Utica knives?

[smcclown05]

Just noticed some Utica slippies in a few places online. US made with 1095. They look nice and the price is certainly right. What do you all think of Utica knives? How is the quality?

 

[johnny1950]

I bought the catskill stockman model and truthfully I've never seen a more porrly made knife. Not only was it badly fitted, but only one blade of the three was actually carbon, and the other two were cheap stainless!
I tossed it finally rather than pass such a thing on. In my opinion the folks at Utica should be ashamed to use the phrase "made in U.S.A." (the reason I bought it)

 

[knarfeng]

I bought a Utica 3 7/8" Big Pine Stockman this last December. I used it as my daily pocket knife when I was home from work over the holidays and have been carrying it on weekends and evenings since going back to work.

I'm not sure what Johnny got, all three of my blades are 1095. I find the knife quite acceptable.

• The fit and finish is as good as or better than some of the Queens and Cases that I have. There were a couple of minor gaps between the springs. I had to squint to see them, but they were not perfect. The springs were all exactly even in both the opened and closed positions. The scales were nicely finished and the rivets were all completely sunk in the holes. No sharp edges on the scales around the holes. No gaps between the scales and bolsters or between the scales and the frame.
• The edges needed some work, but not as much work as a Queen.
• There was some grit in the joints when I got it. I flushed them out and lubed it up. Once I did that the spring strength on the main blade was about equal to that of the average SAK (call it a 5 out of 10). The two smaller blades were a bit softer (maybe a 4). But all the blades still have a satisfying snap as they open or close.

I also have a Barlow. The fit and finish on that one is also acceptable, but the springs are overly soft (call em a 1.5)

The Utica Stockman that I have is well made for an EDC, but I think those who are used to GEC fit and finish would be unhappy. It more than matches the build quality of the knives I grew up using. If I can borrow a phrase that Waynorth used in describing Schrade knives, I find this knife to be an "inexpensive but very serviceable pocket knife."

 

[whetrock]

I'd rank the newer Utica knives somewhere between Bear and Case as far as overall quality goes. I feel for the money they offer a functional and serviceable knife that would be at home in a knife user's pocket I really am glad to see Utica back and still in the USA.

 

[johnny1950]

Well gentlemen, it sounds like you had better luck than me. The knife I bought was the Utica-kutmaster Catskill stockman, and it was bought at th largest retailer of mid-range knives (a company I still trust). I sought out two criterea; one, that it be made in the U.S., and the other that the blades be carbon steel. To give a little more detiail on this knife" the bolsters were shaped very poorly and unbalanced. One blade was so badly fitted that under pressure of a cut it "fell back and forth" a good three to five degrees. As I stated, the worst was the blade material itself, where only the main blade was carbon, and the others stainless. Incidently I spent thirty years in the scrap business until retiring twenty years ago, and I know my steels. These two blades were junk. If Utica has done a turnaround since offing this batch, then good. I'm not one who looks for perfection, but this knife wasn't even tolerable for field work.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

There also lots of cheap Kutmaster/Utica users out there that were well made. They are sitting at gun shows, flea markets etc. I see a lot of them, Colonials and Kamp Kings out here.

 

[smcclown05]

Thanks for all the info guys. I thought they looked too good to be true. I need to save my money anyway if I'm every gonna get my hands on a Swayback Jack

 

[oilburner]

Since they are only 6 or 7 miles away, I e-mailed them, wondering which knives are still made in the factory in Utica, and the possibilities of a tour for a collector of knives, with plenty old Uticas in my collection. 4 tries and nothing. I don't think they are actually made in Utica as they're web site would lead you to believe, as the paper made a big deal about them closing it down and moving it over seas a few years back, but never did a story on them picking up production their again. I will just collect the old ones i guess, unless someone answers me back and proves me wrong. Not impressed by what I have heard and what i have not heard.

