What are some less-known, high quality traditional brands?

Joined
Oct 23, 2006
Messages
2,232
I recently got an old Ulster Knife Co. teardrop jack in rough shape, but I'm very impressed with the quality. What are some other good old brands that aren't well known?
 
That is the same search I have been on lately... [My opinion] We are really down to Case and GEC in the U.S. Buck does still have a handful but folks are not crazy about the 420HC these days. Ulster, Queen, and Bear have what I would call economy class knives today. With the dwindling away of traditional makers over the last 15 years, it has forced me (as a dealer) to look hard for that niche of nice traditional patterns made by a country friendly to the U.S.
 
Mike, have you looked at the Tuna Valley knives? I believe they are sold by the Daniels exclusively, I'm not sure how much of a return you would get on them, but for personal collection, they are pretty well made. Nicest scout knife I have seen, I got one with red stag, 154CM, best scout knife I have seen, and I have a nice little collection of Remington (30s and Camillus), Camillus, Made in USA (Camillus made), Schrade, Imperial and Belknap (maybe a few others). I carry it every day, works pretty well on Coney Island root beer bottles ;).

I would say that Case identifies with an economy knife. Their Tony Bose line, both the annuals and the SS/CV models, obviously have a much higher quality. They seem to devote more time to their CV models, their main line SS models seem to be just for display, at least the models I've picked over at hardware stores that were phasing them out in favor of Frost etc.

Victorinox and Opinel can be found in most pockets the world over, Opinel more so outside the US I imagine. There is an outfitter on the Susquehanna river in PA that sells Opinels. Most of the people using them will only use them for that trip, and toss the knife in their car/boat etc and forget about it. Swiss Army Knives are sold and used all over. My cousin went to Alaska and South America when he was a kid, all he had was a SAK. I found one for my little brother to give to him for fathers day or his birthday, my cousin is my little brothers Godfather.

Other than the Swiss Bianco alox versions of various models, I haven't seen any collectible SAKs out there. Maybe old Wengers.

If the OP's original question was about various knife brands out there, whew, that's a whole can of worms. Pick up a copy of Blades Guide to Knives, look at all the brands out there. The best of the US have to be Cattaraugus, Remington and old Case XX knives from the 1940s and earlier.
 
Without going into much detail, from the late 17th century to the mid 20th century, there are tons of factories out there to choose from. For carry, look at the early 20th century to present. But, old Remington, Cattaraugus and Case are probably the most collected factory knives out there.
 
Some of the very well known names coming up as "less known" is maybe a sign of our times. I suppose all old knives are less known now. A book like Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values 4th Edition would answer most questions.

When buying old knives, condition is definitely going to be the most important factor. Lots of old knives have been used up. There are also lots of fakes and reworks. And a large majority of them have been buffed until they look like half melted ice cubes. Look at lots of good examples (there are far more bad examples than good examples) so that you know how to differentiate legitimate old knives from fakes and reworks and buffed knives. Learn to identify crocus and glaze finishes. Look at old catalogs. And ask specific questions in Levine's ID forum or here in the Traditionals section.

Some WELL KNOWN high quality manufacturers of old knives that come to mind are Winchester/EC Simmons, Miller Bros, etc. Generalizations can be misleading. Looking only at brand name would be a mistake. One of the many reasons that it is a mistake is that names changed hands. As one example, New York Knife Company's Hammer Brand is completely different than Imperial's Hammer Brand. The biggest reason to look further than the brand is that there are a LOT of fakes and reworks. Also, even a well made old knife can become a junker after 60-100 years of use. Probably the simplest thing to do is to look for old knives that are in good condition. That will narrow things down a LOT!

Here's another nice old Ulster.

 
Last edited:
Mike, I like that you're carrying Opinel now. I have so many of them that I haven't taken advantage of it though. Victorinox is the one that comes to mind that you're missing. I already have more than I need but that may be a good one to pick up for the store. I don't know the details. I don't know about their volume requirements. There are a LOT of Victorinox dealers but I'm pretty sure they have a MAP.
 
Some of the very well known names coming up as "less known" is maybe a sign of our times. I suppose all old knives are less known now. A book like Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values 4th Edition would answer most questions.

When buying old knives, condition is definitely going to be the most important factor. Lots of old knives have been used up. There are also lots of fakes and reworks. And a large majority of them have been buffed until they look like half melted ice cubes. Look at lots of good examples (there are far more bad examples than good examples) so that you know how to differentiate legitimate old knives from fakes and reworks and buffed knives. Learn to identify crocus and glaze finishes. Look at old catalogs. And ask specific questions in Levine's ID forum or here in the Traditionals section.

Some WELL KNOWN high quality manufacturers of old knives that come to mind are Winchester/EC Simmons, Miller Bros, etc. Generalizations can be misleading. Looking only at brand name would be a mistake. One of the many reasons that it is a mistake is that names changed hands. As one example, New York Knife Company's Hammer Brand is completely different than Imperial's Hammer Brand. The biggest reason to look further than the brand is that there are a LOT of fakes and reworks. Also, even a well made old knife can become a junker after 60-100 years of use. Probably the simplest thing to do is to look for old knives that are in good condition. That will narrow things down a LOT!

Here's another nice old Ulster.


Thanks!
 
