Nail knicks…or lack thereof

[Serpent67]

Hi all. Here’s a question. Did some spear point blades on the old notched easy open jacks come without nail knicks? I broke down and bought an old bare head tear drop cattaraugus from that auction site and there’s no nail Knick in the pics. Were some just pinch deployed? I really wanted an old Catt and living near the smokies the thrift shops and antique places get hit hard from the tourists, so I caved and got one. I can not find the model in the old ad scans that exist for the company, but did see a pinch Ulster I believe, from an old hardware ad scan from 1890 or so that had no knicks. Figure I would come to the experts. Many thanks for any info

[Gunsil]

Yes, some easy open jacks did not have nail nicks. The EO was made to not need a nail nick and some manufacturers made them for that reason and eliminated the nick. Some folks have soft nails and some don't leave them long enough, EOs were great for those people. The small double end switchblades were marketed to ladies for their sewing kits so they wouldn't harm their nails.

[Serpent67]

Thank you Sir. Just what I had hoped for. Now I know the blade is unaltered. Thanks again

[Ridgegrass]

I can't answer that interesting question conclusively. I went through some of mine just to see and all the ones I counted (23) have nail nicks or long pulls. These include Catt, Boker, Keen Kutter, KA-BAR, Imperial, Colonial, Camillus, Ulster (military issues) and German makes. I may have some without but I can't say right now. Below are two Catts, a brassie and a tear-drop. I'd like to see a good pic of yours. Does it have a pattern stamp? Thanks. J.O'.

[Miller Bro's]

Hi all. Here’s a question. Did some spear point blades on the old notched easy open jacks come without nail knicks?

These wire jacks had no nail nicks.

[Ridgegrass]

I passed right over that one. Here's a non-EO wire-hawk that could easily be one with all that blade sticking up. In fact, seems like any hawk-bill could be an EO, but almost all have nicks. Out of just over a hunderd I have, only three are without and they are smaller, English ones. Interesting. J.O'.

[Mumbleypeg]

Not surprising that most cutleries did not tool up or produce a special blade just for easy opener patterns. They simply used the same blade that might otherwise be used in a “regular” non-easy opener pattern, and therefore a nail nick is typical (even though not necessary on an easy opener). There are exceptions however. As with most things cutlery related, there are few absolutes.

Ken

[Serpent67]

Thanks all. Very cool knives you guys posted. Those wire ones are new to me. I posted the Catt in another thread if you wanna have a gander. Thanks again