All About Pocket Knives

My Dad passed and I found several of his old knives but need some help identifying and what years they are. I know the one is a Russel USA Grand Daddy Barlow with wood scales. It was my Grandfathers knife so I know its pretty old. He passed in the early 70’s and Dad used it ever since. The other little aluminum scaled pen knife was Granfathers as well. The maker’s name is wore off but the first three letters are still visible “NIA” made in the u.s. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Looks like your dad really used his knives! Great keepsakes.

He did! Always had several knives in his pockets and used them for everything. I just would like to know how old they really are.

Sarge: Great old keepsakes. Do you think the metal one might be put together from other parts? The fit of the blade looks it. The "kick" that stops it on closing is nearly gone and the copper rivets look replaced. Also the nail nick is in the wrong place for the easy open notch. I'm not knocking the knife, lots of us old guys keep them going any way we can. I couldn't find anything with "NIA or O'. The fact that it's on the pile side could mean it was a business
or company identification. The maker's mark is usually on the "mark" side facing you when you open the knife. That side appears to have the remains of a mark ending in "(?) H" . Good luck with them. J.O'.

Grandad was a stickler for quality things so I doubt he would have carried a parts knife. It has a perfect half stop and the spring is strong. I thought it may have been a Niagara Knife Company product but can’t find any picture references to compare it to. I think I will just carry it in my little jeans pocket like I do my doctors knives and use it.

The metal handled (aluminum?) knife is a homemade knife. I believe the blade was at one time a Nicholson file. That's not NIA, I believe it's NIC.

Here's a typical Nicholson file stamp:


Very cool piece!

Eric

Very cool and well used pair of HOK's, Sarg!
I'm a fan of all-metal knives, and your old aluminum model checks all the boxes for me!
My condolences for the loss of your Dad, and to AAPK!

Good eye!

ea42 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 8:11 pm The metal handled (aluminum?) knife is a homemade knife. I believe the blade was at one time a Nicholson file. That's not NIA, I believe it's NIC.

Here's a typical Nicholson file stamp:


Nicholson File.jpg


Very cool piece!

Eric

Nice call on this one Eric. I saw "NIC" too, and the blade alignment does lend itself to a homemader, which in this case for Sarge, makes it even more personal I'd hope.

(explains the file edge on the top of the blade too, nice!)

Well thats cool. I guess it is a custom made knife after all. I have to say that whom ever built this had some skills because its pretty nice with the blade stop and fit -n- finish. I just stropped the whole knife and its razor sharp.

Glad you found out. Now the mystery becomes which manufacturer made the aluminum frame. I've been collecting EZ Openers for quite a long time and I can't recall who may have made all aluminum ones. It'd be nice to figure that one out. All part of the hobby. J.O'.

Welcome to AAPK and thank you for your service. When you have a spare minute, please drop by viewtopic.php?f=124&t=73359 and check into the Veterans thread.

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 2:42 pm Glad you found out. Now the mystery becomes which manufacturer made the aluminum frame. I've been collecting EZ Openers for quite a long time and I can't recall who may have made all aluminum ones. It'd be nice to figure that one out. All part of the hobby. J.O'.

J.O'. I think the frame is homemade as well, the whole knife is a custom of sorts. Looks like a pretty good job too, I like the sunk joint.

Eric

ea42 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 8:11 pm The metal handled (aluminum?) knife is a homemade knife. I believe the blade was at one time a Nicholson file. That's not NIA, I believe it's NIC.

Here's a typical Nicholson file stamp:


Nicholson File.jpg


Very cool piece!

Eric

That makes sense, I noticed the "teeth" on the back of the blade the other day and wondered about them. Good call.
Treefarmer

Hey Ya’ll any ideas on the Grand Daddy Barlows age? Looks to be wood handles on it.

Sarg, Russel was around from 1834-1941, but no pocket knives until 1875. They made butcher's , ax heads, chisels, kitchen, and table cutlery before then. Pocketknife manufacture ceased in 1930,so. there's your window. Not sure you can date them precisely. It looks old. Can't tell from your pics if it's wood or bone.Stick a red hot pin or needle in it and you'll probably smell the difference.
By the way, what does your name mean, Army?

Eric, I thought the body might have been home-made too, either poured or machined, if it is indeed aluminum. Hard to tell from the pics. That's one heck of a rocker-pin rivet. J.O'.

Its aluminum scales. I’m retired USAF, 24 year active.

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 2:42 pm Glad you found out. Now the mystery becomes which manufacturer made the aluminum frame. I've been collecting EZ Openers for quite a long time and I can't recall who may have made all aluminum ones. It'd be nice to figure that one out. All part of the hobby. J.O'.

Whoever made the knife blade out of the file made the handles as well.

Those oldtimers could do everything. My great-uncle was a cabinet/furniture maker by trade BUT.... he had his own plywood factory, built many of his own shop tools because he couldn't afford "store bought"(or repaired broken ones bought on the cheap), made knives and poured aluminum handles for them, etc.

My grandfather was a farmer but he also made knives and Shetland pony carts, shoed horses, did all sorts of leather work (reins, halters, shoe repair, belts, suspenders, strops), had a trucking company, a feed store and a grain elevator

We had a large set of table knives, steak knives, kitchen knives that grandfather and great-uncle (they were brothers-in-law and lived 1/4 mile apart on the same farm) made out of files with poured aluminum handles. The handle molds were all made using some kind of steering parts off a Model T. Sadly, we lost all those in a house fire in 1965.

Sarg1969 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 02, 2023 7:04 pm Hey Ya’ll any ideas on the Grand Daddy Barlows age? Looks to be wood handles on it.

Sarge, I'd venture an educated guess that it's from approx. 1930 -1940.

Eric

Good call, Eric.