"Old Knives"

waynorth said:
Utica made a punch like that, with a pull tucked under the rolled-over edge??? Maybe it was them??? Any other opinions?? Campbellclanman Campbellclanman ??
Click to expand...
The major manufacturers of Keen Kutter pocket knives were Walden, Winchester and Camillus. I have only 5 Keen Kutters with punches, all made by Walden or Winchester, and the punches all look like this one.

tongueriver said:
Here is another KK; I don't know the maker here, either. Kind of an unusual pattern split back whittler.

View attachment 3166058
Click to expand...
It is my understanding that all Keen Kutter pocket knives made before late 1922 or early 1923 were made by Walden. I believe even later than this. So, I believe your whittler was made by Walden, given the time period Sellens gives for it being in the Simmons catalogs.
Mike galvanic1882 galvanic1882 is in possession of a letter, printed on stationary with a Walden Knife Company letterhead, and dated Aug 27, 1926, which makes the claim that they are the "Sole Manufacturers of the Celebrated KEEN KUTTER Pocket Knives".
 
Man that' a nice Knife Dan!

Punches can drive you insane because some are so so similar to each other, but I think Dan is bang on, The Walden Punch has the Nail Nick tucked right into that 45 degree corner.
I would say this is definitely a Walden Punch, check out the Walden punches comparison below both Face side and Pile side, they are identical to Dan's. At times when the knife pattern / frame is larger- the Punches tang with can widen as well.
These Walden's shown below, show both the same Face-side and Pile-side as Dan's

Ulster had a couple of Punches, one had a nail Nick tucked into the corner, the other didn't.
The Ulster side wall of the Punch isn't as prominent as the Walden's, as the Walden's Side wall ( folded lip you see) is a little bigger

Walden Punches Face side - see the same side wall, nail nick position etc.

lVP0BRF.jpg


Pile side - Also important for identifying punches ( in most cases- there can be variances in the same punch with the shoulder formation- not too often - but I have examples of this...) Note the Tang shape and the style of what I call the "Shoulders" the way the taper up then fade out into the spine- Empire do this as well as others but there are differences when comparing these as well. The Waldens shoulder are off-set to the left more so than the Empire etc. etc.

C0bHZrV.jpg


I made a comment on Dan's knife saying that that Walden punch is the more "meatier" one i have seen, I love this knife!

Ulster also made a nail nick in the corner- but compare the differences...
Ulster Face side- side wall is not as prominent, Different shaped Tang - see the way the Tang kicks up and out- the Walden slants down...

zODxKiS.jpg


Ulster Pile side- note the shoulder differences- small but definitely there and definitely different= the taper is more center, the " Shoulders are a little shorter and of course the Tangs Kick shape is completely different.

GQluiaB.jpg
 
Last edited:
Campbellclanman said:
Punches can drive you insane because some are so so similar to each other, but I think Dan is bang on, The Walden Punch has the Nail Nick tucked right into that 45 degree corner.
I would say this is definitely a Walden Punch, check out the Walden punches comparison below both Face side and Pile side, they are identical to Dan's. At times when the knife pattern / frame is larger- the Punches tang with can widen as well.
These Walden's shown below, show both the same Face-side and Pile-side as Dan's

Ulster had a couple of Punches, one had a nail Nick tucked into the corner, the other didn't.
The Ulster side wall of the Punch isn't as prominent as the Walden's, as the Walden's Side wall ( folded lip you see) is a little bigger

Walden Punches Face side - see the same side wall, nail nick position etc.
Click to expand...
In the last few years, Duncan has learned way more about Punches than I ever knew!! Nice going Duncan!!! You are the last word on those metal devils!!!
You are studying them in great depth, and it shows!!👍
 
tongueriver said:
Here is another KK; I don't know the maker here, either. Kind of an unusual pattern split back whittler.

View attachment 3166058View attachment 3166059View attachment 3166060
Click to expand...
tongueriver said:
Here is another KK; I don't know the maker here, either. Kind of an unusual pattern split back whittler.
Click to expand...
Wow- Very Nice Cal!!
danno50 said:
Duncan Campbellclanman Campbellclanman , thank you for that very informative post.👍
Click to expand...
Your Welcome Dan matey.
waynorth said:
In the last few years, Duncan has learned way more about Punches than I ever knew!! Nice going Duncan!!! You are the last word on those metal devils!!!
You are studying them in great depth, and it shows!!👍
Click to expand...
Hey Charlie, :) That's very flattering especially coming from the person who we all know is THE Harness Jack man, and ALWAYS will be.

With what you have done by re-introducing the Harness Jack pattern back to the whole World when it was dead and buried, that is something that very few could ever do, then, followed the release of all the different Punch Patterns that were once used that YOU dug up and reintroduced to the World.

By doing this, it was teaching us all that all these knives in front of us were indeed very old patterns that once existed and are now before us once again, and that's just in the Harness Jacks! let alone every other pattern you shared with us by making these fantastic patterns come to life, the ones we forgot (or didn't know) existed, and every-single-one has been a hit, so now my friend....who could ever get near that?
Many can only follow in your shadow Charlie, or to learn from you and take that down a slightly different pathway, but the idea was and always will be yours, I sincerely believe that.

My way is just a different way of looking at them, and I am still working on a Shoulder comparison "paper" so to speak- and to be honest I don't really know if it will makes sense- but that post touches on the type of study I am trying my best to do, what is scary is ....will it all be worth it and will it all make sense at the end? I guess I will find out 🫠
 
majorpain1 said:
Cattaraugus gunstock new to the collection. If anyone knows the pattern number I'd love to know. No pattern stamp on the pile side. Spent some time with an Empire and a Majestic today.



View attachment 3166290

View attachment 3166291
Click to expand...
Wow yet again a beat of a handful M majorpain1 , thats a very cool Gunstock, old but still stunning!

Schrade Para Trooper Auto
Pennlu said:
View attachment 3166327
Click to expand...
This is very cool, I wish we were allowed to collect these in N.Z

danno50 said:
Three more I picked up at OKCA this year. A 3" jack stamped E.C.Simmons over St Louis, with nicely worn pick bone handles. Dave knowtracks knowtracks brought this one and kindly traded it to me. A 4 1/2" Keen Kutter English jack. And a 3 5/8" jack with black composite (gutta percha/gumfuddy??) handles, which I picked up from Barrett btb01 btb01 View attachment 3166391View attachment 3166393View attachment 3166394View attachment 3166396View attachment 3166397View attachment 3166398
Click to expand...
Oh Boy! Dan, what great pick ups! You lucky dog you- Dave is a darned good man isn't he! :)👍
 
majorpain1 said:
Cattaraugus gunstock new to the collection. If anyone knows the pattern number I'd love to know. No pattern stamp on the pile side. Spent some time with an Empire and a Majestic today.
Click to expand...
In Ritchie's book on Cattaraugus knives, it says gunstocks were patterns #42 and #73. Both were 3 5/8 inch long, but the 42 has a bolster/blade configuration closer to your knife. Here is a photo of page 95 of that book, showing model # 22426, which is the closest gunstock I found to match yours. The shield is different, the nail pulls are different, and the bolster is different. But it still is very close. Those artistic renderings of knives for the company catalogs were not always 100% accurate to what the factory put out the door.
IMG_6494.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top