SEARS KNIFE WORLD

echoscout · May 15, 2023

When I got this knife years ago I had no idea what I had. Has a FORGED over U.S.A. tang stamp. Looking at the knife all I could read about it was a Sears knife. Since it was in such bad shape I set it aside and worked on it over the years. What really threw me off was the big sheepfoot and spey blades. Then last night when Duncan posted the Sears catalog page there it was. First line first pic. The Heavy Duty. If my understanding is correct it's a Ulster made knife for Sears. Thanks Duncan for helping me identify this knife after all these years. :thumbsup:

waynorth · May 15, 2023

echoscout said:
First line first pic. The Heavy Duty. If my understanding is correct it's a Ulster made knife for Sears. Thanks Duncan for helping me identify this knife after all these years.

Nice knife, echo!! Looks like you saved it from ignominy!!!

Found another Craftsman, Duncan!! Nice shield, still etched, and a long screwdriver and spiral punch!!! Obviously Ka-MILL-us

!!!
Pre-war can opener, I believe!!

Campbellclanman · May 15, 2023

meako said:
Cheers Dunk..yes I am.
Sadly the etch on that blade is all but worn away..but old pics showed it up...As for Buckhorn/Staglon...dont forget the sunscreen.
I have a good old UH stockperson that was quite obviously left on a shelf for years...its almost as new on one side but very badly faded on the tanned side..so not 'indestructible'...With that in mind I wonder if the makers of these beaut knives moved away from natural materials for economic reasons....likely....Or ..like my Grandad fell for the "new so it must be better" idea....? The most notable thing about that... is how we have arrived back at bone ,wood,antler and most notably mammoth ivory as the primo scale materials of today. Dont get me wrong..I love a nice bit of Delrin but ironically that seems to have been replaced by micarta type materials and modern acrylics...
Which opens up the question...Is anyone doing artificial antler anymore? Closest I get is "stag bone" which is carved bone...
Apologies for the sidetrack.
Cheers.

Great to hear all is good Meako,
Your right we have done that turn around back to the nice natural materials, your probably bang on about the new wonder age materials, the newer materials would have been cheaper easier and quicker to bang out the door too I am thinking that way that factory was producing Knives!

waynorth · May 15, 2023

Wilbert Cutlery Co, made for Sears! An unusual Harness Jack, Canoe pattern knife, celluloid handles!!! I don't think celluloid was used for economy back then, Duncan and Meako, but because it was eye-catching!!!

waynorth · May 15, 2023

More Wilberts!!

Campbellclanman · May 15, 2023

Nice Kwik Kut David- good to see a survivor ! although they were the the cost effective line its good to have that knife i hand and then find it in those catalogs!
As you did with that wonderful Ulster 4 bladed example!

Wow- Charlie, that is Gorgeous, I think that Bone is so striking!

I haven't given up on your smaller Knife, I am betting - only from what I have seen that your smaller yet unidentified knife is in the earlier '40's, I nearly started searching for it again later last night but I had to retire early to get up very early to leave early on a long drive to a workshop, I shouldn't be on here lol, I will continue later at different times with that wee Knife Charlie, if its not in tha catalogs or in some form of Sears Advertising - we may not find out exactly just when it came out but I think we are safe in saying the first half of the 40's ( imo).

As I am typing a message pops up and tells me there more post to view before I end this one-

Oh Man... Charlie the big hitter stuff is coming out, I may remember when you got that Cell Wilbert a few years back? Darn thats gorgeous, and those others!!!!! Just amazing - I am going to come back quite often to view these - thank you as they are stunning Charlie.

Thank you for the clarification on the Celluloid - as dangerous as we are finding some of it now-a-days, darn it's pretty!

echoscout · May 15, 2023

waynorth said:
Nice knife, echo!! Looks like you saved it from ignominy!!!

Found another Craftsman, Duncan!! Nice shield, still etched, and a long screwdriver and spiral punch!!! Obviously Ka-MILL-us!!!
Pre-war can opener, I believe!!
View attachment 2186516 View attachment 2186517

Thank you Charlie. Nice Scout knife!

waynorth said:
More Wilberts!!View attachment 2186549 View attachment 2186550

Those top two Saddlehorns are stunning! :thumbsup:

Campbellclanman said:
Nice Kwik Kut David- good to see a survivor ! although they were the the cost effective line its good to have that knife i hand and then find it in those catalogs!
As you did with that wonderful Ulster 4 bladed example!

Thank you Duncan! :thumbsup:

Rookie82 · May 15, 2023

I gotta say I'm enjoying this thread, as the Sears catalog of knives from 1890's up through 1970's is quite extensive and confusing to me. I like to know who made what, and when. I'm hoping I can learn a lot from what gets posted in here. Thanks to you all!

meako · May 15, 2023

Knew I had another one somewhere..

black mamba · May 15, 2023

A pair of Camillus built Craftsmans from the late 1970s in black sawcut Delrin with brass shield and bolsters.

black mamba · May 15, 2023

And also a pair of Ulster Craftsmans. A four inch stockman with Bonite handles from 1959 (I love this knife!).

