"Old Knives"

[DaveHS]

Nice Jack - can't quite read the tang marking??

Thanks, Charlie. It says: “Electric Cut Co Walden NY”

 

[DaveHS]

So earlier in this thread I posted 2 English whittlers marked J M Smith York. Well the man I got them from just sent me these 4 fancy corn knives with the same mark in their wrappers. The Corn Knife inlay seems to have some silver metal in it, never saw that before? Handles are genuine ivory. Very cool knives. View attachment 3185840View attachment 3185841View attachment 3185842View attachment 3185843View attachment 3185844View attachment 3185845

Wow x4

 

[waynorth]

Thanks, Charlie. It says: “Electric Cut Co Walden NY”

Thanks Dave!! I guessed that, but I couldn't be sure!! Probably made by NYK - a "secondary" brand for them for a while!

 

[Augie]

View attachment 3192982

Some history on Electric thanks to Mike and Derek.


In the first half of his career as a traveling salesman, J.B.F. Champlin spent more than a dozen years selling razors, knives, shears and strops marked with the “Electric Cutlery” trademark. Since J.B.F. was always successful in his work, one could easily assume that he cheerfully touted the quality and value of Electric Cutlery products to potential clients on a daily basis as he peddled his wares from town to town.

The Electric Cutlery trademark was first used as early as 1873 by the importing firm Friedmann & Lauterjung of New York City.

J. Christopher Friedmann and Charles R. Lauterjung operated the firm from 1864-1909. They also had and office in St. Louis, Missouri.

(It is of interest to note that both of these bill heads state that the company manufactured as well as imported cutlery. Current research has failed to reveal any F&L manufacturing facilities prior to their move to New Jersey in 1890).

German importer George W. Korn told the Senate Sub Committee on Tariff in 1888 that Friedman & Lauterjung dealt in high grade cutlery while many others imported inexpensive goods of lesser quality. He also went on to explain that US merchants wanted names on their goods that were familiar sounding and easy to pronounce. Merchants did not care for foreign names that were difficult to spell and remember.



With this understanding of their US market, Christopher Friedmann and Charles Lauterjung could not have picked a better name than the trademark they selected.

“The Electric Cutlery Company” was certainly a name easy for the American people to remember and pronounce. Plus, the terms “electric” and “electricity” were no doubt very modern sounding buzzwords of that day and age that carried their own level of interest and implied quality.

In 1890 the company set up manufacturing in earnest when they moved from New York City to Newark, New Jersey. The company letterhead of that period displays an impressive illustration of the factory along with the bold claim “The Best Equipped Cutlery Works in the World”.Viewing Note: If you click on an image, you will see an option to view that image at it’s full resolution. The line will say “1440 x 960″ or something similar. It’s a little hard to find, but it’s worth the trouble when you’re reviewing the details of the old invoices.

According to Goins, James E. Fuller (President of the Newark company) along with his brother Clifford (Treasurer) purchased the “New York Knife Company” of Walden, New York in 1903. They operated both firms until 1910 when the Newark operation was closed.

Electric knives marked “Walden” were produced in the New York Knife Company plant as a second line to their now famous “Hammer Brand” Knives. The Electric trademark was used until about 1920.




Here is an Electric Cutlery Co Newark NJ, would have been made 1890 to 1910.

 

[DaveHS]

Thanks Dave!! I guessed that, but I couldn't be sure!! Probably made by NYK - a "secondary" brand for them for a while!

Any idea how to estimate when this was made?

 

[danno50]

Any idea how to estimate when this was made?

Goins say 1910 to 1920, although NYKC didn't go out of business until 1931. I had one the same, but, it seems to have gone awol?

 

[DaveHS]

Goins say 1910 to 1920, although NYKC didn't go out of business until 1931. I had one the same, but, it seems to have gone awol?

Promise I bought this one fair and square

 

[DaveHS]

Electric knives marked “Walden” were produced in the New York Knife Company plant as a second line to their now famous “Hammer Brand” Knives. The Electric trademark was used until about 1920.

Thank you kindly! I should say while these blades were aggressively de-pitted and un-patina’d, ground and sharpened by previous owner(s), the action is pretty great on this knife, especially the very snappy secondary.

 

[RickHuf]

I went to the history center yesterday and they had a display called the treasures of the Arabia. The Arabia was a steamboat that sank on the Missouri River in 1853 and it was later discovered in the 1980s in a Kansas cornfield. The Missouri river had shifted course

Anyways, the pictures are through glass and not all that great but you can see a cool wharncliffe swayback jack and a great stag knife with what may have been a corkscrew on the back

You can read about the history and original exhibit here

Pittsburgh’s Lost Steamboat: Treasures of the Arabia

Travel back in time to when Pittsburgh was the Gateway to the West with the History Center’s new major exhibition, Pittsburgh’s Lost Steamboat: Treasures of the Arabia. By popular demand,…

www.heinzhistorycenter.org

 

[glennbad]

I went to the history center yesterday and they had a display called the treasures of the Arabia. The Arabia was a steamboat that sank on the Missouri River in 1853 and it was later discovered in the 1980s in a Kansas cornfield. The Missouri river had shifted course

Anyways, the pictures are through glass and not all that great but you can see a cool wharncliffe swayback jack and a great stag knife with what may have been a corkscrew on the backView attachment 3193263View attachment 3193264

You can read about the history and original exhibit here

Pittsburgh’s Lost Steamboat: Treasures of the Arabia

Travel back in time to when Pittsburgh was the Gateway to the West with the History Center’s new major exhibition, Pittsburgh’s Lost Steamboat: Treasures of the Arabia. By popular demand,…

www.heinzhistorycenter.org

How cool! I've seen the pics of those original knives recovered. How I'd like to get few hours with them, with a camera, ruler, and note pad. Such a gathering of different patterns and constructions virtually unused and in one place.

