The forgotten pattern

T. Erdelyi

T. Erdelyi

Joined
Feb 3, 2001
Messages
32,359
I remember when I was a kid and we'd go on family trips to the country, usually we'd stop at a rest area for a bathroom break and in the mens room there always hung on the wall two metal dispensers.

One with, (well when I was a kid let's just say my oldman always told me to never put my money in that one) and the other always had a variety of road trip necessities, plastic comb, aspirin, bird calls, black and white magnetic dogs and the thing I coveted the most.

A keyring knife made of a piece of folded over stainless steel with three blade inside one was a chisel ground sheepsfoot, and the other two, usually a file and screwdriver/caplifter combo, these some times even came with a leather cover and all came with a bead keychain.

Now in the 60s through the 80s these were pretty prominent, now not so much, on occasion I find a few at yard sales and flea markets, some with advertising on 'em.

I've seen a few varieties and a wide difference in quality, to date the best style I ever saw was a variation made by SOG called the "Attache".

I have a few so I'll post pics later, anyone know what I'm talkin' about?

Anyone have a collection of their own, can ya post a pic?

Can anyone tell me what the pattern is called?

Do ya remember the machines I'm talkin' 'bout, if ya do yer old too.:D
 
I have one of those. When my grandpa died in '77, he left it to me. I'll try to find it tomorrow and post it.
 
A file, a sheepsfoot, and a SAK-type bottle opener...that's pretty cool. Never seen one of these, but I look forward to your pic, sgbeskin.
 
I've seen some cheap modern versions. I still have mine from the old days, though. It says TRIM on each side, we called them the Trim Trio.
Used to carry them on a short bead chain with a nail clipper. Sometimes they sold them with the nail clipper. 2 3/8" overall, 1 1/4" blade.


trimtrio007.jpg


trimtrio002.jpg


trimtrio001.jpg


Terrible lighting in here but the first picture isn't bad. Couldn't resist the bottom one. :)
 
I remember those. Had a couple of them. You're right. Haven't seen one in years.
 
I used to carry it like a Utili-key on my keychain. Then one year when I was called to Jury Duty, they had instituted metal detectors without telling anyone beforehand. The officer at the desk told me to leave it home on following days, but didn't hassle me about keeping it.
 
The Trim Trio. My first knife, bought for me my my father, at the barber shop, where there was a cardboard display full of them.

2l9hz0l.jpg

4chrvj4.jpg



They're kind of a neat, economical design. Sort of like a simple Leatherman handle. Very common as swag with logos printed on the side back in the day. I have several. About the same size as a SAK Classic, and still pretty useful. There were a few variations. The older ones have a bottle opener blade, which was later revised with a screwdriver tip. I have one that has only a single knife blade. I've seen some that have a single tool containing a bottle opener and knife edge.

I have seen some Trio-like knives being sold, but they were poor quality. I believe Bassett still exists, but the Trim line is now imported.
 
I have a couple of those. Never seen them in a vending machine though - mine were advertising items.

This scan shows my two:

adknives.jpg


They're in terrible condition and I don't even bother cataloging them into the Accumulation.
 
I like the Burnett's Bank model. Even today, that would be a handy piece on a keychain.
 
shecky said:
The Trim Trio. My first knife, bought for me my my father, at the barber shop, where there was a cardboard display full of them.

2l9hz0l.jpg

4chrvj4.jpg



They're kind of a neat, economical design. Sort of like a simple Leatherman handle. Very common as swag with logos printed on the side back in the day. I have several. About the same size as a SAK Classic, and still pretty useful. There were a few variations. The older ones have a bottle opener blade, which was later revised with a screwdriver tip. I have one that has only a single knife blade. I've seen some that have a single tool containing a bottle opener and knife edge.

I have seen some Trio-like knives being sold, but they were poor quality. I believe Bassett still exists, but the Trim line is now imported.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Yeah, the barber shop was where I remember seeing those. I never had one though.

Thanks for bring back some memories of Saturday trips into town!

dalee
 
I bet I still have one or two of those somewhere in a box downstairs. My dad used to bring 'em home all the time.
 
I had those too! Used to sharpen them to a shine! Man, the memories... don't even know where they'd be anymore.
 
Wow I remember my dad keeping one of those in medicine chest before we moved out to the suburban life.
 
My first and second knives were like these. My second knife was a trio and I don't know where or when I lost it. But my first, I'll never forget.
I was about ten years old, in the fourth grade. My best friend told me he brought me something. At the end of the day, in his open palm was little stainless single blade knife like in the post above. Its single blade was a screwdriver tip/bottle opener/flat edge knife blade. That's where it all started. My father gave me his whetstone the same day and I went to work. The knife went with me everywhere. 'Till one day, on the playground my best friend and I showed our knives to the wrong kids. They ran off and told the teachers who promptly came over and told us to give them up or they would search us and take them. We gave them over. It was a sad day. Thanks for the post, though. I haven't seen one in fifteen years.
 
Had one with the leather cover, let's say about 25 years ago as a 10 year old. Mine was also confiscated but an overeacting adult. :(
 
I remember those vending machines,they had a Gold flashlight with a keychain in them I always wanted too.
 
I remember those. I never saw one that would cut anything, and the "file" was worthless, too.
 
Man-O-man,
I knew I had at least one of these. Looked in several spots, but yes I did and here it is...........300Bucks

Liter, USA
Knife.jpg
 
Got one of the trims on my keychain right now. Dang thang will rust up at the pivot though, got to keep it oiled all the time to be able to open it!
 
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