Boy's Knives

A recent addition, Germania Cutlery Works, Germany. An A. Kastor and brothers import branding. This one is interesting in that, while it bears no handle text, the cover texture is an embossed geometric "diamond" pattern. It is one of the shorter (2 3/4"), flatter single blade knives from this genre suggesting a price at the bottom of the scale, five to ten cents retail. The single spear blade does have a half-stop.

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Very interesting Codger, nice to see this thread up again :thumbup:
 
Thanks Jack Black. After all this time I still find these knives interesting. And can't resist picking up another one when the opportunity presents. I wish I could own all of the examples I have seen including those shown by other members here. Low quality though they may be, it is still neat to hold one in your hand and think about it's original owner over 100 years ago. And where it has been in the interim.
 
I think "low quality" is a bit unfair. No-frills, certainly, but they last and they cut.
Here are my two, Imperial over IKCO (also Imperial, I believe). They both look like they should have had celluloid sheet covers, and they both appear to have been colored in with magic marker, presumably after the celluloid wore off?
KxrRjWvd
 
singin50 said:
That's a great find Michael!:thumbup:
Perry
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Thanks Perry. This one suffers from the common ailment of this type knife, blade wobble when open. Simply a matter of tightening the pivot pin against the "bolster" I'm sure, but as I don't intend it to be a user, I may just oil it up, rub it down and leave it as-is
 
scrteened porch said:
I think "low quality" is a bit unfair. No-frills, certainly, but they last and they cut.
Here are my two, Imperial over IKCO (also Imperial, I believe). They both look like they should have had celluloid sheet covers, and they both appear to have been colored in with magic marker, presumably after the celluloid wore off?
KxrRjWvd
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No, like most previously shown, the stamped metal handles were likely originally lacquered. The cell wrap patent used different shells I think. Someone may have thought to "restore" them with a Sharpie however. But look at the images from the beginning of this thread. Seldom is all of the paint still there after 80-100 years.
 
Thanks. I didn't know about the laquer period. And sorry, I try not to be one of those who contribute without having read the whole thread.
 
scrteened porch said:
Thanks. I didn't know about the laquer period. And sorry, I try not to be one of those who contribute without having read the whole thread.
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Hah! I posted in it, read it and reread it and I still forget minutia! Don't apologize please! Let's see... Imperial began in 1917 so they missed the earlier decades of this type knife. Additionally, according to Mirando and Fazzano, their first years were consumed with making waldemars for the jewelry trade in Providence. And then circa 1936 they got the Stheil-Elosi patent and began the cell wrap. About the same time they acquired the Hammer-Brand mark from the defunct NYKC. Clear as mud? ;)
 
Codger_64 said:
No, like most previously shown, the stamped metal handles were likely originally lacquered. The cell wrap patent used different shells I think. Someone may have thought to "restore" them with a Sharpie however. But look at the images from the beginning of this thread. Seldom is all of the paint still there after 80-100 years.
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I don't think a magic marker was used on mine, what remains looks like old enamel to me, and very authentic. Whether it had clear celluloid over the handle or not I am unsure, but I've seen several of these that look just like mine. I can't imagine every one of them having owners that have a go at them with a Sharpie.

 
Sonny14, I believe you are correct. By the number of this pattern and maker surviving, it is not hard to imagine that they sold in great quantities back in the day. Evidence that low price point knives were a very important part of the pocket cutlery market early last century. It is a shame that no domestic makers reproduce and sell this genre today. But I suspect the market would be small. So those of us today who have interest have to settle for the surviving antiques of a by-gone era. Thankfully their market prices today remain modest. Mostly due to lack of interest (demand). The example I posted above sold for opening bid, less than $7 including shipping. That is very nearly the equivalent of it's original retail price, adjusted for inflation.
 
Codger_64 said:
Sonny14, I believe you are correct. By the number of this pattern and maker surviving, it is not hard to imagine that they sold in great quantities back in the day. Evidence that low price point knives were a very important part of the pocket cutlery market early last century. It is a shame that no domestic makers reproduce and sell this genre today. But I suspect the market would be small. So those of us today who have interest have to settle for the surviving antiques of a by-gone era. Thankfully their market prices today remain modest. Mostly due to lack of interest (demand). The example I posted above sold for opening bid, less than $7 including shipping. That is very nearly the equivalent of it's original retail price, adjusted for inflation.
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I paid a little more for mine, $10 if I remember, but I was happy to get it for that. Actually, it is one of my better knives mechanically, tight blade that holds it's edge, and the strongest spring of almost any knife that I own, new or vintage. After all these decades it still definitely "walks and talks".
 
