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Looks great Primble. A plan well excuted and a display to be proud of.
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Old John Primble Knives & Belknap Hardware History
- Thread starter Primble
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It's surprising that I don't have more Primble knives considering it's just a short hike from my workplace to where Belknap Hardware's facilities USED to be.............
Just in case you didn't already know, John Primble knives were a Belknap brand. This warehouse was demolished in 1993 during the making of the Demolition Man movie.
Here's one.......
Just in case you didn't already know, John Primble knives were a Belknap brand. This warehouse was demolished in 1993 during the making of the Demolition Man movie.
Here's one.......
Primble
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It's surprising that I don't have more Primble knives considering it's just a short hike from my workplace to where Belknap Hardware's facilities USED to be.............
Just in case you didn't already know, John Primble knives were a Belknap brand. This warehouse was demolished in 1993 during the making of the Demolition Man movie.
Here's one.......
Ohh noo !!!
I knew about the Belknap Hardware being in Louisville/your city and I have heard the stories that John Primble was actually a salesman/buyer for Belknap.
Have you heard that or if so, do you believe that story?? There may be some local people that know the answer.?
That photo of the store demolition is a wonderful photo, but, well - you already know.
Very nice JP and I see it has the JP on the shield - not sure I have seen that before. :thumbup:
Thank you for posting it. :thumbup:
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I believe Mr Primble was a top salesman for the company and they named the premium line of knives in his honor, or honour as in the shield.
As for the knife I posted, I think it was made after the glory days of the Primble line, not really such fine quality.
As for the knife I posted, I think it was made after the glory days of the Primble line, not really such fine quality.
Campbellclanman
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Thank each and every one of you for your nice comments and the project was very important to me, as Mark mentioned. :thumbup::thumbup:
I am especially smitten with the magnetic display. It does allow quick retrieval of any of the knives. Charlie is responsible for nudging me in that direction.
Duncan - I did notice you spent a pretty long time on this thread last night and I wondered if you might be lusting for your old Primbles back and possibly the others, as well. I got a good laugh out of your latest response this morning. I suppose one could say that you own 25 percent stock in the project, but, Stephen probably owns 33 percent stock, so I guess the display and knives would have to be sent through Alabama before I could send them on to NZ. Mark also holds a a stake, so I guess the three of you combined makes me minority stock holder - uh ohh.
I hope none of you believe in debt repossession.
What was that old saying ? Ohh yes - possession is nine tenths of the law!!
Have I told you guys what special friends you are, lately??
haha - always great reading your posts Primble Sir, Can I make one thuing clear my freind, the Primbles that I was once custodian of, are YOURS and you must not look at them in any other way, I can truly say that if anyone tried to take my Single Bladed Walnut off me my friend, -if it came down to it - I would resort to having to tear their ears off to let them know that knife is mine lol
Seriously Primble - that is a beaut of a display - the reason I spend so long on here is I have always love Primble knives - I just dont have the time and money to fuel my passion enough - my knives are pretty spread out in their categorys as it is
.Chisumr - lovely knives Sir-in awesome condition! Thank you for sharing them with us:thumbup:
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Fantastic stuff Primble :thumbup: You've been a man on a mission! What a great achievement! Well done :thumbup:
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I just love how that display turned out. Looks like I imagine it would look like back in the day, I think you nailed it.
I also read all the words you wrote regarding your remembrance of your youth, and was transported along with you. Excellent post, my friend!
I also read all the words you wrote regarding your remembrance of your youth, and was transported along with you. Excellent post, my friend!
Primble
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Last edited:
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Primble, all I can say is that this entire 'story' thread is fantastic. Very nice work developing and bringing to life that display--too cool. I love the memories you shared with us as well, very neat stuff. Congrats on finding a way to solidify your experiences through your knives!
Primble
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I can truly say that if anyone tried to take my Single Bladed Walnut off me my friend, -if it came down to it - I would resort to having to tear their ears off to let them know that knife is mine lol
Fantastic Duncan - glad to know that my friend!! :thumbup:
Fantastic stuff Primble :thumbup: You've been a man on a mission! What a great achievement! Well done :thumbup:
Many thanks Jack !!! :thumbup:
Thank you Glenn - I love the way it turned out and appreciate all the help. :thumbup:
Absolutely agree Tim - guidance was excellent.
