All About Pocket Knives

Where can I track down info on dating Kutmaster folding knives? I have a four- tool folder I can't bring up anywhere.

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There might be some info posted in the Tang Stamps thread:

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... =4&t=39799

I think Uitica pretty much stopped stamping their knives with "Utica" in about 1947 and used "KutMaster" thereafter, but that's purely anecdotal, I don't collect Utica and my memory isn't the best.

There are plenty here who know more than I do. They'll be along eventually with more definitive information.

Charlie Noyes

Please post a picture of the knife.

Levine shows Utica stopping usage of the curved "Utica" stamp in 1937 and starting the use of the Kutmaster stamping that same year. I have seen very few Kutmasters that appeared to be pre WWII, however, I have seen a few.

Just checked Goins', he shows the same information, Kutmaster stamp began in 1937.

I have a Barlow knife that might have been made by Kutmaster. My wife found it some years ago and gave it to me. There are no markings on the tangs, but the bolsters are both marked with BARLOW. Should I assume it was made by Kutmaster?

Thanks

kewald wrote:I have a Barlow knife that might have been made by Kutmaster. My wife found it some years ago and gave it to me. There are no markings on the tangs, but the bolsters are both marked with BARLOW. Should I assume it was made by Kutmaster?

Thanks

I believe Colonial and Imperial used that as well on the bolster pretty generic.

kewald wrote:I have a Barlow knife that might have been made by Kutmaster. My wife found it some years ago and gave it to me. There are no markings on the tangs, but the bolsters are both marked with BARLOW. Should I assume it was made by Kutmaster?

Ken!

As Greg says, you'll see the generic "BARLOW" stamp on clamshell knives by Colonial, Imperial, Novelty, and others, and you'll also see it pop up on solid-bolster knives like Uticas, and newer Camillus. The stamp itself doesn't help identify the knife but comparing yours to the typical Kutmaster/Utica Barlow build shows some fairly striking differences.
As you can see, one of the telltale signs of a Kutmaster or Utica Barlow is the "rounded shoulder" bolster which is fairly distinctive among other Barlows. Imperials, Colonials, and other clamshell or hollow-bolster Barlows do not have bolsters as rounded as the Uticas, which you can see from this group shot of Providence, Imperial and Colonial Barlows:
Judging by the photos of your Barlow, it's probably a hollow-bolster or "clamshell", Asian-made, perhaps Pakistani, judging by the grind, the way the nicks are cut and the use of the brass pivot pins. The tang may have been left unstamped. Just some signs of a south Asian knife that I've noticed. Of course, I'm just speculating, I could be way off. But that'd be my best guess.

Glad to have you on AAPK!

Can anyone tell me why this kutmaster Barlow has an N stamped on the tang. I know a person that has one with an O.

Stumbled onto this old thread trying to track down tang stamps...
just thought I might add my uneducated opinion on the letters found on some tangs.

Perhaps it is a date code like Western used to do?

Also, here are the stamps I have...

Anyone know the date difference between the 2 straight line stamps? One has a pat no.