All About Pocket Knives

In listing some knives for a friend I came across this Keen Kutter and I am suspicious that it is not real. First, doesn't the tang stamp look like a cold stamp? Second, the stamp on the sheepfoot blade is on the pile side of the tang. The liner is widely separated from the backspring and the handles have cracked from top to bottom as a result. Looks too new to be a Keen Kutter.
I don't recall ever seeing a Keen Kutter of this poor quality.
As always, any thoughts or ideas are appreciated,
Ray

I agree Ray it doesn't pass the smell test for an E.C. Simmons. Blades look stainless also and no swedges.

Keen Kutter name sold to Shapleigh circa 1940 and used by them until 1960. Val-Test got the name in 1960 and used it until 1965. Frost got the name in 1991 and maybe still uses it, but we know frost quality so it is likely the one here is a Frost product.

Whatever it is, it looks to have been heavily cleaned. Look at the threading on the bolsters, not crisp at all. I think some tried to tighten the gap at the center pin and ended up cracking the bone.

Also, most of the old KK I have seen have worn stamps from use.

Didn't a lot (most?) of the Keen Kutters also have "Keen Kutter" blade etching? If so, then you can't have it both ways - if the blade is new without wear, then it should have clear etching. If the blade is worn, then the etching can be worn off. I don't know much about Keen Kutters, but if Frost is involved in the Keen Kutter history, then all bets are off...

Need edumacated. What is a cold stamp,and what other stamps are there,and what is the difference between stamps?

buddyie22 wrote:Need edumacated. What is a cold stamp,and what other stamps are there,and what is the difference between stamps?

A cold stamp is done by clamping the blade in a fixture and apply in the stamp while the metal is cold. The resulting marking will generally have some metal extruded (slightly raised area) around the letters or markings. This is caused by the metal not being heated when the stamp was applied, hence the name "cold" stamp. Some counterfeiters will file or buff to try to remove the extruded area. Also, on a cold stamp the stamp's color will appear uniform, like the OP knife example. A normal legitimate stamp typically appears black inside the stamp. Some counterfeiters will apply paint inside the letters in an attempt to make the marks look black. Which of course wears off with time.

As for differences between stamps, you can go to the tang stamps section here and look at the various Keen Kutter examples. You could also find examples by doing a search for Keen Kutter to see the knives on AAPK.

Ken
Edit: sorry, looks like ther aren't any Keen Kutter examples in the tang stamps section. Should have looked before I jumped out there! I'll see what I can find, and post them.

Here's a legitimate KK stamp for example. Sorry not the best pictures. Thanks for the info on stamps Ken.

Paul's stamp is a later stamp.The older ones had EC Simmons over Keen Kutter. I have not heard of a Frost association with KK,but Bear does.

Thanks for all the comments and info. I appreciate the input.

Ray

This should help. https://www.realorrepro.com/article/Kee ... roductions

NAllen731 wrote:This should help. https://www.realorrepro.com/article/Kee ... roductions

A good site. Thanks - Ray