Obscure Knife Brands

I recently picked a Taylor/Seto single backspring muskrat type. Japanese made but a nice little pocketknife.
Herb
 
Bladetech definitely, and they make some great knives. Fox knives has a huge catalog (works with Bladetech designers and visa versa), but I had never heard of them until recently. They may be huge somewhere, though.
 
I killed Kenny! THe little bastard asked for it!
Beckerhead #38
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Good thing. I don't know Kenny, but if someone said that about my Mom, you'd want to kill me quick - before I killed you. ^_____^

-______-
 
Just came across this because I was researching a knife for trade. Old Cutler, also known as Rat Cutler. It was a higher-end brand produced by Colonial Knife Company back in the late '70s, but never really made it. Apparently, more people were going for Colonial's Ranger line and Old Cutler died soon after.
 
Moki of Japan isn't often heard of, but they've been in the business since before WW2.
 
Plenty of small French brands.
This being said, I always had the impression that these usually elegant light duty knives in general appeal more to a European than an American audience.
 
Xikar, known for cigar cutters, also sold some knives.
Soque River was mostly known for a single model, Lev-R-Lock, that was made by Camillus and often razzed for being low quality. But Soque River had several other models as well, good quality and made in Japan.
Rarely see Aristocrat mentioned.
 
Holley.

Holley Knife Works was located in Lakeville, CT. The company may still exist, but they haven't made knives in forever.

I was given a Holley Wharncliffe Whittler when I was 16 (1966) that my grandparents had put aside for use grandkids when we came of age.

The knife was apparently made before I was born.

Lost it in England. *Sob*

Although they haven't made anything for a long time, they were, I believe the first company to make pocket knives in this country.

How's that for obscure?

 
I guess Zippo just recently bought Case (the knife company). That could explain as to why Case steel (on most of their knives) seems to be very poor quality. The "Tru-Sharp" (or whatever it's called) matches a scary amount of characteristics of 420J steel.
 
Cold Kill said:
I guess Zippo just recently bought Case (the knife company). That could explain as to why Case steel (on most of their knives) seems to be very poor quality. The "Tru-Sharp" (or whatever it's called) matches a scary amount of characteristics of 420J steel.
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Tru-Sharp is actually 420HC, but they treat it softer than most other companies that use it. It's my assumption that it's done that way to mimic the easy sharpening of their CV carbon steel, yet be stainless. I don't know when Zippo bought Case, so I don't know if their transition from mostly carbon steel knives to mostly stainless steel knives is a result of that, but it would make sense.

I'm not sure why you're mentioning Case in an "obscure" brands thread; Case is about as unobscure as you can get.
 
oldgoat1911 said:
I recently picked a Taylor/Seto single backspring muskrat type. Japanese made but a nice little pocketknife.
Herb
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Interesting to me that you mentioned the Taylor/Seto name. I have a Tanto with that name on it and it looks like the Cold Steel tanto. It is sharp as a razor. I didn't find out much about the maker.
 
Planterz said:
Tru-Sharp is actually 420HC, but they treat it softer than most other companies that use it. It's my assumption that it's done that way to mimic the easy sharpening of their CV carbon steel, yet be stainless. I don't know when Zippo bought Case, so I don't know if their transition from mostly carbon steel knives to mostly stainless steel knives is a result of that, but it would make sense.

I'm not sure why you're mentioning Case in an "obscure" brands thread; Case is about as unobscure as you can get.
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One of the other people mentioned Case in their post, and I went on a tangent like I have a habit of doing.
 
CAS Hanwei has come out with a new line of japanese made knives called Rock Creek - I've handled a few and they that are extremely nice knives.


CAS-2523-2522.jpg

CAS-2512SL.jpg

CAS-2501.jpg
 
Dagon said:
Plenty of small French brands.
This being said, I always had the impression that these usually elegant light duty knives in general appeal more to a European than an American audience.
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List of French boutique knife makers here: http://www.couteaux-jfl.com/marques.htm
Alsthough several are Laguiole-style, Opinel-style and Pradel-style knife makers, many makers forge custom workhorses, like this guy and that guy
 
I never hear much about Mcusta. I owned one of their Basic Folders a while back. They make some nice knives with some really nice materials. They also have some fairly inexpensive Damascus options.
 
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