"Old Knives"

Augie- that is Stunning.

Like you say - Challenge did make Absolute Superior Knives- your knife is proof of this. Well done my friend- the only thing I would like to point out about that knife - what is missing, is my four walls of my House surrounding that Knife 😀
 
John, I agree with everyone's assessment--it has everything going for it! Everything that is, that we like in one folder--what's not to like about this wonderful specimen:thumbup: I wondered where you were John? Now I know on the hunt:D. Congratulations and thanks for posting some fine photos of your prize. Lloyd
 
Thank you Lloyd, Duncan, Lambertiana, Jake, Paul. Lambertiana, yours is a beauty also, have not seen that many of the pattern.

Paul, I'm not sure which is earlier, I think the straight line tang stamp may be earlier. The way I understand it Challenge was originally an English company that was bought by a New York Import Company and continued to make knives for awhile that were imported to the US. Then the importer bought the Hatch Company and started making knives under the Challenge name. I also understand that they did have some English cutlers working for them in Connecticut.
I have this Challenge pruner that has a straight line tang stamp and also marked Sheffield, I think this is a transition knife.

IMG_6138_zpsn5dko2xr.jpg
 
Spectacular old Challenge knives, guys!

Here's a couple of mine, I may have shown them in this thread before already...

IMG_8005%20-%20Copy_zpst2ddp9yl.jpg~original



2 different tang stamps...

IMG_8010%20-%20Copy_zpsho0xhv5h.jpg~original
 
Phil, either way good to see👍 Nice photos and I appreciate the close up of the tang stamps! I got to find me one of those folders. Lloyd
 
Took some better pics of my pre Eisenhower Case Pen knife that better illustrates how thin the secondary blade is and that it still had a swedge ground into it, this blade is like spring steel and paper thin as you can see on some of the pics.

ro3e7kG.jpg

3FKr2Zf.jpg

GsJCYVW.jpg

6f8nT4l.jpg

8r2J7Gs.jpg

PNLyLTX.jpg

fbrpAqs.jpg


So any ideas as to the model/pattern # (if there is one) and age?
 
Phil, two beauties and thanks for showing the different tang stamps:cool:

Ted, beauty of a CASE:thumbup: I've seen the blade at quite a bend before showing it's flex:cool:

Nothing special here but I can't seem to NOT buy them when they have full blades. Again another SOLID arched Pal tang stamp ez open jack.

I didn't get all the tang but what is missing is (IN USA) in my picture. I see traces of prior work done to the knife but still a great knife with lots of life left.

md9fyS.jpg


QFMFRR.jpg
 
Took some better pics of my pre Eisenhower Case Pen knife that better illustrates how thin the secondary blade is and that it still had a swedge ground into it, this blade is like spring steel and paper thin as you can see on some of the pics.

ro3e7kG.jpg

3FKr2Zf.jpg

GsJCYVW.jpg

6f8nT4l.jpg

8r2J7Gs.jpg

PNLyLTX.jpg

fbrpAqs.jpg


So any ideas as to the model/pattern # (if there is one) and age?

Possibly 40s or 50s? I recently went to cases website they kept fair records of the tang stamps and years they used which ones looking to age an old Barlow I have. I will check later tonight and verify the age for you if I can. There are some real knowledgeable folks on another thread that may know off the cuff. Great knife though


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Ted, you probably know this as well but the tang stamp is circa 1920 thru 1940, aside from that I'm unsure how to date it within those years.
 
Ted, you probably know this as well but the tang stamp is circa 1920 thru 1940, aside from that I'm unsure how to date it within those years.

That's as far as I ever get, because there's no pattern # I know it's an earlier stamp like you said 20s-40s. Someone at a show once told me he'd never seen such an exquisitely ground blade on a Case knife before and his thought was that it was a cutler's personal knife, someones brag book showin' his grinding and heat treat skills. You remember correctly Paul I have a pic of the blade flexed at nearly 90* and it returns to straight. Pretty impressive considering the blade in question is almost paper thin.

It's gonna be like the Good Roads or the Union Knifeworks knives, it'll be years and then one day I make the connection that explains why the knife exists and how it came to be. I'm always fascinated by things I can't find another of, I need to know the wheres, whys and hows. :) Rest assured when I get my answer, this'll be the place I share it first. ;)
 
Took some better pics of my pre Eisenhower Case Pen knife that better illustrates how thin the secondary blade is and that it still had a swedge ground into it, this blade is like spring steel and paper thin as you can see on some of the pics.

fbrpAqs.jpg


So any ideas as to the model/pattern # (if there is one) and age?

That is an elegant pen knife, Ted. I recently took a few pictures of a Boker pen knife. I'm amazed at how tightly the blades fit in the well.



They sure knew how to make 'em back then (whenever "back then" was)
 
Lovely old Case Ted- I bet that Sharoens to a Scalpel edge!

Paul- that Pal is a beauty! Just a superb knife all round- as Pal did then.

Philllll my friend- who cares if you have shown those knives- please post 'em weekly if you feel the need matey- awesome Knives- but that Peachseed - Man - that is a Sweetheart of a Knife.

I am still swooning over Augies Sheepsfoot! Wow!
 
Thank you, Jack. That's a lot more helpful than "James Barber (ERA), see Thomas Elin". So 1834 onward. Do you think I'm right that Her Madge was the Vic? Because let's face it, 1953 is a long time ago now. It could be EiiR. Except in 1976 it wasn't "[such and such] to her Majesty", it was "[such and such], by appointment to her Majesty the Queen".
cvBJmV3.jpg

I reckon so my friend, sorry for the slow reply, I was over in Sheffield yesterday :thumbup:
 
Those Sheffield trips are important. Thanks for your reply.
Possibly my oldest knife then. It came out of the $5 bowl with the 4-line Camillus pictured.
 
Those Sheffield trips are important. Thanks for your reply.
Possibly my oldest knife then. It came out of the $5 bowl with the 4-line Camillus pictured.

I spent five hours with Stan Shaw yesterday, and it is always an education as well as a pleasure :) It ended up being an expensive trip too, as I bought a couple of knives off him! :eek: :o ;)
 
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