Olsen Knife Engraved with Westervelt Lodge

sharpetoys

sharpetoys

Joined
Oct 31, 2004
Messages
315
As some of you know my dad passed away last year and I inherited a rather large and eclectic knife collection. I have spent the last 8 months sorting and cataloging and identifying everything.

My dad liked the best of the best. He didn't scrimp on anything and hated fakes or knock offs. He only purchased things that were expensive, or had good quality or had a good story behind it.

Well that has to be the case with this knife and it is eating at me what that story may be. I am posting pics in hopes someone may know. Maybe you saw it listed here before or maybe it was on ebay. My dad was born in Alaska but was a military brat and moved to Mobile, Alabama when he was a week old, Westervelt Lodge is a hunting lodge in Alabama. My dad loved to hunt. So maybe that is why he bought it.

I am just wodering if anyone has any info on this knife. Also what model of Olsen? And the green oxidation? Should I clean it? What do I use?
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I can't give much information on this.
I will preface this advice by saying that cleaning it may in fact reduce the value if its collectible. Not a problem if you want to use it, obviously, or if you want it to be shiny.

Having said that.
Verdigris is pretty easy to remove with a decent metal polish, I've even done it with autosol with reasonable results.
You can also take it off with a light abrasive but then you'll have to replies and buff it back to a shine.
You can put it onto a buffer with a little rouge and that will take it off as well.
Basically you can get it off with chemical or abrasive means.
 
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I don't know anything about Olsen knives, but that looks like a good skinning knife to me. If you like it, maybe consider using it. But based on the verdigris I would guess that it probably spent most of its time on or in the sheath.
 
That's definitely an original Olsen, hand made in Howard City, Michigan. I'm not too sure on model numbers but if I were to guess I'd say it might be model 500 and likely made some time between 1950 and the late 1960's. I'd definitely clean that verdigris off, in time it will just eat into the brass. use a soft rag and a polish such as Brasso or Simichrome, work it in good and then polish it off with a clean rag, it won't harm the knife's value since verdigris is nasty stuff, not like the old blade patina's that you wouldn't want to touch. Once it's polished DON'T store it in the sheath anymore, the acids in the leather are what's causing the problem.

Eric
 
ea42 said:
That's definitely an original Olsen, hand made in Howard City, Michigan. I'm not too sure on model numbers but if I were to guess I'd say it might be model 500 and likely made some time between 1950 and the late 1960's. I'd definitely clean that verdigris off, in time it will just eat into the brass. use a soft rag and a polish such as Brasso or Simichrome, work it in good and then polish it off with a clean rag, it won't harm the knife's value since verdigris is nasty stuff, not like the old blade patina's that you wouldn't want to touch. Once it's polished DON'T store it in the sheath anymore, the acids in the leather are what's causing the problem.

Eric
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Thanks for the info. Only two of the 500 plus knives have the verdigris. This one and a Rigid knife.
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I've been a knife knut for most of my 60 years, and I have one Howard City Olsen OK. They tend to be very expensive (by my lights) even when worn down to nothing.

Does Westervelt Lodge still exist to be asked about this knife?
 
Yes they do. I haven't contacted them though.. they are a hunting lodge. I guess I just figured everybody there would be new and not know anything but I guess I should.
 
scrteened porch said:
I've been a knife knut for most of my 60 years, and I have one Howard City Olsen OK. They tend to be very expensive (by my lights) even when worn down to nothing.

Does Westervelt Lodge still exist to be asked about this knife?
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The manager there has been with the company since 1991 . I just sent him this email:

Steve,

My dad, Roger, passed away last year and I inherited a vast knife collection. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. I’m not sure if he ever stayed at your lodge, however, he does have a knife manufactured by Olsen company from the 1950s or 60s, from what I’ve been told. The handle is engraved Westervelt Lodge. Ever since he passed it’s been bugging me as to why he had this knife. If you knew my dad, he had great taste and loved the best of the best. He would only buy something if it was expensive or sentimental and had a meaning behind it.

He was born in Alaska and moved to Alabama as an infant and loved hunting so that could simply be the meaning but I honestly think there’s another story behind it.

