignore the dull looking area on the master, it isn't actually there except in that photo. This knife is almost mint. This knife also came in its box with guarantee.

Charlie

Great old knife!

I was digging around last night and came across this thread. That is an amazing knife Charlie. I have these 3 Remington knives.

Beautiful knives, msteele6, good thread! Also great knives posted by Ray, Charlie and espn77! I am also partial to the pattern and have two Keen Kutters, unfortunately each of them has one lazy pen blade.
Dan

I have this Remington Gun Stock Whittler, would I be defacing it by polishing the NS tips and shield that were corroded? Best to leave it as is? I personally would rather see it lightly buffed up to original state.

I just got my original Winchester catalog from 1926 in the mail, looks like they formally called them Orange Blossoms as well.

Dan, great looking knives.
PD, really liking your Remington. I'd probably lightly clean it.

A knife cannot be buffed up to its original state.

It can be cleaned to a better over all appearance and even that would be in the eye of an individual beholder.

A simple cleaning with toothpicks, Q-Tips, etc and a polish of the entire knife with Sem-Chrome Metal Polish is as far as one should go and there are some here that object to even that.

Pretty knife.

I think bone handled Orange Blossoms are much more rare than the pearls.

Charlie Noyes

RobesonsRme.com wrote:A knife cannot be buffed up to its original state.

It can be cleaned to a better over all appearance and even that would be in the eye of an individual beholder.

A simple cleaning with toothpicks, Q-Tips, etc and a polish of the entire knife with Sem-Chrome Metal Polish is as far as one should go and there are some here that object to even that.

Pretty knife.

I think bone handled Orange Blossoms are much more rare than the pearls.

Charlie Noyes

Thanks Charlie, I might see where a microfiber cloth and some mineral oil gets me with some elbow grease. Is flitz better than semichrome because it doesn't have an abrasive pumice?

The metal polish of your choice is fine.I have used several and find little difference.Dab some on the Blade and let it set for an hour or so and gently clean it off and it will show the etch better.
Charlie is right about many more pearl than bone orange blossoms.

Did someone mention pearl Orange Blossoms?

FRJ wrote:Did someone mention pearl Orange Blossoms?

Your not a very good influence Joe. I saw your nice Remington orange blossom and had to find me one.

I have one. A Winchester with a piece of bone out of the mark side and a lazy pen. I really like these little knives. Probably my favorite pattern. Well these pictures really dont do the ole gal justice but here they are. Thanks for looking.

The stag handled Remington is even rarer than the bone handle. They are my favorite pattern also. It seems a lot of them have backspring problems, blades there lazy or sitting proud. The springs are very fragile on this pattern. I read somewhere that orange blossoms were priced as high as the bullet patterns, when they were new, as they were very difficult and time consuming to make.

This stag R7366 Remington is rough but I'm glad to have it.