I am a ham radio operator. I ran across this vintage folding knife.

According to the description, the Jack Knife was found in a salesman's sample case. This makes sense. If you look closely, the blades don't appear to be sharpened.
 
transmaster said:
According to the description, the Jack Knife was found in a salesman's sample case. This makes sense. If you look closely, the blades don't appear to be sharpened.
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That should be easy enough to fix with a bit of time with a "Soft"/"Medium" Arkansas oil stone ... a little less time with a modern diamond plate, SiC stone, or SiC Wet or Dry sandpaper, or one of the belt sharpeners.

transmaster transmaster
Nice knife. 😁👍
I would recommend 10° to 12° per side 20° to 24° inclusive edge, if you sharpen it.
That is the angle I was taught to sharpen to twixt 19 and 59 - 1960, by parents, maternal and paternal uncles, grand parents, maternal great grand parents, and maternal great - great grandmother (c1870 to 1963).
They were unanimous on the angle (lay blade flat on stone, raise spine about 1/16" to 3/32" ... enough so you don't scratch the blade flats) push the edge across the stone, "like you are shaving it" ... never pull the edge across the stone ... pulling gets you a burr. I would quote their ... "opinion" ... of burrs, but I would get banned for cussing. (Great-Great granny could make a battle hardened Navy Seal blush ... and teach him a few new cuss words ...) They would cuss me out if I got a burr.
After using the stone, strop on a dry leather stop, (or belt, shoe, leather hat, if you lack a barber strop.)
After you set the edge, stropping will restore the "working edge" 80 to95% of the time.

I know is sounds backwards, but the keener the edge, the LONGER the blade retains the working edge.
The "razor edge" a lot of folks go for, is gone after the first few cuts in wood and paper/cardboard. (the latter two in just one or two cuts.)
 
transmaster said:
This is a novelty folder made in the early c.1950. There are several on eBay, mine will be here next week.

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Some of those novelty knives had that quirky and intriguing gotta grab one look,I have been on the lookout for the royal Canadian mounty police knife from Richard's,I bought a few at gas stations throughout the north, i remember one in ponton one in lynn lake but they had those clip on handles that usually didn't survive a hunting trip,yours are pinned and I'm curious if Richard's made some pinned in the model I'm wanting
 
I have researched these folders, and they don't seem to have any manufacturer, just stamped " USA " on the tang.
 
Oldy said:
Some of those novelty knives had that quirky and intriguing gotta grab one look,I have been on the lookout for the royal Canadian mounty police knife from Richard's,I bought a few at gas stations throughout the north, i remember one in ponton one in lynn lake but they had those clip on handles that usually didn't survive a hunting trip,yours are pinned and I'm curious if Richard's made some pinned in the model I'm wanting
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Is this it? Several are available on eBay. The scales are not pinned.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pocket Knife - R.C.M.P. Canada (Richards Sheffield)

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Oldy said:
That's it,but those are clipped handles correct?curious if it has been made in pinned handles
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I have scanned the many pictures of this knife. This is the only one I found that was pinned. This is an interesting set available on eBay right now.
Use this as your search term: 3 RCMP Canada Knife Lot with Tin Richards Tent Brand & Swanworks

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I'm pretty sure the USA marked knives are from Novelty Cutlery Co.
That RCMP knife without pins is almost certainly shell handle construction like old Imperial brand knives.
Don't store your old novelty knives in a case with other knives, don't put oil on them and keep them in a cool dry place out of the sun. If anything some Renwax or something similar on the blades, no petroleum oil. The handles are transparent celluloid, which can and will outgas without warning, producing acidic vapors that will corrode and knives near it in an enclosed space.
 
Arathol said:
I'm pretty sure the USA marked knives are from Novelty Cutlery Co. <—— they are


Don't store your old novelty knives in a case with other knives, don't put oil on them and keep them in a cool dry place out of the sun. If anything some Renwax or something similar on the blades, no petroleum oil. The handles are transparent celluloid, which can and will outgas without warning, <——— I had a pretty nice collection of Norfolk southern knives get destroyed this way before I knew how bad celluloid was. This knife needs to be put by itself away from any other metals. Even consider a plastic bag.
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I am going to store this folder in my roll up knife case. Plenty of air circulation, going to use cutting board butter on the metal parts. Cutting Board Butter is made from Bees Wax, and food grade mineral oil, some add, Orange Oil, Coconut oil, etc. I have used this to coat my carbon steel knives for years. I like it because it stays where you put it.

Look close at the blade of this Seax.

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transmaster said:
I am going to store this folder in my roll up knife case. Plenty of air circulation, going to use cutting board butter on the metal parts. Cutting Board Butter is made from Bees Wax, and food grade mineral oil, some add, Orange Oil, Coconut oil, etc. I have used this to coat my carbon steel knives for years. I like it because it stays where you put it.

Look close at the blade of this Seax.

View attachment 3176912
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When celluloid starts degrading and off-gassing it produces corrosive gasses such as nitrous oxide, nitric oxide, and nitrogen dioxide. You don't want those old knives in the same roll or case as any other knife you don't want damaged. Put them in a separate storage case in a separate box away from other knives. Its not a matter of if, but when, it starts, and it can go off suddenly in a short amount of time with no warning, and there's nothing you can do about it.
 
I have a nylon canvas multi-tool case for the Buck Rogers folder. I will coat the metal with Board Butter and keep it away from the other knives. Cellulose today is made out of bamboo, and it only outgasses CO2.
 
transmaster said:
I have a nylon canvas multi-tool case for the Buck Rogers folder. I will coat the metal with Board Butter and keep it away from the other knives. Cellulose today is made out of bamboo, and it only outgasses CO2.
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Not cellulose.....celluloid.....learn the difference....
Coating the metal won't help. Its the handles that are the problem. Don't put anything on the knife, any oil product that comes in contact with the celluloid might start the degradation process.
 
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