Hen and Rooster slipjoints...

Cash427

Cash427

Joined
Mar 27, 2009
Messages
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I was vacationing in Tennessee and I stopped at Smokey Mountain Knife Works. As I was browsing I saw some Hen and Rooster knives. I wasn't too familiar with slipjoints at the time but I had heard Hen and Rooster used to make good knives. I picked one up and come to find out, Hen and Rooster had sold out to Frost Cutlery!

My question is are Hen and Rooster knives still good quality or has Frost ruined the brand? Thanks for any and all help!
 
Can't say anything about the Frost ones, cause I haven't heard much talk about those, but from what I've heard about the Hen & Rooster brand in general, they're absolutely marvelous, especially the ones made from the days of Bertram, and even some of the ones put out by A.G. Russell.
 
"Hen and Rooster" is but a name now...the glory years of the (former) company far behind.

As to the present quality of the knives bearing the brand, you should be able to judge that by the ones you examined and picked up for yourself. Nothing like your own hands and eyes to tell you what's what.
 
I have a small 3 1/8" Bertram red pick bone stockman in carbon

It packs quite long blades that get razor sharp.

Very pleased to have it.
 
I have a H&R trapper from the Bertram days, and it's a beautiful knife. Polished inside and out. I understand that the older ones were even better, but I don't see how.
 
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Hen and Rooster were the Best Factory made pocket knives in the world until they went into bankruptcy around 1980. I am not exactly sure on that date but after that the "name" was purchased by Frost Cutlery. I think the knives may be made by Obertus in Germany but I could be wrong. Hen and Rooster were finish inside as well as out side. Also, I don't think the older knives had shields in the handles. If you every get a chance to compare the old with the new you will know what I am talking about. So many great knife companies have gone out of business gives me a real sense of sadness.

RKH
 
This one is from the 1975-1980 period when AG owned the company. .

IMG_0007_2_2.jpg
 
That is a beautiful knife Thomason! I wished I had bought more Hen and rooster but the were so high. At least I thought so at the time.

RKH
 
That knife is a work of art. I wish I had some Hen and Rooster knives from when Bertram owned the company. I was born around the time the company was sold to Frost Cutlery......Thanks for all the info guys. I am going to give this knife some pocket time and see how it works out!
 
I bought this one in the early 70's. The main blade is a little loose, but it withstood some hard use....

DSC_0002-5.jpg
 
Hen and rooster quality deteralated about 1980. After that Bertram no longer was running old factory.

Russel bought factory about 1979 bertram was still control for awile later quality dropped after 1995 polish was decent.fitting and edge holding fell by 2000 knives were average.
 
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