:thumbup:I sent you an email regarding where Waynorth.
paulhilborn
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Wow Primble I have never stopped into this thread before now...truly my loss but glad I caught up:thumbup:
Everything about this thread is magnificent. You, the display, the input from friends and of course the end result
LOVED the story of your growing up...a very similar story of my youth...we are of similar age. My Grandmother of all people fueled my passion for pocket knives, she was our Beautiful Matriarch
Thank you for the thread. I grew up in a family owned furniture store and have a strong appreciation for decor...your house looks beautiful and the display lends itself to it's surroundings:thumbup:
Everything about this thread is magnificent. You, the display, the input from friends and of course the end result
LOVED the story of your growing up...a very similar story of my youth...we are of similar age. My Grandmother of all people fueled my passion for pocket knives, she was our Beautiful Matriarch
Thank you for the thread. I grew up in a family owned furniture store and have a strong appreciation for decor...your house looks beautiful and the display lends itself to it's surroundings:thumbup:
Primble
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Short history of Belknap and John Primble:
Some of my collected online information about Primble knives:
From All About Pocket Knives:
The Belknap Hardware Company was originally founded by William Burke Belknap in 1840 in Louisville, Kentucky. The company started out producing iron products such as horse shoes, nails, spikes and such. Lets establish a little historic perspective; Mr. Belknaps contemporaries were the likes of E.C. Simmons and A. F. Shapleighwhose respective companies achieved remarkable success. Mr. Belknap ran the company for 40 yearsand, arguably, can be considered an inspiring example of American entrepreneurial spirit! The Belknap Hardware Companys catalog eventually consisted of more than 117,000 items. Unfortunately, this grand American company ran out of economic gas in 1986 (though it outlasted two of it's giant competitors; Simmons and Shapleigh). During its existence, it sold a variety of trademarked brands of product. One such brand was the John Primble offering of traditional pocket knives (initially started in 1931). Interestingly, it is the longest continuous line of cutlery in America!
Typically, the Primble brand of knives were made for Belknap by Boker, Camilus, Case, Schrade and Utica. *
I do find it surprising that a company whose motto and general business philosophy was Primblegoods of honor has vanished. I think that most US-born adults over the age of 40 recognize that todays America is getting further and further away from its root principles and value system. Surenothing stays the samecountries, societies and cultures change. Human history absolutely demonstrates this. Still, human history also clearly demonstrates that greatness is most often the result of doing the right thing. I think that Belknapas a companydid achieve a level of greatness.
Bernard Levine:
"John Primble" was originally the premium private brand of the Louisville, Kentucky, wholesale hardware distributor Belknap Hardware Co.
Belknap was founded about 1840. In about 1890 Belknap first began to use the brand JOHN PRIMBLE, INDIA STEEL WORKS on its premium quality cutlery. This brand continued in use until about 1940.
After World War II, in 1947, Belknap began to use the brand JOHN PRIMBLE on its premium grade cutlery. PRIMBLE knives were made for Belknap by such firms as Boker, Camillus, Utica, and Schrade-Walden. This PRIMBLE brand continued in use until Belknap went out of business in 1985.
When Belknap closed, its Primble and Blue Grass brands were purchased by Roy Scott, then of Ohio, who founded Blue Grass Cutlery Company. He also acquired the rights to sell WINCHESTER brand knives.
Since that time, Blue Grass has made a specialty of selling traditional pattern pocketknives made with traditional materials to a high standard of quality. These knives have proven to be very popular with collectors. They offer an opportunity to own fine traditional pocketknives at a fraction of the cost of antiques.
THE MASTER BLADE TANG IS STAMPED; JOHN PRIMBLE BELKNAP HDW. & MFG.CO. THE TANG ON THE BACK OF THE MASTER BLADE IS STAMPED PATTERN # 5390, WITH A STAR SYMBOL.
It is a little older than the seller thought, that tangstamp was used from 1940 until 1968, it could still have been sitting in a store in the 70's of course, so they may think it was made then.
The star on the pile side of the tang usually means it was a Boker contract made prior to 1965, Primble knives with the "Belknap" tangstamp of the same era without the star were normally Schrade.
Primbles have been made by MANY different contractors over the years.
Some of the ones I know of are:
George Wostenholm Cutlery
Roberson
H. Boker
New York Knife
Schrade
Schrade-Walden
Camillus
Case...(only "Baby Doctor" patterns very early on as far as I know)
Queen
In 1968 the stamp was shortened to Belknap Inc. Collectors can date this by a Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper article published in July of 1968. It stated, Louisvilles Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing Co. is no more. The company hasnt gone out of business, but its stockholders yesterday approved the change of the company name to Belknap Inc. The reason given for the change was that U.S. Fair Packaging & Labeling Act had disallowed abbreviations of firm names, and Belknaps whole name was simply too long to put on small items.
Other stamps used on the firms knives include J. PRIMBLE BELKNAP GERMANY in about 1955 and BLUE RIBBON CUT CO. from 1910 to 1952.
One of the largest and oldest hardware companies which marketed knives, Belknap outlasted all the major hardware companies of the era such as Simmons Hardware, Shapleigh Hardware, Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett, Van Camp, Witte and even a competitor in Louisville by the name of Robinson Brothers, which may be subjected for a later article. Belknap finally closed their doors in 1985.
Currently Blue Grass Cutlery owns the name and has contracted new John Primbles from overseas.
