Waterville Cutlery Co. Easy Opener

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Blues

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I posted a question about this recently acquired knife in Bernard Levine's forum but thought I'd share the pix for anyone interested in older knives.

Waterville Cutlery Co. was in operation from 1843 to 1913 according to Levine's Guide (4th edition)

This knife has wood scales, a very thick master blade which tapers greatly at the swedge and half stops.

If anyone knows anything about the knife or the company, please feel free to chime in.

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Great Knife..brings back childhood memories
Here is another made by Remington and a cap to boot.
Looking forward to hearing what the experts have to say
 
Nice Remington. My only Remington is an original R1123 I was fortunate to pick up several years ago for a song.
 
That my friend is my Favorite...you are a lucky man. Can you post a pic?
 
Rather than change topics in this thread, JpN, perhaps you wouldn't mind clicking on the link below my signature? That'll take you to my knife photo album.

Click on the Factory/Semi-Custom album and scroll down the page. There are a few shots of the R1123 in there.

If you can't find it, let me know and I'll find the link myself.
 
Waterville Cutlery was located on the Naugatuck River in the Waterville section of Waterbury Ct. This was a heavily industrialized area at the time, with many factories utilizing the river as a power source for machines. There are still many bits and pieces of the old factories left along the river, including a couple small dams and granite waterway for a waterwheel. A couple of the old factories are still standing in part also. The shop was not far from the site of the Chase Brass works. There were a number of cutlery shops in that area along the river, Waterville being one of the larger firms. Waterbury Knife Co was nearby, and Thomaston Knife Co wasn't too far away to the north, as was Northfield Knife Co. The Naugatuck Knife Co was a couple miles to the south.
As far as the company goes, it went through 3 or 4 iterations over the years from the mid 1800s to about 1913. It was founded in 1843, went bankrupt and was sold several times. In 1847 the new owners started Waterville Manufacturing Co with about 50 employees brought from the cutlery shops of Sheffield England. This lasted about 7 years, when there were some problems and the company was forced to close. The company was brought back some 5 or so years later as Waterville Cutlery, part of the firm of Sprague and Boyden.(Theres still streets there with those names) In 1890, the company was again sold, and it lasted until 1913 when it was placed in receivership. New owners from the midwest bought everything and moved the cutlery operation several miles away to Hotchkissville.
 
Thank you for that outstanding information.

Do you have any knowledge of whether the tang stamps were changed over the various periods?

The tang stamp on these blades has the name "WATERVILLE" in caps in an upside down "U" shape with "Co" (or so it appears to me) below and between the legs of the inverted "U".

Once again, thanks much for the education. Greatly appreciated.
 
As I understand it, the stamp you describe was used in the latter half of the 19th century, in the period from about 1865 to 1890. Thats when the majority of the Waterville knives were made and its the most commonly found stamp.
 
I am in your debt. I hope I can return the favor.
 
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