 

[RickHuf]

How cool! I've seen the pics of those original knives recovered. How I'd like to get few hours with them, with a camera, ruler, and note pad. Such a gathering of different patterns and constructions virtually unused and in one place.

Absolutely! Sorry the photos are not that great, the glass and the lighting made it difficult.

 

[Oldy]

So earlier in this thread I posted 2 English whittlers marked J M Smith York. Well the man I got them from just sent me these 4 fancy corn knives with the same mark in their wrappers. The Corn Knife inlay seems to have some silver metal in it, never saw that before? Handles are genuine ivory. Very cool knives. View attachment 3185840View attachment 3185841View attachment 3185842View attachment 3185843View attachment 3185844View attachment 3185845

What a cool find,I can tell you put a lot of effort into finding these older gems,Good on You and for taking the time to share it.

View attachment 3192982

Goins say 1910 to 1920, although NYKC didn't go out of business until 1931. I had one the same, but, it seems to have gone awol?

this one came down through the south Saskatchewan river into the Saskatchewan river down to lake winnipeg then found it's way to selkirk via the red river,so my quis did you happen to lose it near the south Saskatchewan river.

 

[danno50]

So that is why I can't find it. Thanks for posting that one and reminding me, Oldy .

 

[Oldy]

Yes it was my first and only nykc,so much appreciated,I have kept by eyes open for knives from the early knife makers,trying to get at least one of of as many of the older cutters knife houses as I could,I also have a 1905ish cattaraugus from you which is my oldest knife,but that one never came by water.

So that is why I can't find it. Thanks for posting that one and reminding me, Oldy .

 

[r8shell]

I love finding the more obscure cutlery names.

Herbert and Holler:

Howard and Jones:

Peters:

 

[waynorth]

I love finding the more obscure cutlery names.

Worthy of a thread!!!Another obscure name; CENTAUR!!!

 

[Campbellclanman]

I love finding the more obscure cutlery names.

Herbert and Holler:

Howard and Jones:

Peters:

I always love seeing the W.D.Herbet R8shell.

Worthy of a thread!!!View attachment 3194672Another obscure name; CENTAUR!!!

That's a beauty Charlie.

With R8shell showing the Herbert, there was a time a while ago you displayed the Herbert ( From memory, and my memory is very bad) next to the Hudsons Bay Co. Harness Jack, purchased from Bernard. Did you ever get some light shed on that one at all Charlie?

Here is a link on a very old Hudson Bay Knife ( please try to ignore the modern manufactured examples), but maybe this is another wee piece of the puzzle Charlie? If not- hey at least I tried If ? it is the same company, there is nothing else in there for us to further a search down any other small corridors within the story. If not? sorry to waste time.

Hudson Bay link:

https://www.thebushcraftforum.com/threads/the-hudson-bay-and-puukko-knifes-the-original-bushcraft-knives.3608/

Another link about the earlier Hudson bay knife in Facebook Charlie..

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Bladeforums link with you coming in showing the Hudson HJ Charlie as well as Jack.

Thread 'Hudson Bay Company knives'

Oct 25, 2016

I figured we need a Hudson Bay Company knives thread. The United States had the mountain man and the fur industry, moving from beaver to buffalo and many other animals in between. Many mountain men ventured west with their mother's old kitchen knives, or their fathers old farm knives. In Canada, the mountain men were called voyageurs, and were primarily employed by either the Hudson Bay Company, or the Northwest trade company. The Hudson Bay Company had some great knives made for them by the Sheffield Cutlers, and these knives were written about by British noblemen that came to check...

• silenthunterstudios
• Replies: 12
• Forum: Traditional Folders and Fixed Blades

Another link showing Hudson bay skinners / older camp knives, if you click onto the older looking knives, they then take you into closer shots of the stampings of the earlier knives....

https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/1625613453/antique-wilson-hudson-bay-company-knife?ls=s&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=antique+hudson+bay+knife&ref=sr_gallery-1-1&sr_prefetch=0&pf_from=market&content_source=7d45fd80-0dac-49d3-885f-57007ea63b85%253ALT6de6ee57a304c95fe5dde0ceeb22763de0665aa0&organic_search_click=1&logging_key=7d45fd80-0dac-49d3-885f-57007ea63b85%3ALT6de6ee57a304c95fe5dde0ceeb22763de0665aa0

With the new growth of AI there may be more opportunities for discovery coming up

 

[waynorth]

Thanks for the links, Duncan!! Campbellclanman
My HB is the only folder I have seen, and some suggest it was a contract knife from Boker!! The punch looks like a Valley Forge!!
I know nothing for sure!!
But not this Valley Forge!!
This one!!!!

 

[waynorth]

BTW, Duncan, Rachel's W.D.Herbert is a different knife!! I had two, and gave her one!!
Campbellclanman

 

[Oldy]

Thanks for the links, Duncan!! Campbellclanman View attachment 3195070View attachment 3195071View attachment 3195072
My HB is the only folder I have seen, and some suggest it was a contract knife from Boker!! The punch looks like a Valley Forge!!
I know nothing for sure!!View attachment 3195081
But not this Valley Forge!!View attachment 3195084
This one!!!!

That hudson bay company knife is something I have never seen before which is strange since the Hudson bay company played such a significant role in the early days starting as ruperts land and then becoming canada,my great great grandfather came over to work for them in the 1700's.