Ultimate Challenge

[KnifeHead]

The origins of the Challenge Cutlery Company date back to Sheffield, England. The “Challenge” trademark was made official 1867. In 1899, the owners purchased the old Hatch Cutlery Company of Bridgeport, CT and moved into the former Hatch factory. They made pocket knives and straight razors and eventually ceased production in 1928.

Here is a great old knife. It's a 4.5" Challenge Cutlery Company 6 blade Congress. It has spear, sheeps foot, cigar box opener, punch, pen, and manicure blades. This knife works good and is well made and has stood up to moderate use. The bone handle material is very thin and still fits like a glove.

The Bose Congress is patterned off of the Challenge Congress.

BTW...this would be a good place to post your old Challenge Cutlery Co. knives, don't ya think

 

[smiling-knife]

That's a beautiful old knife Kerry. Nice history lesson too. Thanks. Looking forward to seeing other Challenge Cutlery knives.

 

[Rivit]

I love the cigar box opener. This is the first thread asking for pictures of old knives where I don't have a single one to offer. I am going to have to remedy this immediately.

 

[Don Hanson III]

I do love those old carbon steel slips. That looks like a very nice one, Kerry.

 

[ea42]

Nice congress Kerry, a six blade no less! Here's a barehead jack in lightly used condition:

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Eric

 

[smiling-knife]

Another great knife ea42. Thanks. I'm really liking this Challenge thread. Keep them coming please.

 

[waynorth]

Well what did you expect from old Charlie??

 

[waynorth]

Here's a page from a 1912 catalog someone sent me, showing Challenge knives with punches.

 

[ea42]

Nice example Charlie! Love that pocket worn bone!

Eric

 

[waynorth]

I meant to mention your jack, Eric, but my phone has been ringing like a fire alarm today, and obviously distracted me! Great piece; I seem to remember you winning that one on the Bay, no?
It's in perfect connoiseur condition! Honest patina, barely used, classic form jack pattern; it's nearly as good as se.......(don't go there Charlie!) ummm, steak, yeah that's it, steak, one inch thick, medium rare, NY strip!!
I see your shield in the catalog page, and the handle pattern probably, but plain bolsters. Yummy!

 

[RandyW]

WOW!! Great old knives..Thanks for posting the pics.

R

 

[waynorth]

Here's another Challenge HJ, in great shape considering it had a mishap with a buffer (sigh). Note the damage to the swedges, and the loss of texture inside the punch! But it's nice and shiney:barf:!

 

[Ryan8]

Waynorth, that's called "Ebay mint condition". Nice knife.

 

[CapCase]

I picked this one up in Missouri a couple years ago.

 

[KnifeHead]

Wow! Some nice old Challenge knives being shown here. Let's bump it and troll for more.

 

[ea42]

Charlie, that's still a nice knife all the same. I've been known to pick up a polished knife more than a time or two. As long as there hasn't been too much taken off the original grinds I don't have too much of a problem with it (although I prefer them to be left alone). Are the handles original? they're in great shape for it's age. Looking at them I wonder if it was really necessary to do all that polishing.

CapCase, That's a nice one!

Eric

 

[waynorth]

I wonder about the handles too Eric! Tony B. questioned them as well. It could be a rehandle?? I'll have to chicken eye the insides, and see what's up.

 

[lambertiana]

OK, guys, here goes my first attempt to post pictures on BF. I have four Challenge knives.

The punch on the cattle knife is an Alvord punch. And the shield on the first two is distinctive - I have only seen it on Challenge knives. Has anyone seen it on anything else (besides contract brands that may have been made by Challenge)?

 

[waynorth]

Nice group, lambertiana! The jacks are in especially nice condition. And good job on posting pics!! Now we'll hopefully see more of your collection!
I haven't seen that shield exactly, except on Challenge, but now I'll keep looking.

 

[lambertiana]

And that ebony barehead jack has killer backsprings. Maybe the strongest in my collection.

On the cattle knife with the punch, the sheepsfoot blade has a lot of sharpening, and the handle has been repaired. But the main blade appears to be unsharpened, with the etch still faintly visible.