Antique New York Knife Company Knives and Company History

Status
Not open for further replies.
Ssshhhh Ryan - not too loud - I think Charlie fell asleep on us !!! ;):D:D:D

Maybe Mark will wake him up. :D:D:D
 
Primble said:
Ohh - OK, but, I never said my old Primble was mint or anything like that. :o:D ( If you don't like my knife, how about the pretty rocks :confused::confused::rolleyes::D)
2irokl2.jpg
Click to expand...

That knife was great Roberto!....before you sharpened it on the rocks! :eek::confused::D

It's still an awesome knife my friend. :cool:
 
Ohhh No !!! :eek::eek::eek:

I sneaked an old Primble ISW in the thread and now everyone is quoting it. I sure hope NYKC made it. Charlie made me do it !!! :eek::eek::D:D:D
 
Thanks for posting that nice black Stag Jack with the NYKs, Rob.
And I am not asleep - just working on two tax streams - sigh . . . . . . .
An American living in Canada, I have to file for both countries.
On a good note I am picking up some stuff at the PO today! My weekly trip!!
 
Here's one I found at a local swap recently. NYK equal ended pen with Hammer Brand stamp on the master blade, New York Knife Co Walden on the spear, 2 3/4" closed, no shield on either side. From what I've read it might be pre 1931, but other than that supposition I'm not sure of it's age. From what I read, Imperial continued using the Hammer Brand stamp after buying NYK, but how long NYK was using that stamp before they folded I don't know. I considered the possibility that this was assembled by Imperial after 1931 using pre-existing parts, but I just don't know. Perhaps one of you could enlighten me? Not as pristine as many of the other jewels shown on this thread, but a good find at $3.
Any further info on this knife would be appreciated, thanks.







 
black mamba said:
Gorgeous bone, Sonny, and plenty of blade left, too. Great pickup!
Click to expand...

Thanks. I really like the knife myself. I'm not a pen knife fan usually, but this one is just a really sweet little knife, feels smooth and great in the hand. I frequently carry it in my pocket folded inside of a handkerchief. The blades are both smooth opening, tight, sharp, and snap shut with authority. Amazing for such an old knife in my experience.
I really couldn't read the tang stamps when I found it, (old(er) eyes, plus grime on the blades), but I knew it was old and in what I thought to be "very good" condition. After I cleaned it up and took a look with a magnifying glass I could finally see the stamps. I also got an all-metal Imperial Kamp King in good condition from that same seller that day, (for equal pittance), so it was indeed a good day at the swap!!

This is the only NYK I've seen photos of without a shield, plus I have no idea of who manufactured the bone handles for them, or exactly, (or even approximately), how old the knife actually is other than it's likely pre 1931. I have been told it could have been made as early as 1885, but I have no way to confirm that. Hopefully someone familiar with NYK knives & their history could comment?
 
Sonny14 said:
Here's one I found at a local swap recently. NYK equal ended pen with Hammer Brand stamp on the master blade, New York Knife Co Walden on the spear, 2 3/4" closed, no shield on either side. From what I've read it might be pre 1931, but other than that supposition I'm not sure of it's age. From what I read, Imperial continued using the Hammer Brand stamp after buying NYK, but how long NYK was using that stamp before they folded I don't know. I considered the possibility that this was assembled by Imperial after 1931 using pre-existing parts, but I just don't know. Perhaps one of you could enlighten me? Not as pristine as many of the other jewels shown on this thread, but a good find at $3.
Any further info on this knife would be appreciated, thanks.







Click to expand...

Just got a little more info on another forum about this knife from one of the historical gurus over there. The pattern is a "Senator", and it probably was made towards the earlier end of the 1885-1931 time period, so that could explain it's lack of a shield. It also supposedly predates the use of Rogers bone, (1900 I was told), and the jig pattern does not appear to be similar to theirs. I was told the Hammer Brand tang stamp which appears on the knife was being used by NYK as early as 1882, but the guru who looked at it dated it at 1885 or after. He said he could find no other info, (so far).
I look daily online for any photos of a similar knife, and have gone through every page of old catalogs I can find, but haven't found one yet, so the search continues. It would be cool if the knife were actually made in the 1880's, that would make it a contemporary of my grandparents.

Anyone seen one of these before?
 
Last edited:
Sonny, I believe it to be post 1914 when NYKC was getting away from their picked bone. I am basing this on a few pre-1914 knives that I own. I am not 100% on this. I need to check into some old reprinted catalogs and see what I can dig up. :)

Nice knife for sure!
 
Markesharp said:
Sonny, I believe it to be post 1914 when NYKC was getting away from their picked bone. I am basing this on a few pre-1914 knives that I own. I am not 100% on this. I need to check into some old reprinted catalogs and see what I can dig up. :)

Nice knife for sure!
Click to expand...

Thank you, good to know.

