All About Pocket Knives

This knife company is from Milwaukee. They were in business from 1898 to 1902. Says Goins.
Nice little sleaveboard that has survived these past 115 years, at least.

Looks like a very elegant knife Joe. I have a Washington Cutlery whittler somewhere. It's well made. Will see if I can find it. Other than what little is in Goins, haven't been able to find anything about the company.

Ken

Thanks, Ken, I haven't tried to find more history on this brand, but it would be nice to know more.
They sure are old. Would love to see pictures of yours if that can happen.

Thats a sweet looking knife FRJ. Don't think I've heard of Washington Cutlery before. Thanks for sharing!

Here's the Washington Cutlery whittler. Stag handles, marked on all blades. Not in as good shape as yours but not at all bad for its age. Still tight and all blades still walk and talk. Other than your pearl it's the only Washington I've ever seen.

Ken

Thank you, Randy.
I think this is the first time I've heard of Washington Cutlery too.

Ken, that is a little beauty being a whittler and all dressed up in stag. Great stamps.
Actually my secondary blade is tipped, but it is a very solid knife. I wouldn't have known where it was made were it not for the etch and the axe image after the word Washington.
Thanks for the photos, Ken.

Great little knife Joe, I have a knife box somewhere from that company

That's amazing, Dimitri.
There can't be too many of those left on the planet.
Can you get a picture?

I haven't seen it in years but if I can find it I certainly will post a photo

IIRC it has a picture of ol'George on the front

Wouldn't surprise me.

Thanks Dimitri. Hope you come across it.

Joe, scroll down about half way and you will see one that Charlie posted a picture of that sold on eBay.

No, I didn't buy that one!

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... &start=195

Miller Bro's wrote:Joe, scroll down about half way and you will see one that Charlie posted a picture of that sold on eBay.

No, I didn't buy that one!

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... &start=195

Interesting. Note that the box has a trademark emblem with a picture of George in a red circle, under which it says "G & D Hardware". The pin inside the box with picture of George also says " G & D". An Internet search for G & D Hardware led me to this copy of a letter with letterhead of the firm, Gray & Dudley (G & D?) with what appears to be the identical trademark picture of George in a red circle. But the company is in Nashville, not Mikwaukee.

Makes me wonder how/if there is a connection between the knives stamped Washington Cutlery Co. Milwaukee, and the knife box, and the Gray & Dudley Co.

Ken

Goins may be able to sort that out for you.

FRJ wrote:Goins may be able to sort that out for you.

Yes, and no. Goins lists Washington Cutlery Co. Milwaukee c 1898-1902, and several of their trademarks, none of which is the trademark with the picture of George in a circle.

Goins also has a listing for "Washington c 1885-1927, a trademark used by Gray & Dudley". There are also listings for G&D Co. Nashville, and for G&D Hdw. Co., both c 1895-1938.

Based on this I don't see evidence, despite the use of the name Washington being common to both, of any business relationship. The knives we have are from a Milwaukee cutlery company. The company that used the box pictured (and the letterhead) was a Nashville wholesaler who dealt in cutlery, among other goods. Washington was one of their trademark brands. I'm still unsure the knives and the box are connected.

Ken

Agreed, I don't see an apparent connection with our knives and the box shown.

I posted this in the etched knives thread.This is a similarly etched pearl Whittler.Tang stamped Learkind & Daevel Co.Milwaukee.Same era as the Washington. Talking to some other collectors we speculate the etch could commemorate the 100th anniversary of Washington's passing.

FRJ wrote:Agreed, I don't see an apparent connection with our knives and the box shown.

Oh no! Now I've gotta find out what knives came in that G&D box!

Ken

Oh, good luck with that .................... see ya next year ..................

Gray & Dudley were importers and wholesalers, they never made knives. The Washington trademark they are using covered probably everything they sold, in fact on the letterhead it reads Washington Hardware and Washington Stoves. Then look at the same sticker on the cutlery box it reads Washington Cutlery.

In all likelihood Washington Cutlery Co. never actually made knives they were made on contract just like "Maher & Grosh Cutlery Co." Sounds good but they never made a single knife they bought them all from Miller bro's, Schrade and other real cutlery companies that were actually in the business of manufacturing the actual knives.

Goins is a good reference but not everything in the book is etched in stone the old cutlery world is a tangled mess that will take many generations to unravel if ever.

Thank you, Dimitri. From what I gather I associate my knife and Kens' knife separate from the Gray and Dudley firm.
Goins' says the Washington Cutlery Co. in Milwaukee were manufacturers.

Seven years later........

I picked this one up, love the bone handles

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Wed Dec 04, 2024 11:13 pm
love the bone handles

Me too!

Ken

Thanks Ken, I know you like this brand

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Wed Dec 04, 2024 11:13 pm Seven years later........

I picked this one up, love the bone handles

Nice, do you have a picture of the pile side?

Sure do.....