Do you know if the lodge ever gave out knives as “prizes” or did the lodge have a relationship with Olsen knife? I have pictures I will send but I will do it in another email so hopefully doesn't go to spam.

Thank you for your time.I look forward to your response.
Kimberly
 
Please forgive me if this sways from the op's original question/topic, I thought it may be interesting because this Knife is an Olsen.
I bought this brand new Olsen for a play with really, I kind of like fixing these types of Knives if the opportunity comes up, now for some reason that I just dont know- this Olsen was radically tipped-I couldnt imagine someone doing this intentionally to a knife like this - so I am thinking it was dropped on its tip- and the previous owner thought - what else can I do- I have no other theory....
Before shots....

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I always try to loose as little blade as possible- always, if this means slightly lowering the Spine to bring the tip down slightly- rather than going back an extra 10mm - then so be it- I use a 320g Disc on my Linisher and slowly take my time- no heat at all on the blade as I always have bare hands to ensure I am gauging how hot/ warm the Blade is getting.
This one- because the damage was so severe turned out ok- put a nice edge on her - and I feel that this Olsen is back to being a respectable knife again.

Great Knife this one- Hollow Ground very much like the Cut Throats of yesteryear.

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Campbellclanman Campbellclanman I've recently become acquainted with Lee Olsen's work but it's not easy finding originals either in good condition or priced right. That one's a find Duncan.
 
Beautiful job on that one Duncan! Looked like a putty knife before, you really brought that one back to life.

Eric
 
sharpetoys said:
As some of you know my dad passed away last year and I inherited a rather large and eclectic knife collection. I have spent the last 8 months sorting and cataloging and identifying everything.

My dad liked the best of the best. He didn't scrimp on anything and hated fakes or knock offs. He only purchased things that were expensive, or had good quality or had a good story behind it.

Well that has to be the case with this knife and it is eating at me what that story may be. I am posting pics in hopes someone may know. Maybe you saw it listed here before or maybe it was on ebay. My dad was born in Alaska but was a military brat and moved to Mobile, Alabama when he was a week old, Westervelt Lodge is a hunting lodge in Alabama. My dad loved to hunt. So maybe that is why he bought it.

I am just wodering if anyone has any info on this knife. Also what model of Olsen? And the green oxidation? Should I clean it? What do I use?
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Hello, I am new to this forum. Your knife is a 507 drop point made between 1972 and 1985
 
"Your knife is a 507 drop point made between 1972 and 1985"

I'm very interested in how that date range was determined (so I can be more accurate for my own collection)

I've been collecting these for a few years now and still struggle with figuring the years made.

On this (Trophy Line) design of Olsen knives I have the following "groupings" in my collection. I've only been able to verify some dates by the few brochures w/ dated price lists I've come across. Also, two letter state abbreviations started use in 1963 which is what founded my guesstimate for the MICH stamp discontinuation.

Any further insight is welcome and appreciated.


Tang Stamps as follows:

(1950-1962?)
LEE JR
H.C., MICH

(1962-1963?)
OLSEN
H.C., MICH

(1963-????) At least 1975 as I have the price list for that year.
OLSEN OK
H.C., MI.
 
@Ashoka,hello everything I've been told or came a cross tells me that Olsen never made fixed blade hunting knives until the early to mid 60's. From 1950 until this time they mainly made kitchen cutlery, butchering and tree pruning knives. Lee Olsen Sr wife's family owned the Aerial knife company and gave Olsen's their first machinery to make hunting knives. The Lee Jr and Olsen stamping were made during the same period. Early 60's to 1971. Olsen OK stamped knives were made from 1972 when Lee Jr took over the company and changed the logo until 1982. Olsen sold the company in 1982 with the Olsen Knife Company with a banner stamp. And these knives were made until 1985. They also assembled and sold some Olsen OK from leftover blanks during this short time. With that being said it doesn't mean Olsen didn't assembled some Lee jr or Olsen stamped knives with old inventory in the later years while they owned the company . If you have any paperwork that shows otherwise I would love to see it. Thanks Brian
 
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