According to posts I've read about NYK, including the archeology report on their factory site, which included production history, it seems unlikely to me that it was made in the later 20's, as NYK was supposedly only in sporadic production for various reasons during that time, but late teens early 20's certainly fits the patina. It is definitely pocket worn, but it is in really good condition otherwise, and isn't even THAT pocket worn. Whatever it's age, it still walks and talks like a good knife should.

I have scanned myself near-blind going over every single page of the "old catalog" thread, and didn't see one mentioned there, but there weren't that many NYK catalogs listed, so it must be listed somewhere. I hope you have better luck finding it than I have.
Whatever the truth is I am thrilled to have found it; thanks for the help, it is much appreciated.
 
Sonny14 said:
Thank you, good to know.

According to posts I've read about NYK, including the archeology report on their factory site, which included production history, it seems unlikely to me that it was made in the later 20's, as NYK was supposedly only in sporadic production for various reasons during that time, but late teens early 20's certainly fits the patina. It is definitely pocket worn, but it is in really good condition otherwise, and isn't even THAT pocket worn. Whatever it's age, it still walks and talks like a good knife should.

I have scanned myself near-blind going over every single page of the "old catalog" thread, and didn't see one mentioned there, but there weren't that many NYK catalogs listed, so it must be listed somewhere. I hope you have better luck finding it than I have.
Whatever the truth is I am thrilled to have found it; thanks for the help, it is much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Sonny, Check post #186 in this NYK thread. The printer's cut in this post is from a Biddle Hardware catalog from 1908. Barry
 
1fartsmella said:
Sonny, Check post #186 in this NYK thread. The printer's cut in this post is from a Biddle Hardware catalog from 1908. Barry
Click to expand...

Thanks Barry, looks very similar, the one with the bar shield and slightly larger jig pattern is the most similar of the pair, yet mine has no shield of any kind, and no numbers on either blade. Those knives are also both 3 1/4" closed, while mine is 2 3/4", but they are very similar in all other aspects, even the blade shape(s). At least they are the same shape & have similar bone & jig.....that's progress.

Sonny
 
Sonny, NYK cut and jigged their bone at the factory, as did Schrade Cut. Co and Walden Knife Co once they were established. They all had their own distinct styles that are instantly recognizable. They used to get railroad cars filled with fifty pound burlap sacks of cow shinbone from South America. For a short while the three companies formed a joint venture in a handle shop in town when there was a fear of a shortage of bone, but it didn't last and Schrade eventually bought the building and property. I think, but I'm not certain, that this shop made the classic pickbone that you see on the older knives from these companies.

Eric
 
Sonny, I found a 3" version of your knife in a 1924 Richmond Hardware catalog. It has a bar shield which was typical when hardware stores purchased from NYKC. They would add fluted bolsters, a special shield, etc. to make there knives unique for a little extra cost.

Hope this helps some.
 
ea42 said:
Sonny, NYK cut and jigged their bone at the factory, as did Schrade Cut. Co and Walden Knife Co once they were established. They all had their own distinct styles that are instantly recognizable. They used to get railroad cars filled with fifty pound burlap sacks of cow shinbone from South America. For a short while the three companies formed a joint venture in a handle shop in town when there was a fear of a shortage of bone, but it didn't last and Schrade eventually bought the building and property. I think, but I'm not certain, that this shop made the classic pickbone that you see on the older knives from these companies.

Eric
Click to expand...

Thanks Eric, yes, I noticed the similarity in the jig immediately. Like I said, that's progress, and it's another tid bit of history to go with it.
I really appreciate you guys sharing your historical knowledge with me about this knife, and about pocket knife history in general. All of the data about it will be documented and become part of this knife's story. I inherited many things from my family that I know almost exactly nothing about, and I often wonder about an item's "story". I don't intend to do that to my heirs, I will try to provide them as much info on all my "stuff" as possible. I have a copy of NM Collectible software that I document all my knives with, and all these bits and pieces of historical info will go into the program to eventually be passed along with the knife. I thank all of you for helping me tell this knife's story.

Sonny
 
1fartsmella said:
Found this last Saturday. A lot of knife packed into a small frame. It's 2 7/8" closed.
auth.aspx
,
NYK%20BK.jpg
,
NYK%20FCE.jpg
,
NYK%20OPN.jpg
,
NYK%20CLSD%20W%20DIME.jpg
Click to expand...

Scooting back a little, I found this wee Stockman, Barry! Almost missed it, as you posted it while I was writing my previous post!!
Nice!!!
What a treasure!!
 
Markesharp said:
Sonny, I found a 3" version of your knife in a 1924 Richmond Hardware catalog. It has a bar shield which was typical when hardware stores purchased from NYKC. They would add fluted bolsters, a special shield, etc. to make there knives unique for a little extra cost.

Hope this helps some.
Click to expand...

It all helps, at least we're getting closer, in size at least. I've wondered many times why this knife has no shield, but I also have to accept the fact that I may never know for sure why it doesn't. I appreciate you checking out the catalog for me.

Sonny
 
Last edited:
This gem of a thread is due for a little revival:

29zx5ki.jpg
[/IMG]

v48qe1.jpg
[/IMG]

Eric
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top