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Identity Crisis
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2025 8:29 pm
by CarMan
How about a thread on those knives we haven’t been able to identify, or find any information on? Maybe to old, custom made, foreign, etc.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2025 9:19 pm
by 1967redrider
I like the sound of that, whatcha got?
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 12:51 am
by CarMan
1967redrider wrote: ↑Fri Mar 21, 2025 9:19 pm
I like the sound of that, whatcha got?
I only have one, but enjoy seeing those that can’t or haven’t been identified.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 2:51 pm
by Ridgegrass
I'm in. O'.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 3:38 pm
by Ridgegrass
This appears to be a European Hawk re-bladed by a John Follen. Wondering if anyone recognizes the name or the body. Thanks. J.O'.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 4:11 pm
by FRJ
Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 3:38 pm
This appears to be a European Hawk re-bladed by a John Follen. Wondering if anyone recognizes the name or the body. Thanks. J.O'.
Nice old knife, J,O'. Unusual slanted bolster on a hawk.
I have a Wostenholm pruner with a Barlow style bolster but not slanted or lined.
I wonder if ol' John didn't line that bolster.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 4:19 pm
by FRJ
Here's another Pruner with an Identity Crisis.
Somebody loves a grinder.
Construction may be the giveaway but I can't guess a maker. Perhaps Sheffield born.?
4 1/4" closed.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 5:14 pm
by Ridgegrass
Joe, It's actually fluted behind the bolster line.
That's a beauty you have. Other than the polishing it looks untouched, even the kick is sharp and untouched. Looks English.

J.O'.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 5:39 pm
by wlf
Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 5:14 pm
Joe, It's actually fluted behind the bolster line.
That's a beauty you have. Other than the polishing it looks untouched, even the kick is sharp and untouched. Looks English.

J.O'.
I agree, except I don't understand "behind the bolster line ".
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 6:08 pm
by 1967redrider
Here's my 3- top is a tortoise dogleg carried by my father's father, maybe a Kent?

. . . middle is hammer pinned, maybe Rosewood with amazing snap . . . bottom could be a Camillus???
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 7:14 pm
by Ridgegrass
Red: Agree on all three but
Lyle: I meant behind the thread line on my pruner. The bolster is "fluted" or rat-tail filed. Maybe done when re-blade was done? J.O'.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 10:30 pm
by Miller Bro's
Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 3:38 pm
This appears to be a European Hawk re-bladed by a John Follen. Wondering if anyone recognizes the name or the body. Thanks. J.O'.
Looks French or German.
I have one like it somewhere, I don't believe the blade was replaced it looks factory.
John decided to put his name on the knife to prove ownership with an electric pencil.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 10:32 pm
by Miller Bro's
FRJ wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 4:19 pm
Here's another Pruner with an Identity Crisis.
Somebody loves a grinder.
Construction may be the giveaway but I can't guess a maker. Perhaps Sheffield born.?
4 1/4" closed.
Definitely English IMO.
Not all of them made it out of the factory stamped.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 10:34 pm
by Ridgegrass
Surprised there's no mark.

O'.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 11:41 pm
by FRJ
Thank you for your comments, Dimitri.

Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 3:49 am
by CarMan
Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 3:38 pm
This appears to be a European Hawk re-bladed by a John Follen. Wondering if anyone recognizes the name or the body. Thanks. J.O'.
I like the bolsters on that
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 3:53 am
by CarMan
FRJ wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 4:19 pm
Here's another Pruner with an Identity Crisis.
Somebody loves a grinder.
Construction may be the giveaway but I can't guess a maker. Perhaps Sheffield born.?
4 1/4" closed.
Great knife. Those scales are awesome
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 3:38 pm
by OLDE CUTLER
This is one of my favorite jacks to EDC, but it has no markings at all. I rehandled it with ivory paper Micarta as when I got it, the handles were gone. Kingston, Queen, Colonial and others made knives at one time or another that were blade etched only which was prone to wear off. Could be one of those.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2025 7:30 pm
by beresman
Hoo boy! Well, I'm a sucker for weird tang snaps, thinking I'll figure it out some time. I don't always, so I have a few...
1. The rooster is the only mark on this knife. No Hen. Killer snap on this one.
2. I don't know who the round-headed guy is with the knife between his teeth, but he's German (or Austrian) as it is marked "Rostfrei" on the pile side.
3. Nice little gunstock whittler, with a Phoenix and "JOR" underneath.
4. No idea what the markings on the bolster and tang are. And no idea who "Joey" was (as etched on the blade).
5. No marking at all--but look how thin those bolsters are!
6. I've posted this one before on another thread--bone handles, and (I'm presuming) really old. there's no spacer between the blades.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 7:53 am
by Killgar
beresman wrote: ↑Sun Mar 23, 2025 7:30 pm
Hoo boy! Well, I'm a sucker for weird tang snaps, thinking I'll figure it out some time. I don't always, so I have a few...
1. The rooster is the only mark on this knife. No Hen. Killer snap on this one.
2. I don't know who the round-headed guy is with the knife between his teeth, but he's German (or Austrian) as it is marked "Rostfrei" on the pile side.
3. Nice little gunstock whittler, with a Phoenix and "JOR" underneath.
4. No idea what the markings on the bolster and tang are. And no idea who "Joey" was (as etched on the blade).
5. No marking at all--but look how thin those bolsters are!
6. I've posted this one before on another thread--bone handles, and (I'm presuming) really old. there's no spacer between the blades.
#1 is a Gallo brand grafting knife from Maniago, Italy. First pic below.
#2 is a Gustav Branner brand. Gustav Branner was a cutlery importer in Germany, so that knife could have been made in a number of countries. Second pic.

- branner-anuncio.jpg (37.91 KiB) Viewed 695 times
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 12:18 pm
by wlf
Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 10:30 pm
Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 3:38 pm
This appears to be a European Hawk re-bladed by a John Follen. Wondering if anyone recognizes the name or the body. Thanks. J.O'.
Looks French or German.
I have one like it somewhere, I don't believe the blade was replaced it looks factory.
John decided to put his name on the knife to prove ownership with an electric pencil.
That's what it looked like to me. German probably with that steel pin.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 1:47 pm
by beresman
Killgar wrote: ↑Fri Mar 28, 2025 7:53 am
#1 is a Gallo brand grafting knife from Maniago, Italy. First pic below.
#2 is a Gustav Branner brand. Gustav Branner was a cutlery importer in Germany, so that knife could have been made in a number of countries. Second pic.
excellent! Thank you for that!
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2025 3:19 pm
by FRJ
I would love to know something about this nice old dogleg. Actual length is 2 15/16".
Only stamp to be found is on the main and that is what is remaining:-- & Son. -- HELP!
It's a solid little gem, really.

Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2025 4:58 pm
by Ridgegrass
I've posted this a few times before, no answers. "SUPREME"-USA, cast or machined aluminum liner/bolster frame, steel pins, composite covers. 3-5/8" super lightweight like the UTICA Girl Scout featherweights. Any info appreciated. O'.
Re: Identity Crisis
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2025 7:02 pm
by Killgar
Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Tue Apr 01, 2025 4:58 pm
I've posted this a few times before, no answers. "SUPREME"-USA, cast or machined aluminum liner/bolster frame, steel pins, composite covers. 3-5/8" super lightweight like the UTICA Girl Scout featherweights. Any info appreciated. O'.
Looks like the knife from one of these kits.
The way these knives work is, the blade is permanently installed, and the tools hook around an exposed pin that passes through the opposite bolsters. If your knife has an exposed pin like in the bottom pic below (red arrow), then I'd say it's from one of these kits.
I haven't ever found a name or model number for either the knife or the kit.