"Old Knives"

Man, That Case Hawk is somethin' else!!

And that Orange is JUICY Eric!! Gotta be one of the rarest knives around!
Case Smethports were only made one year or so before the plant burned, and they are worth several thousand bucks!!
SMETHPORTFRONT.jpg
 
Charlie,

What pattern name is that Case? What year or years were the Smethports made?

I have also noticed that Case seems to favor putting the secondary pen blade on the pile side with opposing nail pulls. I was wondering if you have noticed this trend also?

Ken
 
That's a great one, Charlie! I wish modern makers would execute the blades like that master. The shape is just right, long pull with a good swedge.
 
ken erickson said:
Charlie,

What pattern name is that Case? What year or years were the Smethports made?

I have also noticed that Case seems to favor putting the secondary pen blade on the pile side with opposing nail pulls. I was wondering if you have noticed this trend also?

Ken
Click to expand...
Case has done it both ways, Ken, pen front and back. My Barlow study bears that out.
The Case family bought Smethport Cutlery in 1909, Smethport, PA.
They converted it to their brand, but it burned down in 1910!
I'll do what I can to find that pattern number for you.

You guys are right, it's a neat knife. HOWEVER!! Tony Bose pointed out to me that there shouldn't be a swedge on the back of the pen blade! And the stamp is a different style from the main. The pen could be from another knife. Hard to put one over on the Old Dog!!
 
I really like the swedge and long nick combination on the jack knife.

Following the beautiful CASE pruner shown by Vince is a tough act. I recently acquired this Wostenholm pruner from the 1930s. The blade looks full and snaps like a gator.

14-02006.jpg

14-02010.jpg
 
Last edited:
waynorth said:
Case has done it both ways, Ken, pen front and back. My Barlow study bears that out.
The Case family bought Smethport Cutlery in 1909, Smethport, PA.
They converted it to their brand, but it burned down in 1910!
I'll do what I can to find that pattern number for you.

You guys are right, it's a neat knife. HOWEVER!! Tony Bose pointed out to me that there shouldn't be a swedge on the back of the pen blade! And the stamp is a different style from the main. The pen could be from another knife. Hard to put one over on the Old Dog!!
Click to expand...

Tony showed me a knife he has of the same pattern. That swedge should be a drawn swedge, not a cut swedge. Cut swedges are usually put on the inside of a blade to get to a pull on another blade. But I think the very different stamp from the master blade is the big giveaway.

DANGIT!!! I HATE IT WHEN THEY DO THAT!:mad:
 
smiling-knife said:
I really like the swedge and long nick combination on the jack knife.

Following the beautiful CASE pruner shown by Vince is a tough act. I recently acquired this Wostenholm pruner from the 1930s. The blade looks full and snaps like a gator.
Click to expand...

Wooooo that pruner is the bomb!:thumbup::cool:
 
Thanks for that Kerry.

All my English jack knives have both nail nicks on the same side and, of course, the pen blade is in front of the master blade. Just an observation.
 
waynorth said:
Man, That Case Hawk is somethin' else!!

And that Orange is JUICY Eric!! Gotta be one of the rarest knives around!
Case Smethports were only made one year or so before the plant burned, and they are worth several thousand bucks!!
SMETHPORTFRONT.jpg
Click to expand...

Charlie that is a rare knife indeed. I haven't any idea what the pattern is. A rat tail bolster on a Case knife is not unheard of, they were on a few patterns, but it is rare. Same goes for what I call a Federal shield. While the blades might not follow norms, I believe them to be legitimate to the knife. Case secondary blades if stamped at all with a name stamp are usually stamped different than the Front blade or mark blade. I don't know for sure, but I think the blades were ground before assembly, and the back blade could work in different patterns with 3 or more blades. The reason for the swedge not to be where it is and style of cut, isn't a reason for it not to be placed where it is. Things don't always follow the norm... For what it's worth these are my opinions about your knife. That I believe to be legitimate Case Smethport knife...
 
ea42 said:
Man this is about the finest thread I've ever seen! Those bones are awesome Vince, I've got to say I think that bullet deserves a closer look:thumbup::thumbup:

Here's a fairly rare one, Orange Cutlery Company. It was formed by a group of unhappy Walden Knife Co. employees back in 1923. Made mostly cell handled knives, but only lasted about a year:



Eric
Click to expand...

cool! A freemason knife!
 
This thread may just be one of the best single compiled internet reference for images of vintage knives !

Thanks ,everyone,for adding

This is a 5 blade ,
copied:
"Needham Bros. 5 blade pearl, 3 1/2 " closed. All blades crocus polished completely on both sides
except the spatula tip being glaze finished on both sides, crocus polished at the tang end. The glaze finish runs along the blade length instead of across it as does the crocus finish. The spatula is ground so thin and flat that the tip can still be easily flexed to a 45 degree angle and return to true. The thinnest blade I've
ever seen on a knife. The sunken joints cover up the city, Sheffiled, no England, pre 1890. Well made knife"

02-18-200920081149PM.jpg

02-18-200920081404PM.jpg

02-18-200920081623PM.jpg

02-18-200920082411PM.jpg

02-18-200920082543PM.jpg

02-18-200920083111PM.jpg

02-18-200920083340PM.jpg

02-18-200920084338PM.jpg

02-18-200920084842PM.jpg

02-18-200920085243PM.jpg
 
Here's the "nesting" shot
02-18-200920091026PM.jpg


And,the box!!
02-18-200920090538PM.jpg


Spatula blade ,thin
02-18-200920085909PM.jpg
 
That is a fantastic knife vince. It must be circa late 1800s or early 1900s with the button hook. Thanks for the great photos.

I have this three-blade model with the same spatula attachment. The spatula has 'Wood's Ship's Composition' on it. I still have little information on this but it seem like it might be a promotional item or designed to use with the product. I have not seen another until your post. They both seem to have the same tang stamping. I agree that these are very well made knives.

Needham3-1.jpg
 
Hello Everyone, I hope my pictures work(please bear with me, I am technically challenged)------I would like to share my Large 4 1/4 Cigar knife Made by John Primble India Steel Works--I thought it would fit in this thread nicely. I love that aged and worn Stag handles. Here goes the pics??

dscn7137.jpg

dscn7138.jpg

dscn7141.jpg

dscn7142.jpg
 
Great looking knives ratlesnake. Very nice colour to the worn stag and I like the bands on the Voos mop. Thanks for posting them.
 
Thx for the compliments--I am looking around the box for more knives to post, thx for letting me know my pics are working--Mark Hackney
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top