That is the same search I have been on lately... [My opinion] We are really down to Case and GEC in the U.S. Buck does still have a handful but folks are not crazy about the 420HC these days. Ulster, Queen, and Bear have what I would call economy class knives today. With the dwindling away of traditional makers over the last 15 years, it has forced me (as a dealer) to look hard for that niche of nice traditional patterns made by a country friendly to the U.S.

greetings, not trying to stir the nest but you mentioned case, is their stainless not the equivalent to buck's 420 except where heat treating is concerned.
simply asking
Troy
 
That is the same search I have been on lately... [My opinion] We are really down to Case and GEC in the U.S. Buck does still have a handful but folks are not crazy about the 420HC these days. Ulster, Queen, and Bear have what I would call economy class knives today. With the dwindling away of traditional makers over the last 15 years, it has forced me (as a dealer) to look hard for that niche of nice traditional patterns made by a country friendly to the U.S.

greetings, not trying to stir the nest but you mentioned case, is their stainless not the equivalent to buck's 420 except where heat treating is concerned.
simply asking
Troy

An interesting pair of comments.
Case Tru-Sharp is 420HC, though it is not hardened to as high a Rockwell as Buck hardens theirs. But Case also offers CV. And there is a large contingent of traditional pocket knife folk who crave non-stainless.

My own opinion on the lesser focus on Buck traditional pocket knives is that Buck has only a few patterns they make in the US. IMO they best working knives available today due to their heat treat, unique blade profile, and overall robust design. But with only four patterns, stainless only, and limited choice of covers, they have limited appeal to collectors and knife knuts.
 
An interesting pair of comments.
Case Tru-Sharp is 420HC, though it is not hardened to as high a Rockwell as Buck hardens theirs. But Case also offers CV. And there is a large contingent of traditional pocket knife folk who crave non-stainless.

My own opinion on the lesser focus on Buck traditional pocket knives is that Buck has only a few patterns they make in the US. IMO they best working knives available today due to their heat treat, unique blade profile, and overall robust design. But with only four patterns, stainless only, and limited choice of covers, they have limited appeal to collectors and knife knuts.

Do you mind sharing which models those are?
 
Need more clarification. which models? The Case CV or the Buck USA?
 
That is the same search I have been on lately... [My opinion] We are really down to Case and GEC in the U.S. Buck does still have a handful but folks are not crazy about the 420HC these days. Ulster, Queen, and Bear have what I would call economy class knives today. With the dwindling away of traditional makers over the last 15 years, it has forced me (as a dealer) to look hard for that niche of nice traditional patterns made by a country friendly to the U.S.

greetings, not trying to stir the nest but you mentioned case, is their stainless not the equivalent to buck's 420 except where heat treating is concerned.
simply asking
Troy

Mike, I thought Ulster was long gone. Did you mean Utica/Kutmaster?

pholder, I can't speak for Mike but my impression is that he meant that folks (especially enthusiasts) don't get as excited about TruSharp or 420HC as other stainless steels.

Do you mind sharing which models those are?

Buck makes the 301, 303, 305, 309 and the limited 310 in the USA. Those are all stock knives and pen knives. They also make the 110 and 112 folding hunters in the USA... there may be more models of the folding hunters but I don't know them all off the top of my head. If I recall correctly, they list the country of origin for each knife on their website.
 
On the topic of lesser known knives... there are a lot of old knives that were manufactured by major companies and branded with store brands. Maher & Grosh is one example of MANY. Over the years the manufacturers changed but they included companies like Miller Bros in the early years and Schrade in the relatively later years.

Contract knives are another reason that going by brand alone can be misleading. As one example, old knives that were made FOR Remington are very different than old knives made BY Remington.

Some manufacturers had brands that are probably lesser known. As one example, Robeson used the brand Terrier Cutlery for a short while. The knives are rare and lesser known today than the knives branded Robeson.
 
Last edited:
Buck makes the 301, 303, 305, 309 and the limited 310 in the USA. Those are all stock knives and pen knives. They also make the 110 and 112 folding hunters in the USA... there may be more models of the folding hunters but I don't know them all off the top of my head. If I recall correctly, they list the country of origin for each knife on their website.

To that list add the 500 series (500,501, 503, 505) lockbacks plus the 302, a single blade version of the 301.

The "310" is a whittler. It is/was an SFO for a large retailer. Built around the 309 clip blade, so it's a smallish rascal.
 
Mike, I thought Ulster was long gone. Did you mean Utica/Kutmaster?

pholder, I can't speak for Mike but my impression is that he meant that folks (especially enthusiasts) don't get as excited about TruSharp or 420HC as other stainless steels.

I did mean Utica, thanks.
Since OP mentioned quality, I wasn't necessarily diving into steels.
I have really been impressed with some of the Italian makers such as Maserin and Viper; but their traditionals are limited.
 
Those are unknown (not less known) to me. ;) I'll take a look at them. Always interested in finding more quality knives.

I only have Otter Messer's basic and inexpensive Mercator K55 but they make some other traditional knives. I don't know how the quality compares to others. There's a nice factory tour on youtube.
 
Mike, have you looked at the Tuna Valley knives? I believe they are sold by the Daniels exclusively, I'm not sure how much of a return you would get on them, but for personal collection, they are pretty well made. Nicest scout knife I have seen.

I would 2nd this. I've got a few different Tuna Valley's and they are all very high quality. Although they are not old, the name was only revived since 2009. I would say they are equivalent quality to the Case/Bose collaborations.
 
Old Hickory. :-) people turn up their noses, but they make very good knives at an unbelievably low price point.
 
I would 2nd this. I've got a few different Tuna Valley's and they are all very high quality. Although they are not old, the name was only revived since 2009. I would say they are equivalent quality to the Case/Bose collaborations.

They both use similar steels but I don't see much of a similarity with the collaboration knives. The Tuna Valley patterns are Queen patterns. The parts are punched out, not EDM wire cut from patterns provided by Tony. They don't use pivot bushings.

Queen does have collaborations with Ruple and Burke.
 
Back
Top