Older slip joints, steel and geometry, who did it best?

Thank you everyone :thumbup:

Knowing myself, I will end up trying to sample as many cuttlers as I can. You all just gave me a great starting point :)

Appreciate all your responses.
 
Of all the knives I own (and I own a lot) the most solid ones are these two old Robesons, that hail from 1913-1920. They are so tight and solid that I am sure I could pry open a car door with them.
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I will say, however, tha all the knives I have from this era seem to be overbuilt. I often buy knives from this time period with broken scales, and take them apart to rebuild them, and just disassembling them takes a lot of effort. All the pins are super tight and solid, which amazes me considering they had to do most of the work by hand.

Today the only commercial maker that comes closest is GEC.
 
Very fine Robeson Jacks there !
There were quite a few USA knife manufacturers 100 years ago and most of them made top quality knives. From about 1890 to about 1940, USA manufacturers were making great knives and many of these knives are still around in excellent or better condition. It would be perhaps impossible to pick just one as "The Best American Knife Manufacturer" from that time period.
Case knives are the most popular collectible vintage USA knives but that also makes them some of the most expensive, which is why i don't collect Case.
kj
 
Markesharp said:
Jeff, this is a nice example of the jigged bone that KYNC put out on there knives

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I have your address, watch your mailbox ;)

BTW - That is not the one I am sending you! :D
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That is a beauty! A barehead HJ? You are a very lucky man Jeff.
 
I'm no collector, more of an accumulator, but one day I hope to have specimens from NYKC, Empire, Miller Bros., and Schrade-Walden (with jigged bone covers of course).
 
Thanks to everyone here my eBay watch list just got about 15 spots longer...
 
I have several Schrade Old Timers and Uncle Henry's that I picked up new during the 90's that have absolutely beautiful F&F considering that most cost in the $20 neighborhood that makes the F&F ever more impressive!
 
For my money, the best would have to be Schrade Cut Co. Also anything Old Timer related, before they went overseas.
Perry
 
singin50 said:
For my money, the best would have to be Schrade Cut Co. Also anything Old Timer related, before they went overseas.
Perry
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Same here, Perry. They're hard to beat for the money... and just hard to beat, period.

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Then there are also these from my EDC pile......

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I wish! :D
 
Jeff, you can't go wrong with any of the old knives that have been posted on this thread! They all represent a simpler time in America before we had TV, Computers, Video games, etc, when a pocketknife was an essential part of everyday life. That to me is what is so appealing about traditional knives and tho they go back to the "Old Country" as my grandma would refer to as Europe where she was born, I personally think American made knives from the late 1800's to the Great Depression where the best ever made.

Not many companies survived after the Depression and Case was another Company that survived and made great knives for many years.
 
MerryMadMonk, what is that hand cut barlow in the bottom right corner?
If I have to I will crop your photo tomorrow to show the exact one I am speaking of.
 
I have to agree. For a pure working knife, the US made Schrade Old Timers were simply awesome, and dirt cheap.

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One advantage of collecting Schrades (Schrade Cut. Co ~ 1904-46, Schrade Walden 1947-72, and Imperial Schrade 1972-2004) is the Schrade Collectors forum here at BF. You will not find a friendlier more dedicated and more knowledgeable group of knife collectors anywhere. Click on Manufacturers Forums and scroll to the very bottom to find the Schrade Collectors forum. Plus there is a 'Sticky' with every catalogue, company history, knife pictures, etc. The best Schrade reference anywhere.
kj
 
I wouldn't ignore Case testedXX era or older Remingtons (1920-30's) if came upon them. I find them VERY attractive and great users even after more than a decade.

for example
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Mike
 
rockgolfer said:
In my quest to start purchasing older knives I want to search out cutlers that are considered to be the best. Patterns are a secondary matter in this conversation and exquisite fit and finish is also on the back burner(the knives need to work properly but don't need to be best in class).

In your personal experience I would like to here any ones opinion on who they think had great steel? Who used thinner stock? Who has the best grind geometry for a pocket slicer? I know these brands can span a century or more so maybe specific tang stamps help you narrow it down? Please help this newbie learn who/what to look for :) Pictures are certainly welcome :thumbup:
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Hmmm.... Best for what?

People have different ideas about blades that make good "pocket slicers". Some considerations...

1) Carbon steel has varied in carbon content. Today 1095 is most common. Not sure it become standard but several companies still use steels with lower carbon content. Current Opinel Carbon is close to 1086. Condor (fixed blades) still uses 1075. As we go further back in history, my understanding of what is meant by "carbon steel" gets hazier and hazier.

2) Hardening has changed. 54 to 55 Rc used to be more common. Today 56 to 58 Rc is more common.

3) Grind preferences have changed. My sense is that back in the day, most pocket knives were flat ground (my pref). Today, there are more hollow ground knives and there are plenty of fans of them.

4) Stainless has evolved. Of course, if you're talking really old knives, you're probably not talking about stainless anyway.


I agree with others that I think Schrade-Walden and Schrade USA carbon steel is pretty special stuff. It's 1095 that is reportedly in the 58Rc range and it feels that way to me on the stone and in use. But a hard steel like that is a certain feel and may or may not be to your preference.

Schrade-Walden H-15 modified to drop point
Schrade H-15 Modified by Pinnah, on Flickr

Schrade (USA) 5OT
Shrade 5OT by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
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