Diamonds in the Rough!

[philllll]

I have recently been on the hunt for old Shapleigh HDW Diamond Edge knives. They all seem to be so well put together. I really love the engraved shields. Here are a few I have managed to find:

A little peanut

Easy open jack

And this amazing radio jack

Which leads me to another series of knives that I have fallen for, as I know many others have, Charlie C's Diamond series SFOs! I am really excited for his new whittler, and glad to see they will be using the engraved shields again. It is just so classy.


Here is my collection of the Diamond series knives that have been released so far. I'm looking forward to picking up the #38 as well! Also hoping for more RJs and WJs with different blade options!

If you have any old DEs, or newer CCs, please post them up!

 

[singin50]

Beautiful collection, Phil! I too love the shields Charlie has created in his SFOs. Own several of them and the Radio Jacks are something pretty special. You're right, the older DE Shapleigh knives, like you own, are downright impossible to bird dog down! I will look in Oregon in a couple weeks but dont have very high hopes for finding any. If there are any, they will be there though. Pretty sure Charlie has found all the good examples already.
Perry

 

[Jack Black]

Great collection Phil, by coincidence I have these two with me today

 

[cinnamochoil]

Just a super friendly reminder: this is a "non-commercial" message board focused on only traditional designs. That being said, I really like the first knives pictured, they remind me of the fabled case slip joint. The CSJ is my preferred traditional knife. Thanks for posting. G-d bless you and g-d bless the United States of America.

---cinna

 

[pmew]

Great collection Phillll, hang on, didn't your wife just have a baby!?!? How did you find the time for that awesome post and those stunning photos!

I tip my hat to you sir!

 

[Half/Stop]

Phil that is a great collection. Those are some mighty fine old DE's :thumbup:

 

[Primble]

I have recently been on the hunt for old Shapleigh HDW Diamond Edge knives. They all seem to be so well put together. I really love the engraved shields. Here are a few I have managed to find:

Great collection Philllll.

As you undoubtedly know, the DE knives are much like the old John Primble knives, contracted by a competing hardware company and with some of the finest cutlery companies of the time. This is my lone DE knife, a part of my old Barlow collection.

Simmons Hardware Company - Keen Kutter trademark.
Shapleigh Hardware Company - Diamond Edge trademark.
Belknap Hardware Company - John Primble trademark.

I love the rich jigged bone on it, Primble or not ! :

and in the interest of being fair (and derailing your thread briefly) - a salute to the competition:

 

[esnyx]

Awesome thread, Phil! I'll try and post my Diamond Series collection later on today if I get the chance. They are also some of my favorites!

 

[wlfryjr]

Seems most all the earlier DEs were Empire made. On most all designs you could order a Shapleigh DE or Empire marked knife in the same pattern. Difference being the mark.

Norvell- Shapleigh Hdwe. Co was the exclusive western and southern distributor for the product of the Empire Knife Co.,Winsted, Conn.

Here's a DE pre the Diamond shield. AF Shapleigh

Here are two later Schrade DE:

 

[wazu013]

I love the old bone scales on your knives. The shield just adds a touch of class :thumbup:

 

[philllll]

I did not know they were mostly made by Empire, thanks for sharing that Lyle!

Primble, thanks for sharing a bit of history on the hardware companies' knives. All 3 you posted are stunners. I have a DE barlow with spear blade around here somewhere...

Jack, great pic!

Perry, I wish you luck finding all the gems at Oregon this year!

Paul, I took these photos a couple weeks ago and just now got a bit of time to post them. I'm definitely short on time now that the baby is here!

Ron & wazu, thanks for the compliments!

Evan, I look forward to seeing yours, I know you have a more complete Diamond series collection than I.

 

[black mamba]

The DE knives of every stamp are very beautiful, thanks for all the eye candy!

 

[philllll]

Here's another Diamond Edge EO. This one has a long pull, and the condition is a bit rough around the edges.

 

[philllll]

And my DE barlow

 

[paulhilborn]

Phil, Primble and Lyle, just terrific knives:thumbup:

 

[Humppa]

Every of these knives is a gem. Thanks for sharing.
It would be great to knives in that condition here...

I can wholeheartly agree with Paul :thumbup:

 

[Campbellclanman]

I agree with everyones comments on these absolutely stunning knives - Philll - you and I think very much alike with our tastes - and I love those DE's you have my friend-they are incredible knives - I too didnt know that empire made the earlier - would it be safe to say Schrade made the Peach seed beauties you have?

Charlies Diamond Jacks are just superb, I MUST endeavor to take some photos and join in here - time is my only problem - well one of them

 

[Old & In The Way]

Phil - thanks for starting this thread. Some beautiful knives posted.

Here's a couple of my old Diamond Edges. The first is a rosewood Peanut that I like quite a lot.

And the second is a bone scaled Equal End Jack that I also like quite a bit.

 

[wlfryjr]

Beautiful bone on that barlow Phill.:thumbup:

 

[chuko]

Stephen, I love that rosewood Peanut! Great knives posted by all.

Charles