"Old Knives"

I have never seen a definitive date for pattern numbers on KK's. Alvin Sellens, in his guide to Keen Kutter pocket knives, merely says that pattern numbers were present on some knives, but not all. He also says that sometimes pattern numbers were etched, not stamped, and may have worn off easier? From my limited experience, I would agree that most of my older KK's do not have stamped pattern numbers.
Dan
Forgot to say what a beautiful peanut that is that Campbellclanman posted. Lot's of great old knives posted as of late. This is my favorite thread on this forum, don't post much, but check it out almost every day.
 
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Campbellclanman said:
I remember not so long ago Jack put up his Simmons KeenKutter like this, most fantastic knife.....
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Great pics Duncan, you've captured the MOP really nicely my friend :)

Interesting KK discussion, I'd love to know more about these knives :thumbup:
 
My only Keen Kutter is a 3.4" equal end cattle knife in tan pick bone (Rodgers' ??) that I have in my notes as from the '30s. Comments, please!

KK3218open_zpsoqxj6bax.jpg~original

KKMainPileStamp_zpsbrxnblej.jpg~original

KKSheepfootMarkStamp_zpsy0tcngfy.jpg~original

KKMainMarkStamp_zpsysw5w1c2.jpg~original

KKPenPileStamp_zpsuxcfppoe.jpg~original
 
Jeff, I remember talking with you about the blade on that knife... which I'll refer to as "Old Sparky" (a term of endearment) ;) I pulled out a 1930 Simmons catalog scan...



I also found the same illustration in a 1939 catalog which is pretty close to the end. So it's likely that EC Simmons never updated their catalog after switching from long pull to nail nicks.
 
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Thanks again, Jake. I remember your previous comments and agree completely with your spark reasoning for the chip in the clip main. It would be great to find out just what year they switched from LPs to nicks. I also notice that your scanned illustration clearly shows jigged bone, but the copy calls it STAG HANDLE.
 
Bone was called "stag" in the old catalogs. What we call stag was sometimes called "genuine stag" to differentiate it from bone.

Some eBayers still use the old nomenclature... or maybe they actually don't realize that it's jigged bone... But I suspect that they just use the word "stag" because it will get more search hits. :p
 
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Thanks for the comments on the KK, I dont recall seeing too many Pattern numbers on the Keekutters either, in saying that I have only owned a few or so.
Jake the sized is around the Peanut size, almost like a small Eureka shape to Handle.

Jeff, Old Sparky must have been close to blowing the owner to the other side of the room, I almost did a job like that myself - I turned the power off at the switch - but someone had wired the switch loom wrong and there was still power there - I cut the wire with a pair of snips-BOOM! did the same thing - if it werent for the insulated handles-it wouldnt have been a nice day - good lesson and almost a very very expensive one, now I pull the fuses AND treat each wire as if live - thats a good blow-out hole on the Blade my friend.
 
black mamba, Alvin Sellens says your model, 3218 3/4 was in the catalogues from 1921 to 1941. I believe the eared keystone logo was not used until near 1939? I also believe that after 1940, EC Simmons was not on the tang stamp. So, your knife was likely manufactured fairly close to 1939. A beautiful old knife it is, too bad about the main blade chip.
Dan
 
Thanks Jake, the Barlow KK stamp is only Keen Kutter not sure if I answer your question, I have little knowledge regarding this brand

Mike
 
smiling-knife said:
Thank you for the kind comments Jack, Duncan and Mike. :-)

Nice pipe smokers knives Jack.

This Christopher Johnson & Son knife dates to late Victorian times. The pipe tamper swings out from the end to reveal a spring-loaded cigar pincer.

Smoker1_zpsb3uksntl.jpg



Nice one SK! Very similar.

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Here are some of my new additions. A Keen Kutter Pruner in Rosewood, an old Rochester Robeson barehead in Ebony, and a New York Knife Co Dogleg Jack in smooth bone.

image_zps8yxjbqie.jpg
 
Great knife Brad, that stamp is gorgeous. Nice trio Shipwright, I have never seen KK pruner The NYK dogleg is outstanding.

Mike
 
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