Some of my collected online information about Primble knives:
From All About Pocket Knives:
The Belknap Hardware Company was originally founded by William Burke Belknap in 1840 in Louisville, Kentucky. The company started out producing iron products such as horse shoes, nails, spikes and such. Lets establish a little historic perspective; Mr. Belknaps contemporaries were the likes of E.C. Simmons and A. F. Shapleighwhose respective companies achieved remarkable success. Mr. Belknap ran the company for 40 yearsand, arguably, can be considered an inspiring example of American entrepreneurial spirit! The Belknap Hardware Companys catalog eventually consisted of more than 117,000 items. Unfortunately, this grand American company ran out of economic gas in 1986 (though it outlasted two of it's giant competitors; Simmons and Shapleigh). During its existence, it sold a variety of trademarked brands of product. One such brand was the John Primble offering of traditional pocket knives (initially started in 1931). Interestingly, it is the longest continuous line of cutlery in America!
Typically, the Primble brand of knives were made for Belknap by Boker, Camilus, Case, Schrade and Utica. *
I do find it surprising that a company whose motto and general business philosophy was Primblegoods of honor has vanished. I think that most US-born adults over the age of 40 recognize that todays America is getting further and further away from its root principles and value system. Surenothing stays the samecountries, societies and cultures change. Human history absolutely demonstrates this. Still, human history also clearly demonstrates that greatness is most often the result of doing the right thing. I think that Belknapas a companydid achieve a level of greatness.
Bernard Levine:
"John Primble" was originally the premium private brand of the Louisville, Kentucky, wholesale hardware distributor Belknap Hardware Co.
Belknap was founded about 1840. In about 1890 Belknap first began to use the brand JOHN PRIMBLE, INDIA STEEL WORKS on its premium quality cutlery. This brand continued in use until about 1940.
After World War II, in 1947, Belknap began to use the brand JOHN PRIMBLE on its premium grade cutlery. PRIMBLE knives were made for Belknap by such firms as Boker, Camillus, Utica, and Schrade-Walden. This PRIMBLE brand continued in use until Belknap went out of business in 1985.
When Belknap closed, its Primble and Blue Grass brands were purchased by Roy Scott, then of Ohio, who founded Blue Grass Cutlery Company. He also acquired the rights to sell WINCHESTER brand knives.
Since that time, Blue Grass has made a specialty of selling traditional pattern pocketknives made with traditional materials to a high standard of quality. These knives have proven to be very popular with collectors. They offer an opportunity to own fine traditional pocketknives at a fraction of the cost of antiques.
THE MASTER BLADE TANG IS STAMPED; JOHN PRIMBLE BELKNAP HDW. & MFG.CO. THE TANG ON THE BACK OF THE MASTER BLADE IS STAMPED PATTERN # 5390, WITH A STAR SYMBOL.
It is a little older than the seller thought, that tangstamp was used from 1940 until 1968, it could still have been sitting in a store in the 70's of course, so they may think it was made then.
The star on the pile side of the tang usually means it was a Boker contract made prior to 1965, Primble knives with the "Belknap" tangstamp of the same era without the star were normally Schrade.
Primbles have been made by MANY different contractors over the years.
Some of the ones I know of are:
George Wostenholm Cutlery
Roberson
H. Boker
New York Knife
Schrade
Schrade-Walden
Camillus
Case...(only "Baby Doctor" patterns very early on as far as I know)
Queen
In 1968 the stamp was shortened to Belknap Inc. Collectors can date this by a Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper article published in July of 1968. It stated, Louisvilles Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing Co. is no more. The company hasnt gone out of business, but its stockholders yesterday approved the change of the company name to Belknap Inc. The reason given for the change was that U.S. Fair Packaging & Labeling Act had disallowed abbreviations of firm names, and Belknaps whole name was simply too long to put on small items.
Other stamps used on the firms knives include J. PRIMBLE BELKNAP GERMANY in about 1955 and BLUE RIBBON CUT CO. from 1910 to 1952.
One of the largest and oldest hardware companies which marketed knives, Belknap outlasted all the major hardware companies of the era such as Simmons Hardware, Shapleigh Hardware, Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett, Van Camp, Witte and even a competitor in Louisville by the name of Robinson Brothers, which may be subjected for a later article. Belknap finally closed their doors in 1985.
Currently Blue Grass Cutlery owns the name and has contracted new John Primbles from overseas.
Last edited:
Campbellclanman
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Oh man, this is what a fix must like be for a Heroin addict
Primble
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Very much appreciated Gary. :thumbup:
Pretty bone on that Primble Glassjaw. :thumbup:
Wow Primble I have never stopped into this thread before now...truly my loss but glad I caught up:thumbup:
Everything about this thread is magnificent. You, the display, the input from friends and of course the end result
LOVED the story of your growing up...a very similar story of my youth...we are of similar age. My Grandmother of all people fueled my passion for pocket knives, she was our Beautiful Matriarch
Thank you for the thread. I grew up in a family owned furniture store and have a strong appreciation for decor...your house looks beautiful and the display lends itself to it's surroundings:thumbup:
Thank you Paul - nice to hear about the support from your grandmother. :thumbup:
Duncan - :thumbup:
Thank you Frank. :thumbup:
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