All About Pocket Knives

Since looking over the thread on "Vintage Acid Etched & Stamped Blades" and the recent discussion on knife literature, it got me thinking about the many etches and stamps which exist and are duplicated among different companies.

It seems that there are primarily three different types of etches and stamps which are :
1 : Company name or brand, such as "Keen Kutter" and "Universal"
2 : Fanciful, as in "Tickler" and "Regulator"
3 : Descriptive, as in "Physicians" and "Cotton Sampler"

In searching around, it was interesting to see which knife companies were more inclined to use a particular type, and more interesting yet to see (aside from company brands) which names or terms were used the most. There were a few fanciful names which were used by several companies, but it was the descriptive names which were used the most frequently. Most of us would guess that "Scout" in some form was the most common and that would be correct, but what were the next three terms most often used? From my rough checking, one descriptive term rises above the others (behind Scout) and two others are not far behind.

Take a shot a which three descriptive etches or stamps were most commonly used on old knife blades, and by how many different knife companies. Nothing cast in stone yet.

One type of etches you left out were advertising etches for a product or company.
To your other question Forest King and Daniel Boone were used on several different stamping of folding hunters.

Regarding your second type the fanciful etch,I would venture a guess that Maher & Grosh used more fanciful names than any other Company.

As far as descriptive of the knife type I would say Stockman, Cattle Knife and Easy Opener were used quite often by many companies. It seems that lesser German manufacturers like Griffon were fond of these "out on the blade" etchings. They do make for an attractive knife.

I know that English cutlery manufacturers often incorporated "CELEBRATED" and "WARRANTED" in tang stamps and etches of both knives and razors. Rogers and Wostenholm among others favored this wording.

Case fixed blades favored names of famous frontiersman like "BOONE", "CARSON" and "CODY" and well as "CENTO" which I am unsure of the meaning of.

Wayne

I would hazard to guess "Premium Stockman" might be the most prolific pattern name etched on blades.

philco wrote:I would hazard to guess "Premium Stockman" might be the most prolific pattern name etched on blades.

And"For flesh only"

I got nothing. After Wayne's post I can't get Cattle or Stockman out of my head.

So I'll guess Diamond Edge,been readin' 'bout them..

Note:
Shapleigh was the SOLE distributor of Empire and Diamond Edge in 1899.

https://books.google.com/books?id=ZYUgA ... go&f=false

I expect also some years surrounding 1899,just don't have anything to prove that.

My favorite etch.

Oil the joints, I like this acid etch.

0078 wrote:Oil the joints, I like this acid etch.

Me too, they were prolific.

By the way,Norvell Shapleigh (1901-1911) was the exclusive western and southern distributors of the products of the Empire Knife Co.

Great answers and great examples shown. The etch or stamp which I found to be most prolific was "Cattle Knife" which used by over a dozen different knife companies, and there are certainly more than this following list.

American Shear & Knife Co.
Boker
Challenge
Clauss
Empire
Enderes
Henckels
A J Jordan
New York Knife Co.
Remington
Ulster
Western
Wostenholm

"Easy Opener" and "Premium Stock Knife" seemed to come in at second and third with over a half dozen different companies using each of these etches/stamps.

As Penut740 suggested, it does appear that Maher & Grosh had more unique names than anyone else.

Surprisingly, I found "Forest King" used by five different American knife companies. Any guesses on which these are?

Did you and Wayne talk a few days ago?

He needs to give us a head start next time.

Grinning.

I would guess Camillus/Sword Brand, Utica and Ulster may have used the Forest King etch. I know I have seen it on fixed blades as well as folding knives. Fixed blades have a beautiful full reverse blade etch. I dont remember ever seeing a post 1930s era knife with a Forest King Etch.

Wayne

Like some that play the lottery,I'm sticking to the same number.

1.Empire, then:

Ulster,Camillus,Challenge,Valley Forge

Seems like a ton of research to get these figures.Thanks

Another Forest King,Excelsior Knife Co.

That's a beauty Roger ::

Tom

olderdogs1 wrote:That's a beauty Roger ::

Tom

I agree.

Thanks guys.I posted it before but it fits this thread quite well.I have to sort thru some others I`m pretty sure I
have some other makes with a Forest king etch.I just had a photo of this one handy.

Like some that play the lottery,I'm sticking to the same number.

Empire,Ulster,Camillus,Challenge,Valley Forge. edit Excelcior. That one was worth it Roger.

Seems like a ton of research to get these figures.Thanks Mason.

wlf wrote:Like some that play the lottery,I'm sticking to the same number.

Empire,Ulster,Camillus,Challenge,Valley Forge. edit Excelcior. That one was worth it Roger.

Seems like a ton of research to get these figures.Thanks Mason.

Empire used"Empire`s Hunting Knife" etch on at least some of their folding hunters.

Someone tell me what is usually etched on the folding locking screw-driver/wire-stripper blade of just about every TL-29 and civilian electrician's knife ever made....

I'm wondering just how many of those were made?

Hmmmmmm?

Charlie Noyes