LETS SEE THOSE MAGNIFICENT HARNESS JACKS

[waynorth]

Nice, old Van Camp HJ!!
I wonder who made it, and what H & I stands for??? Hardware and ???????

Edited to add: H & I stands for Hardware & Iron, Indianapolis!!
Founded in 1888, Van Camp founded a cutlery in 1904!! I wonder if this is a contract knife, or made in-house!?!?

 

[PoleMonkey13]

I must take some more photos of this #85!View attachment 2416926View attachment 2416927View attachment 2416930View attachment 2416939

Send it my way, I’ll take pics for ya

 

[waynorth]

Edited to add: H & I stands for Hardware & Iron, Indianapolis!!
Founded in 1888, Van Camp founded a cutlery in 1904!! I wonder if this is a contract knife, or made in-house!?!?

If anyone finds more info about Van Camp, please post it here!!

 

[SFO]

@smudge58 that's a stellar 85.
This 86 ebony will always be a very special addition for me. Thank you again Charlie.

 

[waynorth]

@smudge58 that's a stellar 85.
This 86 ebony will always be a very special addition for me. Thank you again Charlie.


View attachment 2417037

You are welcome, Tee!!!

 

[Jiki]

It appears Van Camp Hardware and Iron Co was the whole saler and they owned the manufacturer Capitol Cutlery Co.

 

[Campbellclanman]

C

If anyone finds more info about Van Camp, please post it here!!

Hey there Charlie
Some time ago I did a comparison between Challenge and Empire in post #17,850 in the Old Knives Thread here....

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/old-knives.527126/page-893#post-19240086

The Ebony Challenge and Townley are exact and both sport the Alvord Punch.
In that same post I used an Empire Scout Knife's Punch to compare it to the Jigged Bone Challenge Harness Jack Knife that has the other styled Empire Punch that is an exact match of the Empire Scout.

The shield used on your wonderful Van Camp is a dead ringer to the HJ's in the above mentioned post # and has the same Swage work and long pull as the Townley & Challenge's,.

We have had this discussion before where these Knives have both Styled Empire Punches but we haven't seen the Shield used on another Empire, so interesting similarities but nothing solid.

 

[Jody744]

waynorth

That’s all I got

 

[waynorth]

It appears Van Camp Hardware and Iron Co was the whole saler and they owned the manufacturer Capitol Cutlery Co.

View attachment 2417055View attachment 2417056

Thanks for the info!! Can you tell me where you found the reference, Jiki??

 

[waynorth]

C

Hey there Charlie
Some time ago I did a comparison between Challenge and Empire in post #17,850 in the Old Knives Thread here....

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/old-knives.527126/page-893#post-19240086

The Ebony Challenge and Townley are exact and both sport the Alvord Punch.
In that same post I used an Empire Scout Knife's Punch to compare it to the Jigged Bone Challenge Harness Jack Knife that has the other styled Empire Punch that is an exact match of the Empire Scout.

The shield used on your wonderful Van Camp is a dead ringer to the HJ's in the above mentioned post # and has the same Swage work and long pull as the Townley & Challenge's,.

We have had this discussion before where these Knives have both Styled Empire Punches but we haven't seen the Shield used on another Empire, so interesting similarities but nothing solid.

Thanks for the link back to your post, Duncan!!
The Challenge in your post, and my Van Camp are brothers of the same mother - EMPIRE - I'm sure of it!! Probably made before Van Camp opened Capitol Cutley around 1904!!

 

[Jiki]

Thanks for the info!! Can you tell me where you found the reference, Jiki??

Levine's 4th edition. I'm out right now, I will give you a page# when I return.

 

[waynorth]

Jiki - I found it - thanks!!!

 

[knowtracks]

A Valley Forge






Dave

 

[waynorth]

A Valley Forge

They made a nice, hollow ground punch!! Ken Erickson liked it so much, he used it as a model for this knife!!!

 

[knowtracks]

That one always gets me Charlie !
We were lucky to be around for Ken's artistry, I believe you have some of his best patterns!

Dave

 

[Campbellclanman]

Charlie you took the words from my mouth, Those Valley Forge Punches are very cool! That Erickson - would Ken have had the influence of you presenting a VF to him to model from Charlie Sir?

Nice Ol' Valley Forge Dave! I must dig out my Valley Forges and check them more carefulyy, as your example on the Pile side of the Punch- VALLEY is in a stylized script on the Punches Shoulder - I can't remember seeing that before.

 

[waynorth]

would Ken have had the influence of you presenting a VF to him to model from Charlie Sir?

Guilty as charged, Duncan!!!

 

[Campbellclanman]

I can just see you Charlie sitting at a table with Ken, Pulling That Valley Forge out of your pocket, and saying " This is the Knife I was talking about"

I think it's amazing that from a wish to have a modern custom styled on those fantastic Oldies- that they become an actual reality - like that Ken's stunning Version, Charlie is that Cocobolo or Ebony, with the lovely Brown running through- could be either?

 

[waynorth]

I can just see you Charlie sitting at a table with Ken, Pulling That Valley Forge out of your pocket, and saying " This is the Knife I was talking about"

I think it's amazing that from a wish to have a modern custom styled on those fantastic Oldies- that they become an actual reality - like that Ken's stunning Version, Charlie is that Cocobolo or Ebony, with the lovely Brown running through- could be either?

Gabon Ebony, Duncan!!

That one is modern and new, Duncan; this next one is OLD!!!
Case Bros (over) Little Valley Stag Curved HJ!! Est.1900 - burned down 1912!!!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Holy Cow!

Case, Little Valley- where do you dat this Charlie, it's Old but darn its beautiful!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!