All About Pocket Knives

I had picked this one up a couple of months ago at a flea market for a couple of bucks. I have two other Forest Masters, one is a 4 blade, one is a three blade, and both are shell handle construction. When I got to looking at this one, it is not shell handle construction. So it must have been made back in the day before Colonial switched over ( 1935-1937 ? ). The black composition handle material was broken and bad, so it got redone with coca bola.

Awesome!!

Nice! That is an old one!

Wow, that really looks nice! It is a really sweet old knife. Great job!

Nicely done OC! I always enjoy seeing your work.

Love it. Very clean looking. Great job.

OLDE CUTLER, I need to apologize to you. When I saw the title "Forest Master rebuild" I immediately thought of all the shell handled pieces I had seen and handled and wasn't a bit interested. So when I finally read your post I discovered you have made a real fine looking knife out of that one. Congratulations, I love the wood!
Treefarmer

OC, hard to believe that it is the same knife. Your work always looks classic.

Great job OC

Looks like a totally different knife, great work!

Terrific job! I really like the coca bola. And, you have totally changed my opinion of the forest masters. (Well, at least this one.)

That’s a keeper! Good work.

Looks great! I have an Imperial Scout about the same age that is not shell-handle, but isn't likely salvageable. Pen blade's busted, main blade wobbles like crazy. The handles look bad too.

OK, how exactly does one use that can opener? Is it more for square tins?

cody6268 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 11:55 pm Looks great! I have an Imperial Scout about the same age that is not shell-handle, but isn't likely salvageable. Pen blade's busted, main blade wobbles like crazy. The handles look bad too.

OK, how exactly does one use that can opener? Is it more for square tins?

Info on the various can openers on pocket knives can be found in the article below, I did a few years back. This can opener blade would be like the Utica show in the third picture down in the tests on actual cans. Your old knife is probably worth a rebuild. I think I have an Imperial that is pre shell handles like yours.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56338&hilit=can+ope ... 144ab25187

Beautiful job on the restoration!
I had no idea there was a Forest Master that WASN'T a shell handle. I must keep my eyes open for one like yours!
That cocobolo sure fits the theme of a camp knife! GREAT choice!
Great job!

treefarmer wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 8:47 pm OLDE CUTLER, I need to apologize to you. When I saw the title "Forest Master rebuild" I immediately thought of all the shell handled pieces I had seen and handled and wasn't a bit interested. So when I finally read your post I discovered you have made a real fine looking knife out of that one. Congratulations, I love the wood!
Treefarmer

lol, no apology needed. I think this pre shell handle Forest Master is a very solidly made knife, thick brass liners and spacers, nickle silver bolsters. Only the black composite handle material needed replacing.

Meridian_Mike wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2020 1:09 pm Beautiful job on the restoration!
I had no idea there was a Forest Master that WASN'T a shell handle. I must keep my eyes open for one like yours!
That cocobolo sure fits the theme of a camp knife! GREAT choice!
Great job!

I think I have read that the shell handle patents were granted and the first shell handled knives appeared in the mid to late 1930s. I have 3 Forest Masters, this one pre shell handle, a 4 blade shell handle, and a 3 blade shell handle, which I did not know existed until I found one. I like to go with wood on old knives like this one. The three old standby premium woods were ebony, rosewood, and coca bola. Like I always say, "man does not live by stag alone".

OLDE CUTLER wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2020 1:21 pm
I think I have read that the shell handle patents were granted and the first shell handled knives appeared in the mid to late 1930s. I have 3 Forest Masters, this one pre shell handle, a 4 blade shell handle, and a 3 blade shell handle, which I did not know existed until I found one. I like to go with wood on old knives like this one. The three old standby premium woods were ebony, rosewood, and coca bola. Like I always say,
"man does not live by stag alone".

Nice quote.....
I need to remember that!