Market value is low, comparatively, but I have given substantially more for one myself. Still much less expensive than buying an even moderately priced domestic traditional of modern manufacture. And... should I mention it? I can't resist. The genre of metal handled boys' knives included "stabbers" (ticklers) and figurals. I have not yet seen a barlow pattern except for the later Imperials which had lost their cell wrapping.
 
Codger_64 said:
Market value is low, comparatively, but I have given substantially more for one myself. Still much less expensive than buying an even moderately priced domestic traditional of modern manufacture. And... should I mention it? I can't resist. The genre of metal handled boys' knives included "stabbers" (ticklers) and figurals. I have not yet seen a barlow pattern except for the later Imperials which had lost their cell wrapping.
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Yup, there is a lot of history behind these knives. I still carry mine occasionally as it is still a very usable and useful knife. Being all-metal has helped keep these 'ol boys viable, and I'm surprised their value is so relatively low, (like you said, probably because there were lots of them made). I challenge any maker today to make a knife that will still be around seven or eight decades from now and still be useful. My father was a cop in the late 40's through the 50's, I'm sure he confiscated a few of these "boys knives" in his day.
 
Codger_64 said:
Thanks Jack Black. After all this time I still find these knives interesting. And can't resist picking up another one when the opportunity presents. I wish I could own all of the examples I have seen including those shown by other members here. Low quality though they may be, it is still neat to hold one in your hand and think about it's original owner over 100 years ago. And where it has been in the interim.
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It certainly is sir :) :thumbup:
 
Sonny14 said:
Yup, there is a lot of history behind these knives. I still carry mine occasionally as it is still a very usable and useful knife. Being all-metal has helped keep these 'ol boys viable, and I'm surprised their value is so relatively low, (like you said, probably because there were lots of them made). I challenge any maker today to make a knife that will still be around seven or eight decades from now and still be useful. My father was a cop in the late 40's through the 50's, I'm sure he confiscated a few of these "boys knives" in his day.
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I remember the end of that period, the late fifties, sixties and early seventies. And though it may sound odd today, rare was the boy who did not have a knife in his pocket every day at school. I don't remember many incidents where the boy caused trouble with their knives. If one was confiscated it was likely because the miscreant was caught playing with it when they were supposed to be doing their school work. They were as common on the playground as marbles. One only imagines that it was more so that way in the earlier days of the century.
 
Sonny14 said:
Yup, there is a lot of history behind these knives. I still carry mine occasionally as it is still a very usable and useful knife. Being all-metal has helped keep these 'ol boys viable, and I'm surprised their value is so relatively low, (like you said, probably because there were lots of them made). I challenge any maker today to make a knife that will still be around seven or eight decades from now and still be useful. My father was a cop in the late 40's through the 50's, I'm sure he confiscated a few of these "boys knives" in his day.
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I still have my Ulster Boy Scout knife that I've had now for 51 years and it's still going strong. Blades are still very snappy and no wobble at all. I may not last another 20-30 years, but I fully expect this knife to be going strong for that length of time. :thumbup:

 
I have a fairly good number of the shell stamped German and the metal "stag" IKCOs. Hadn't seen the Boy's Barlow (would love to have one). They are a great reminder when a boy (or girl) of any age could go into a 5 & 10 cent store (yes I'm that old) and buy a knife (which I did a lot in the '50's). These are great collectibles of a time long gone and IMHO should be in every knife collection. Now you pretty much have to be 18 and show a passport and parental permission slip and have a police background check before you can buy a knife. How times have changed - and not for the better.
Rich
 
Codger_64 said:
I remember the end of that period, the late fifties, sixties and early seventies. And though it may sound odd today, rare was the boy who did not have a knife in his pocket every day at school. I don't remember many incidents where the boy caused trouble with their knives. If one was confiscated it was likely because the miscreant was caught playing with it when they were supposed to be doing their school work. They were as common on the playground as marbles. One only imagines that it was more so that way in the earlier days of the century.
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I hate to admit that I'm that old, but I remember those times too. I remember my fifth grade teacher having a drawer full of knives, whistles, firecrackers and other various stuff that she had removed from students, (usually the boys), just like that scene out of the movie "A Christmas Story". She even had a ping pong paddle hanging on a hook in the room, and she didn't play ping pong with it, she would paddle our little behinds with it right in front of the entire class if she thought we deserved it....ahh, the good 'ol days.
And speaking of boys knives, I just snagged another one like the one I pictured above for $6 on feebay, so you are correct, their relative value is still pretty low, and there seems to be a lot of them out there.

Sonny
 
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