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Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 6:14 pm
by bladeguy58
Good afternoon friends,
I just got this beautiful Levering A-1 in this morning and I was so excited to post it that I didn't clean even it up. Other than a little excessive wear on the main it's in pretty decent shape for its age 1890-1930. Let's show it some love!
Richard
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 6:36 pm
by peanut740
I've had several Leverings.They were all high quality knives.That one appears to have been made by Challenge.
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 6:50 pm
by bladeguy58
Roger,
Thank you for taking a look! Can you tell me what are the clues to indicate it could be made by Challange who was another American made knife manufacturer?
Thanks,
Richard
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 9:04 pm
by Miller Bro's
Excellent old knife!
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 9:06 pm
by bladeguy58
Thank you!
Richard
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 11:23 pm
by FRJ
What a good looking knife, Richard.
Neat small cover pins by the shield. The shield is kind of "Challengey", if you will.
Beautiful long, thin nail nicks on both blades. Very cool.
Just a real well cared for looker all around, I think.
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 7:31 pm
by JohnR
Nice knife Richard, I agree with Roger it definitely appears to be made by Challenge, here is one I have in the collection also made by Challenge.
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 1:42 am
by Mumbleypeg
bladeguy58 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 20, 2025 6:50 pm
Roger,
Thank you for taking a look! Can you tell me what are the clues to indicate it could be made by Challange who was another American made knife manufacturer?
Thanks,
Richard
The bone covers look like Challenge jigging. Other clues would be that Levering was located in New York City, which probably indicates they were a cutlery jobber - they didn’t manufacture knives. Which leaves us looking at cutleries which were active in that timeframe, 1900-1930, and known to have made knives on contract for others. Phoenix Knife Co. (1892-1916), Napanoch Knife Co. (1900-1919), and Challenge Cutlery Co. (1905-1928) are likely suspects. There are others of course but those are some of the more prolific ones of that time. So if it looks like one of those, it’s a good possibility.
One of the enjoyable things about collecting old knives is playing detective!
Ken
Ken
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 5:43 am
by bladeguy58
Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Mon Oct 20, 2025 9:04 pm
Excellent old knife!
Thank you!
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 5:56 am
by bladeguy58
FRJ wrote: ↑Mon Oct 20, 2025 11:23 pm
What a good looking knife, Richard.
Neat small cover pins by the shield. The shield is kind of "Challengey", if you will.
Beautiful long, thin nail nicks on both blades. Very cool.
Just a real well cared for looker all around, I think.
Much appreciated Joe. It is probably one of the bigger vintage knives I've ever bought. I love how those scales really show their age. To say the industry was dynamic back in those days would be a gross understatement. The closest thing I can think of now days would the car companies but I still don't think it comes close.
Richard
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 5:58 am
by bladeguy58
JohnR wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 7:31 pm
Nice knife Richard, I agree with Roger it definitely appears to be made by Challenge, here is one I have in the collection also made by Challenge.
Wow, what a beauty!
Richard
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 6:09 am
by bladeguy58
Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sat Oct 25, 2025 1:42 am
bladeguy58 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 20, 2025 6:50 pm
Roger,
Thank you for taking a look! Can you tell me what are the clues to indicate it could be made by Challange who was another American made knife manufacturer?
Thanks,
Richard
The bone covers look like Challenge jigging. Other clues would be that Levering was located in New York City, which probably indicates they were a cutlery jobber - they didn’t manufacture knives. Which leaves us looking at cutleries which were active in that timeframe, 1900-1930, and known to have made knives on contract for others. Phoenix Knife Co. (1892-1916), Napanoch Knife Co. (1900-1919), and Challenge Cutlery Co. (1905-1928) are likely suspects. There are others of course but those are some of the more prolific ones of that time. So if it looks like one of those, it’s a good possibility.
One of the enjoyable things about collecting old knives is playing detective!
Ken
Ken
Ken,
I can't thank you enough for your incredible insite and knowledge. That is what I missed about this site, the commaraderie, and the willingness of so many people to help each other. I hate that so many just use AAPK for a brief inquiry but I guess that what you get for being the best online resource in the world.
Richard
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 6:09 am
by bladeguy58
bladeguy58 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 25, 2025 5:58 am
JohnR wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 7:31 pm
Nice knife Richard, I agree with Roger it definitely appears to be made by Challenge, here is one I have in the collection also made by Challenge.
Wow, what a beauty!
Richard
Thanks John!
Re: Levering A-1 Knife Co New York
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 6:12 am
by bladeguy58
bladeguy58 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 25, 2025 5:58 am
JohnR wrote: ↑Fri Oct 24, 2025 7:31 pm
Nice knife Richard, I agree with Roger it definitely appears to be made by Challenge, here is one I have in the collection also made by Challenge.
Wow, what a beauty!
Richard