 

[knarfeng]

Since they are only 6 or 7 miles away, I e-mailed them, wondering which knives are still made in the factory in Utica, and the possibilities of a tour for a collector of knives, with plenty old Uticas in my collection. 4 tries and nothing. I don't think they are actually made in Utica as they're web site would lead you to believe, as the paper made a big deal about them closing it down and moving it over seas a few years back, but never did a story on them picking up production their again. I will just collect the old ones i guess, unless someone answers me back and proves me wrong. Not impressed by what I have heard and what i have not heard.

I know a lot of old-line production companies don't do well at answering email. If you go into Google maps street view and move around the area around their address, the factory can be plainly seen at what looks to be the corner of Wheeler Avenue and Noyes Street.

Since they are so close to you, I would be interested if you ever have a chance to go to their shop and see for real.
Kutmaster
820 Noyes Street
Utica, NY 13503
Tel: 800-888-4223


My two Utica Knives are both plainly marked "USA". That could not be if they were not made in the US.

 

[Peregrin]

I know a lot of old-line production companies don't do well at answering email. If you go into Google maps street view and move around the area around their address, the factory can be plainly seen at what looks to be the corner of Wheeler Avenue and Noyes Street.

Since they are so close to you, I would be interested if you ever have a chance to go to their shop and see for real.
Kutmaster
820 Noyes Street
Utica, NY 13503
Tel: 800-888-4223


My two Utica Knives are both plainly marked "USA". That could not be if they were not made in the US.

I'm only an hour west of Utica and have some family there. I might take a ride out that way and see what I can find out. I'm curious if they are manufacturing there myself.

I'd sure like to see them making knives at the Noyes Street factory.

 

[Bob W]

I did the Google Maps thing, and there is Street View data for the area. The drive-by shows a very large building with "Utica Cutlery" on the front, and at least a dozen cars in the parking lot.

Sorry to hear the results of their efforts aren't more worthy.

 

[knarfeng]

I did the Google Maps thing, and there is Street View data for the area. The drive-by shows a very large building with "Utica Cutlery" on the front, and at least a dozen cars in the parking lot.

Sorry to hear the results of their efforts aren't more worthy.

I dunno. A good user is worthy to me. I consider my stockman to be a carbon steel 301.

 

[Bob W]

I dunno. A good user is worthy to me. I consider my stockman to be a carbon steel 301.

I might give them a try, if I see them in person somewhere. Otherwise, I'll be watching and waiting for better and more consistent reviews. :thumbup:

 

[oilburner]

Oh yea, the factory is still there, the lights are still on, but at the time the paper was reporting on it they were no longer making cutlery there. When i was a kid in jr high and high school they had a small store front you could actually go in and buy stuff. But on they're website they have a list of local places to buy the knives and they say nothing about they're own place. I'll tell you what, work is slow for me right now, i'll probably be out of work by before the end of the week. When I am, I'll go there in person, take a pic of the factory and see where the front door gets me. Then I'll fallow up in this thread. Just hang on a couple days and we'll see what happens.

 

[mqqn]

Hi folks -

Utica is the make of the Caterpillar branded knives that are offered through Norscot.

They offer many that are made offshore, and a few that indicate that they are made in USA.

I think it is fair to say that they are made well enough for the price point, most being inexpensive knives.

One of my buddies bought a small lockback (about Buck 425 size) that has wood inlays. The blade just says stainless if I remember correctly. Fit and finish is acceptable, and it looks like a serviceable knife.

I don't think a real knife fanatic will be as excited about them, but they are not going to fall apart with use.

I have not chosen to buy one recently.

15 years ago Cat offered a limited edition series of lockback knives that were the size of a Buck 110 and similar in style.

Those were made by Kutmaster. I have three of these knives and they all seem to be nicely made, but they were upwards of $80 when purchased.

Here is one picture - I need to get these out and take some better pictures of them.

best regards -

mqqn

 

[silenthunterstudios]

I believe that Knife World did an article on them in the past year or so. I'll look through my back issues and see if it's still in there.

 

[smcclown05]

I know that the ones I was looking at online all said Made in USA. Didn't indicate where though.