All About Pocket Knives

Hello all,

First time poster and was hoping you guys may be able to help me. I've included some photos and what I've gathered about them, but there is one in particular I am having a heck of a time finding any information on.

Here they all are: Iroquois
The first one was relatively easy to identify and get information on. It is an Iroquois made by Utica in New York sometime between 1920-1930 as best I can tell. If that's accurate, the knife is nearing 100 years old and still has sharp edges. Most of the blades have been sharpened and filed several times over their life which means either they saw a lot of use or my grandpas loved sharpening their knives. This is a common theme among the three. This is the best candidate for a knife that was passed from my great grandfather to my grandfather due to it's potential age.

Case 6244 Next up, a brand I know and love is a Case knife "6244". As with the Iroquois above it shows a lot of use and love. I'm excited to have it and hope to have it back in the field this year for dove and deer seasons.

Mystery Knife Lastly, and perhaps the most troubling of the bunch is this guy. I think it's a beautiful knife and will be glad to carry it as an every-day knife. There is a lot of graphite/discoloring down near where the maker's mark is, but it looks like "Walash" "Walasm" or "Walasn" based on my tired eyes. Continuing the common theme, the blade has seen a lot of use and maintenance and leaves me to believe that it, too, could be very old.

Anyways, if nothing else felt like sharing with some folks who may appreciate it, but if any of y'all can help me identify the last knife and give me any details about it I'd surely be greatful.

Take care,

NewToOldKnives

For what it's worth - it seems that there may have been a second blade on the mystery knife that was broken off at some point.

Welcome to AAPK Very nice old family knives!
I'm no help on the mystery knife...but hopefully someone will come along and recognize the partial tang stamp.

Doc B wrote:Welcome to AAPK Very nice old family knives!
I'm no help on the mystery knife...but hopefully someone will come along and recognize the partial tang stamp.

Thanks for the warm welcome, and yes. Very happy to be able to call these tools of history my own now.

Your mystery knife could be Wabash Cutlery Co. There might well be a good readable stamp on the broken blade.

Welcome to AAPK. You are fortunate indeed to have such family heirlooms!

Your mystery knife may be by Wabash Cutlery. You can find more about wabash by using the search capability here on AAPK. Access search from the quick links drop down menu on the upper left of this page.

What you're calling graphite is probably "patina" , which is a grayish colored iron oxide that forms over time on carbon steel blades. Patina is harmless, natural, and can act as a rust preventative barrier. It could also be just a build up of "crud" from years of sharpening dust, pocket lint, oil residue, etc
You can gently remove some of it without damage to the knife by using the "lead" or graphite end of a sharpened pencil. Just the pencil lead on the area that has patina and then wipe it off with a soft cotton cloth. Also works well on light loose rust. With that process you may be able to read the stamp.

Ken

Yes, welcome to AAPK. A closeup, clearer picture of the tang stamp (next to last picture will help). You could also try wiping some of the crud/corrosion off with WD-40. From what I can make out, it might be one of a number of 19th and early 20th century knife companies starting in "W".

Some really sweet knives!!
Welcome to AAPK!!

I kinda thought it might be Wabash Cutlery also. If it is it should also have Terre Haute Ind., but I'm not seeing that.
Also, I haven't seen that pattern or shield on a Wabash. Not saying they didn't make the pattern or shield, just saying I've never seen one.