"Old Knives"

herder said:
There's a new Sheriff in town... :)
Imperial is probably best known for inexpensive and shell handled knives offered for several decades following WWII.
Aside from regular pocket and fixed blade knives, they made some pretty neat novelty and special interest models.
Here is a carded boy's knife and chain with a Junior Sheriff badge from the late 1950s, along with an ad illustration from 1957.
Hard to believe that this knife is over 60 years old...

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Herder. I really like seeing old knives with their original packaging, I think it adds a lot to the knife.

This New Holland Barlow is a prime example. Duncan generously gifted it to me at the 2017 Rendezvous, the packaging shows they were given away by New Holland dealers for stopping by and looking at new equipment, looks like the were mailed to the customer after the visit. The penny dates from 1966.

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Thank you Augie.Yes used but not abused is an excellent condition to find a vintage pocket knife. I've seen a few of those New Holland Barlow knives for sale in the past now I finally know the story behind them. Thanks.
 
More than 50 years old and some beautiful material induced me to include this here, although borderline for age.

Camillus 66 stockman in grain white pyroxylin (a.k.a. French Ivory).

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Nice Camillus, Jeff!!



CNoyes said:
I think there's a 50/50 chance the Barlow was made by Robeson.

Robeson is known to have made knives for HSB.

I no longer own this knife and I hope its new owner will not be offended, but this is why I said the above.

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herder said:
A couple of fine knives there, t.willy.
I believe that Valley Forge was made in the 1920s or 1930s. While not quite the same model, enclosed is an easy opener based on your model with the same handle shield from 1925.
Pretty good chance that your H.S.&B. Barlow was made by Ulster who contracted out to many retailers. Enclosed is a Ulster catalog cut which matches up to your model.

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Hmmmmm . . . . . I wonder if Ulster Made the Robeson Barlow for Robeson!!???

What say you, CNoyes CNoyes ??:rolleyes:
 
Thanks, Charlie, it really is close to mint. After herder's post I thought the same thing, that maybe Ulster made them both. They sure look identical.
 
black mamba said:
More than 50 years old and some beautiful material induced me to include this here, although borderline for age.

Camillus 66 stockman in grain white pyroxylin (a.k.a. French Ivory).

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Just what is that line (age) that makes a knife old for purposes of inclusion in this thread Jeff?

Very nice knife Jeff.
 
ED, I think there was some discussion of this a while back, but it seems that pre-WWII is firmly accepted, with 50 years old being near the limit. A few said, "Anything older than me," and I don't remember if there was any real consensus. Thanks for the compliment on my Camillus!
 
No need to thank me for the compliment on your Camillus - it's first rate in anyonbe's eyes.

Not being a regular poster in this thread (hardly ever) I would think 1970 or earlier would qualify as "Old Knife" fodder. 1970 seems to be the year that Case collectors have drawn a line and I've seen some dealers describe 1970 as a dividing line for their knives too regardless of brand.

Thanks for the reply Charlie.
 
Haven't had anything to post for a while, but I have been hitting the "like" button a lot in this thread. J. Pritzlaff Hardware, Milwaukee, Wisc. Founded 1850, incorporated in 1884, according to Goins. 3 1/2 closed. I found a close match in a New York Knife Co. catalog, so maybe made by them.
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Mike Robuck said:
Haven't had anything to post for a while, but I have been hitting the "like" button a lot in this thread. J. Pritzlaff Hardware, Milwaukee, Wisc. Founded 1850, incorporated in 1884, according to Goins. 3 1/2 closed. I found a close match in a New York Knife Co. catalog, so maybe made by them.
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What a beauty! You don't see swell center jacks very often.
 
Mike Robuck said:
Haven't had anything to post for a while, but I have been hitting the "like" button a lot in this thread. J. Pritzlaff Hardware, Milwaukee, Wisc. Founded 1850, incorporated in 1884, according to Goins. 3 1/2 closed. I found a close match in a New York Knife Co. catalog, so maybe made by them.
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Wow Mike, checks all the boxes, etch, shield, covers, full blades, just a beautiful knife:thumbsup:
 
Modoc ED said:
Just what is that line (age) that makes a knife old for purposes of inclusion in this thread Jeff?
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I would say around 1960 or so, but that is the line I just hold myself to. It was around the early 60's that most knives really started changing away from the pre war craftsmanship into the more mass produced lesser quality product (but still a useful working tool). Case is an exception as they got more like that in the 70's.
 
Many thanks Duncan, Paul, Lambertiana, Gev, and Mike. I took the pictures on top of a 1960s Navajo sand painting that has been in my family for a while.
 
Given Charlie C's array of very similar 3 3/8" brown bone Barlows above, I withdraw my suggestion that there is a 50/50 chance that Robeson made the Barlow posted by T Willy above.

Apparently, the chances are only one-in-four, if even that.
 
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