Kinfolks Hunting Knife

leecullers@comcast.n · Sunday at 10:03 AM

I found this 5" blade Kinfolks stacked leather handled hunting knife (plastic ends) wrapped up in a piece of carpet with a 1954 Winchester Model 94 yesterday.

The Kinkolks marked sheath was dry but recoverable.

LOL....Truth be told I was more pleased with finding the knife than the very nice Model '94.

Any idea when the knife was made?

Alberta Ed · Sunday at 10:40 AM

Nice score! Never heard of Kinfolks though.

Mk-211 · Sunday at 10:44 AM

At least they're both not a rusted pile of metal.

Pre '64 Winchester, in what appears to be in amazing condition.

Shows the first company closing in '57 and the follow up company closing in '65. The company started in 1925, do a Google search on the knife.

leecullers@comcast.n · Sunday at 10:53 AM

Mk-211 said:
At least they're both not a rusted pile of metal.

Pre '64 Winchester, in what appears to be in amazing condition.

Shows the first company closing in '57 and the follow up company closing in '65. The company started in 1925, do a Google search on the knife.

I tried but could not find a catalog number to go by.

I saw some for sale but the descriptions were all over the place.

I figured someone here might know for sure.

Mk-211 · Sunday at 11:00 AM

Is the guard plastic?

That would narrow it down to the early 40's.

leecullers@comcast.n · Sunday at 11:06 AM

Mk-211 said:
Is the guard plastic?

That would narrow it down to the early 40's.

Yep, some kind of plastic....Both guard and pommel.

Mk-211 · Sunday at 11:14 AM

Early 40's Mk-1 fighting knife, far as I could find.

leecullers@comcast.n · Sunday at 11:28 AM

Mk-211 said:
Early 40's Mk-1 fighting knife, far as I could find.

Some described it as a MK 1 Utility but there are no USN markings and the sheath is most definitely civilian.

Maybe made during that time frame for the civilian market.

Mk-211 · Sunday at 11:30 AM

K killgar will probably have better info.

killgar · Sunday at 12:05 PM

I'm no authority on Kinfolks knives, but I believe the pommel, guard, and handle spacers of that knife are Bakelite. It's my understanding that Kinfolks used Bakelite during WW2 when metal was in short supply.

I would ask G gunsil , as he knows more about Kinfolks knives than I do.

.

gunsil · 2025-09-09T11:38:40-0400

The pommel and guard are indeed bakelite and the knife is indeed a WW2 manufactured product. Aluminum, copper, brass, and nickel silver were all declared "strategic materials" during the war and not allowed for civilian manufacturing. During this time Kinfolks, Case, and Marbles all made civilian knives with bakelite pommels while KA-BAR used wooden pommels with steel butt caps. The knife shown could have been sold in PX stores although it was not an issued knife. Kinfolks was a prolific producer of knives for the military during the war, making V44s, M3s, M4s, and lots of mess kit knives. They also made fighting/utility knives for private purchase in PX stores. Before the war they were probably the most prolific maker of fixed blade knives for other companies, I know of at least 20 companies they made knives for. Kinfolks also made all the fixed blade for Case 1926-1932 and all the civilianfixed blades for Cattaraugus 1926-1941 or 42.

Sidehill Gouger · 2025-09-09T12:01:44-0400

gunsil said:
The pommel and guard are indeed bakelite and the knife is indeed a WW2 manufactured product. Aluminum, copper, brass, and nickel silver were all declared "strategic materials" during the war and not allowed for civilian manufacturing. During this time Kinfolks, Case, and Marbles all made civilian knives with bakelite pommels while KA-BAR used wooden pommels with steel butt caps. The knife shown could have been sold in PX stores although it was not an issued knife. Kinfolks was a prolific producer of knives for the military during the war, making V44s, M3s, M4s, and lots of mess kit knives. They also made fighting/utility knives for private purchase in PX stores. Before the war they were probably the most prolific maker of fixed blade knives for other companies, I know of at least 20 companies they made knives for. Kinfolks also made all the fixed blade for Case 1926-1932 and all the civilianfixed blades for Cattaraugus 1926-1941 or 42.

Its funny how many times I've heard people put down Kinfolks knives but brag up the very same model when it had a Case or Cattaraugus blade stamp. The point always was in those days most American cutlery companies really were "Kin folks"

leecullers@comcast.n · 2025-09-09T17:59:43-0400

gunsil said:
The pommel and guard are indeed bakelite and the knife is indeed a WW2 manufactured product. Aluminum, copper, brass, and nickel silver were all declared "strategic materials" during the war and not allowed for civilian manufacturing. During this time Kinfolks, Case, and Marbles all made civilian knives with bakelite pommels while KA-BAR used wooden pommels with steel butt caps. The knife shown could have been sold in PX stores although it was not an issued knife. Kinfolks was a prolific producer of knives for the military during the war, making V44s, M3s, M4s, and lots of mess kit knives. They also made fighting/utility knives for private purchase in PX stores. Before the war they were probably the most prolific maker of fixed blade knives for other companies, I know of at least 20 companies they made knives for. Kinfolks also made all the fixed blade for Case 1926-1932 and all the civilianfixed blades for Cattaraugus 1926-1941 or 42.

That's about what I figured. Wartime civilian knife.