"Old Knives"

[glennbad]

That type of thing is ALWAYS a potential red flag to me. Doesn't rule it out as legit, but tread carefully...

 

[Fodderwing]

That type of thing is ALWAYS a potential red flag to me. Doesn't rule it out as legit, but tread carefully...

Thanks Glenn.

 

[wlfryjr]

I agree with Glen, also if it’s not a German knife, I would say yes.

 

[Fodderwing]

I agree with Glen, also if it’s not a German knife, I would say yes.

Okay Lyle. It's a Kelley How Thomson Co. I was leaving it alone anyway. I posed the question because there are so many with pivot pins showing. Of course this one is extreme but I wonder about even those that are slightly visible?

 

[waynorth]

Dwight, that knife has surely been repinned, if not further altered. We'd have to see more of course!!

 

[Fodderwing]

Dwight, that knife has surely been repinned, if not further altered. We'd have to see more of course

Thank you Charlie. I could show all the photos but I will refrain out of respect for private property. I guess what I'm really wondering is to what degree one should worry about the pins being visible vs not. But as you say, there are so many other variables that must be considered as well. The learning curve is a steep one.

 

[Luger1952]

Here is a Red Devil (Smith & Hemenway 1872-1936) single blade electrician/utility knife. It is 3 & 1/2 inches closed. It is a lock back with what look like to me cocobolo handles. Smith & Hemenway ( a Hardware & Cutlery specialties co.) was based in Utica NY with offices in NY City (according to Goins). It looks like it was well cared for with little blade use or any loss. Lock backs very tightly with no lateral or up and down blade movement. Very well built folder. I am guessing it is NYKC made but not sure. Anyone have a guess on the maker? Thanks

I did find this interesting tidbit about the company:
“Red Devil, Inc.. "Founded as Smith & Hemenway Company, Inc. in 1872 in Hill, New Hampshire, our place in hardware history was established over 134 years ago with production of several types of glass cutters, one of which, the "Woodward Wizard", was patented. ... During a buying trip to Sweden, the company's founder, Landon P. Smith, heard a blacksmith remark "those little red devils" after sparks from a forge singed his arm. The name stuck in Smith's mind and upon his return to the States he began to label many of the tools he sold with the Red Devil trademark. By the late 19th century, do-it-yourselfers as well as professionals were depending on our top-performing products."

 

[Fodderwing]

Picked this one up yesterday at the p.o. I'd appreciated any info anyone may offer. Hibbard, Spencer & Barlett. The blade etch says "NITRO MOTOR COACH"

 

[Luger1952]

Dwight that is a very nice lobster pattern folder. The blade that folds from underneath the primary blades is a nail and cuticle file. It has some very nicely jigged bone handles. Heavy type pick or gouge bone jigging. The OVB stands for Our Very Best a HS &B trademark. Wonderful bar shield, the blades look near full and it has an etch. All very desirable in a vintage collectible folder! Well done

 

[Fodderwing]

Thank you sir. Would you be able to provide a timeline roughly?

 

[Luger1952]

Dwight, HS &B was a wholesale hardware company based in Chicago IL. They did not make the knife. HS & B contracted with many different cutlery companies to make their knives. Some of those were NYK, Walden, Schrade, Robeson, Utica etc. They were in business from 1855-1960. They became True Value Hardware.

 

[Fodderwing]

Much appreciated.

 

[waynorth]

Nice Lobster, Dwight!!

Lloyd, I am pretty certain your Electrician's Knife was made by Empire. They made that single blade for more than one other company. The shield and wood species are different on mine, but key details are the same, including the "tapered" handle!!

 

[Luger1952]

Yes Charlie Empire. Thanks! The slim tapered handle and the pin layout with two in the butt end seems to be very conclusive! Thanks again for your input!!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Beauties Gentleman!
Dwight- nice Lobster - lovely coined Liners along with that gorgeous Bone, nice follow Lloyd, Dwight- anything with OVB on it is pretty much guaranteed to be a very good knife - because of the Quality of the Cutlers used by HS&B. Lucky you my friend!

Lloyd and Charlie- stunning old Empires - man what a find! I am sure that it's universally agreed that if you can find a nice Empire Built Knife- that day is a very good day indeed -just looking at these made mine!

 

[Old Engineer]

Just rescued from an Antique Store today . Had mistakenly posted these in another thread .
Cattaraugus 22219 with a broken blade but otherwise is in pretty good shape for $4.50

JA HENCKELS with a tang stamp of JA HENCKELS over Germany . Have been unable to determine approx. age . I suspect that it Ebony covers . Steel Liners , tight pins and covers . Heck of a deal at $7.20


C LUTTERS with a tang stamp that I can not fully read yet . Suspect the tight covers are Cocobolo , steel liners , tight steel pins , rat tailed bolsters , pretty full blade except for the nick , pretty good snap , and has a great stamping on the blade .Very happy to finally get this brand and this handle pattern at $7.20.


@Half/Stop Ron I finally found another Hame and I have another broken handle .
Harry

 

[wlfryjr]

Nice condition on a lock back Lloyd.

Dwight that OVB sure looks good and handled like a NYK.

Charlie, you’ve seen and preserved a wealth of knowledge and knives, thanks my friend.

Harry I would like to see the Henckels.

 

[Fodderwing]

Nice Lobster, Dwight!!

Thank you Charlie.

Dwight- nice Lobster - lovely coined Liners along with that gorgeous Bone, nice follow Lloyd, Dwight- anything with OVB on it is pretty much guaranteed to be a very good knife - because of the Quality of the Cutlers used by HS&B. Lucky you my friend!

Thank you Duncan. I feel lucky.

Dwight that OVB sure looks good and handled like a NYK

Thank you Lyle. Kevin has been researching it and that was the conclusion he had reached too.

 

[Old Engineer]

Nice condition on a lock back Lloyd.

Dwight that OVB sure looks good and handled like a NYK.

Charlie, you’ve seen and preserved a wealth of knowledge and knives, thanks my friend.

Harry I would like to see the Henckels.

Sorry about that Lyle :
Pics have now been added . Thanks for pointing out that blunder my friend .
Harry

 

[Gevonovich]

Luger1952

Here is my Empire elec. for you ref.