All About Pocket Knives

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 12:55 pm**

Hi all. I was wondering what old brands had heavier built offerings than the other old brands. I have this old ec Simmons KK that I assume is Winchester that is built like a tank. I like these stouter built ones over some of my others that seem flimsier and cheaper made. I would like to source a blade for this one and restore it. Wanting to collect brands that are heavier built and not mess with some others. Thanks.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 1:36 pm**

This is just opinion but I think all the makers had a variety of patterns from light to heavy. The knives spec'ed for the military and the same ones continued after the wars were well built. Obviously the larger jacks, stockmen, cattle, big whittlers, and campers are sturdier due to their functions. Trappers and muskrats can be a bit lighter-built. Many hawkbills/pruners are very sturdy. I have a Maher & Grosh hawk with a blade more than 3/16" thick at the spine and a Wards cattle knife with 2 sets of double brass liners. Again, I'm of the opinion that is less a "brand" thing than functionality. I'm sure opinions will vary.
I like the heavily built ones too. Good luck on the blade. J.O'.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 2:06 pm**

Great knives y’all have there Serpent and Ridgegrass! I’ll bet they are a handful!

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 2:20 pm**

Thanks, that makes sense. That pruner is a beast! I really like circa 1900 heavy built ones. Good deal on that wards, as I have the same one on the way with doubled liners. Any idea who made em? Thanks again

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 2:37 pm**

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 1:36 pm This is just opinion but I think all the makers had a variety of patterns from light to heavy. The knives spec'ed for the military and the same ones continued after the wars were well built. Obviously the larger jacks, stockmen, cattle, big whittlers, and campers are sturdier due to their functions. Trappers and muskrats can be a bit lighter-built. Many hawkbills/pruners are very sturdy. I have a Maher & Grosh hawk with a blade more than 3/16" thick at the spine and a Wards cattle knife with 2 sets of double brass liners. Again, I'm of the opinion that is less a "brand" thing than functionality. I'm sure opinions will vary.
I like the heavily built ones too. Good luck on the blade. J.O'.

Those are belt and suspenders knives!

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 3:15 pm**

I think any of the old knife companies that offered utility knives would qualify. Old Remington trappers are pretty beefy.

Probably every old hardware store selling knives had at least one big utility knife made by someone.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 3:36 pm**

IMHO the older (pre-1980s) Case pocket knives in general used heavier blade stock than similar patterns from many other brands. But if it’s a particularly stout pattern you’re wanting you’ll find it in the Case 6445 scout/utility pattern, built on a modified (beefed up) cattle knife frame with heavier liners and blades. The cattle knife is already a stout pattern in its own right, but the 6445 goes above and beyond.

Not to be confused with the 64045 or 640045 variants, which are contract knives made for Case by others, so Case dealers could have a lower priced offering for folks not wanting to spend top dollar on a “scout” pattern for a 12 year old boy.

Ken

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 3:56 pm**

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 1:36 pm This is just opinion but I think all the makers had a variety of patterns from light to heavy.

I agree, lots of variety but I can't remember any pocket knives that you would call flimsy.

Here are some workingman's knives.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 3:58 pm**

A few more workingman's knives.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 6:22 pm**

Serpent: Cattle knife looks to me like a UTICA. They and Winchester built for wards. That pruner is scary to open and close. It's sharp as a razor and snaps like a bear trap.It's the most heavily built knife I've ever seen. I'm on blood thinners and I haven't fooled with it in years, too risky! Could be made by Schatt/Morgan, Schrade, Miller Bros, or Queen. From it's quality I lean towards Miller or Schatt & Morgan.

Doglegg: That's funny! Or Bib-overalls

FRJ: Some of those shell-handled Colonials and Imperials were kinda "flimsy". I mean the "card Knives" for less than a buck when I was a lad. IMHO.

J.O'.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 8:56 pm**

Oh man, you guys have me drooling over these big ol dogs! Beautiful knives everyone.

Attached are pics of a few of mine. Most of these are knives that I restored over the past few years and some have been posted in the past on the repair and restoration forum. I think the H&B's at the end are my favorite. They have probably the thickest springs that I have seen and they definitely could take a finger off if you aren't careful. I'm still looking for a correct H&B blade for the third one in the last picture. As you can see, someone carved "Jan 11, 1911" into the side, and I plan to leave that engraving alone.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 8:59 pm**

Just a few more.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 10:22 pm**

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 6:22 pm FRJ: Some of those shell-handled Colonials and Imperials were kinda "flimsy". I mean the "card Knives" for less than a buck when I was a lad. IMHO.
J.O'.

I would agree with that , J.O'.

Those are some. beautiful old knives, Herb. Nice show.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 11:23 pm**

Wow wow wow!! That’s where all the ebony wood went. Drooling here, that’s the stuff I’m talking about. There’s many there I’ve never even heard of? Awesome old black jacks. Well if the wards is a Utica, I’m hoping it’s better built than a Kutmaster I have that is the kinda flimsy knife I was talking about. Probably a stamped blade, maybe softer steel, I don’t know, maybe hard to describe, but you can just feel the difference than one of the older jacks that feel better quality. Maybe I will get a real old Utica and compare em? Thanks all

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 11:35 pm**

The old Utica's are fine knives. Like everything else, when things got rough for the American knife makers, corners were cut and quality suffered some. Utica is now made in China and real junk. Too bad. J.O'.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2023 11:36 pm**

Great stuff Herb. Is all that real ebony? Amazing. O'.

Posted: **Sat May 13, 2023 5:33 am**

Serpent67 wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 12:55 pm I like these stouter built ones over some of my others that seem flimsier and cheaper made

Nothing flimsy about this one!

Posted: **Sat May 13, 2023 11:19 am**

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 11:36 pm Great stuff Herb. Is all that real ebony? Amazing. O'.

Thanks J.O.. I scored a large box of nice Gabon ebony scraps from a guitar place a couple of years ago, pre-pandemic I think, and that's all I can seem to bring myself to use on knives that are too large for stag. One of these days I'll just have to force myself to get wild and use some bone or micarta. At least that stuff doesn't go bad.

Posted: **Sat May 13, 2023 11:30 am**

Herb: Lucky boy. I got my Brazillian rosewood scraps from my guitar guy too. Glad we only need small pieces. Good wood is through the roof and some is even illegal! O'.

Posted: **Sat May 13, 2023 2:41 pm**

What a collection, Herb! Awesome!

Posted: **Sat May 13, 2023 4:12 pm**

You’re right about that Dimitri! Those old toenails are built for rugged use.

Nice example!

Ken

Posted: **Sun May 14, 2023 12:30 am**

Thanks Ken

Posted: **Sun May 14, 2023 11:07 pm**

I have a heavily built knife that is unmarked some guys here say Solinger don't know she is a very well built knife though and HEAVY

She sure has long nail nic's

Posted: **Mon May 15, 2023 12:15 am**

garddogg56 wrote: ↑Sun May 14, 2023 11:07 pm She sure has long nail nic's

Hey, they weren't shy about those nail nics were they boss.

That's a good looking old timey knife you have there.

Posted: **Mon May 15, 2023 10:10 am**

Thanx Joe she’s quite a handful

All About Pocket Knives

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