And a mid 1970s Heavy Skinner (9.5" OAL) in Staglon and 1095. Like a guardless version of the Schrade 165OT.

Campbellclanman · May 16, 2023

Thank you for sharing these Knives, I could almost guarantee everyone has a Sears somewhere lol - man to stand in Albert Baer's Factory and watch it go as Imperial Knife Associated Co, man the churning out of mass Knives must have been a sight to see!

I just got home a short while ago and stared again at those Wilbert's, Phew!

Great to see you found another Meako!, this may not stop - check the couch

Jeff, your killing it, I love that sheath Knife caught my attention immediately my friend - wow!

The ACA came out around mid 70's, Schrade was reining then big time for Sears.
This guy shown below I think is really cool- and I am wondering why I love it so much?

I think I too am a victim of the Sears Marketing machine with Sears calling this release that began in 1968 as " The Finest Pocket Knife in all Sears History" - now as we have seen everyone sharing their Knives we think this may not be the case- it is a Saw-Cut Black Delrin Handle with attractive Etching. This later Sears Catalog page with the Picture that isn't too bad in comparison of the poor quality illustrated Catalog pages, such a shame from what was some of the best Catalog pages in the World!
Anyhow here is that simple Stockman and the start of the American Eagle Brand for Sears.

.....

Campbellclanman · May 16, 2023

We were talking previously about the Sta-Sharp S.R Co Tang stamp, and i couldnt find the Photo - here it is here.

Featured in the 1930's, I picked up a 1936 Catalog which shows the Black stag Jack, but does not show the Horn Whittler in this page, where in another 1930's Catalog page- either previous or after the half page I have shows the Sleeveboard Horn Whittler and the Black stag Jack together - both share this Tang Stamp, these will be shown a bit later, but here is that tang Stamp...

Charlie came in with those wonderful Wilbert examples, this Wilbert is nothing like Charlies, but I find it intriguing, I have magnified the Blade- studied the Knife carefully and I am sure this Knife had never had a edge from factory- perhaps something happened just before hand- but we have seen on the rare occasion a knife pop up- on stunning example was a Barlow that our friend Augie has that was never completed from factory- THAT one is rare, mine not so.

The Wilbert Tang Stamp is as it should be, the font perfect - just look at that Tip!

Adam5 · May 16, 2023

black mamba said:
A pair of Camillus built Craftsmans from the late 1970s in black sawcut Delrin with brass shield and bolsters.

Those two Camillus' look sharp - in more than one way :thumbsup:

black mamba · May 16, 2023

Thanks, Adam5. My school colors in both high school and college were black and gold, so a special importance to me!

waynorth · May 16, 2023

Campbellclanman said:
We were talking previously about the Sta-Sharp S.R Co Tang stamp, and i couldnt find the Photo - here it is here.

Featured in the 1930's, I picked up a 1936 Catalog which shows the Black stag Jack, but does not show the Horn Whittler in this page, where in another 1930's Catalog page- either previous or after the half page I have shows the Sleeveboard Horn Whittler and the Black stag Jack together - both share this Tang Stamp, these will be shown a bit later, but here is that tang Stamp...

Charlie came in with those wonderful Wilbert examples, this Wilbert is nothing like Charlies, but I find it intriguing, I have magnified the Blade- studied the Knife carefully and I am sure this Knife had never had a edge from factory- perhaps something happened just before hand- but we have seen on the rare occasion a knife pop up- on stunning example was a Barlow that our friend Augie has that was never completed from factory- THAT one is rare, mine not so.

The Wilbert Tang Stamp is as it should be, the font perfect - just look at that Tip!

Wonderful pruner, Duncan!!

danno50 · May 16, 2023

Great thread, Duncan. I have only one Craftsman knife. A later cattle knife with the black plastic handles.

Charlie,

waynorth , I have an old Boker canoe that is a dead ringer to your Wilbert celluloid harness jack. Slanted, ringed and pinched bolsters with a round end bar shield and a long pull spear blade. Not a harness jack though.

waynorth · May 16, 2023

danno50 said:
Charlie, waynorth , I have an old Boker canoe that is a dead ringer to your Wilbert celluloid harness jack. Slanted, ringed and pinched bolsters with a round end bar shield and a long pull spear blade. Not a harness jack though.

I wonder which company was the contractor??

danno50 · May 16, 2023

waynorth said:
I wonder which company was the contractor??

Good question. Sent you a PM.

chevyrulez1 · May 16, 2023

Here is an old Craftsman that was given to me by a dear friend I used to work with, sometime in the early 90's. I carried it every day at work for years, and while it has been sharpened a lot the wear on the blade is not as bad as it would appear at first glance because it originally had a long slender blade to start with. He passed away a few years ago, and this knife is retired from use but I think of him when I see it.
Pretty sure it was made by Imperial because I have seen some Imoerial branded knives that look almost identical