Who made these Winchester knives? (Answered: Utica)...

and just to add a little intrigue...

CAMCO said:
edbeau,
Camillus made knives for just about everyone. It was interesting to see so many brands and patterns in the factory. I would try to go into the factory every day to see what was new. I invited the owner (I think his name was George Smith) of the "Winchester" brand to Camillus in 1988 to try to get their business. Nothing developed as a result of that meeting and we did not get the Winchester business. Fifteen years later in 2003 I was going through the factory and much to my surprise there were Winchester knives in production.
Tom Williams
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Here's a fun picture to add into the cast handle mix...



Of course it's not a Blue Grass/Winchester/Utica product, instead, it's a 1960's vintage Colonial Cutlery cast handled advertising/novelty knife. I don't believe the brass is through and through, more likely a zinc metal plated with a brass, but I still find it to be pretty cool, (for what it is).
Not surprisingly, I also own an ebony handle scale GEC/Tidioute 'French Kate' Lady Leg Knife :)
 
You guys may find this info chart interesting. Clarence Risner created this guide in Feb 1995, that gave a lot of info of the Black Box Winchesters. Obviously the estimated value is worthless since it is 25 years old, but the other info is valuable.
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Rookie82 said:
You guys may find this info chart interesting. Clarence Risner created this guide in Feb 1995, that gave a lot of info of the Black Box Winchesters. Obviously the estimated value is worthless since it is 25 years old, but the other info is valuable.View attachment 1097676 View attachment 1097677 View attachment 1097678 View attachment 1097679 View attachment 1097680 View attachment 1097681
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Thanks Rookie82! Some great info there. I see my Olin knife listed and I had no idea about the run sizes on the Black Box knives. Good stuff.
 
That is some good stuff!
I guess mine don't make it into that list, since mine are 1995 and 2000 editions. But, some general bronze production numbers are given. Of the ones listed above, some reached into the hundreds in production totals, some into the two to three thousand totals, and one was listed at something like six thousand. It's probably safe to say that they are not exactly rare birds overall. Still, it's also safe to say that USA made pocket knives made with solid cast bronze, nickel silver, or sterling silver handle scales, are not commonplace within recent pocket knife history. So, I guess in that sense, they are somewhat of a rare breed.

I wonder if Blue Grass to this day has the rights for trademarking Winchester on their products? I wonder that because it seems that most Winchester marked knives today are foreign made (China).
I also wonder if the cast Bronze, Nickel Silver, and Sterling Silver models had ceased being produced? I don't believe Blue Grass shows any recent year offerings of the cast scale handled knives on their website, although they seem to still have quite a few of the older editions.
 
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Just received the third one I ordered, and think I like this one the most. The overall fit is just a wee bit better, but it's the cool scene on this one side that really makes it a winner for me.
I think I now have my fill of these Winchester cast handled knives... Well, for now ;)

 
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I do want to answer the question of what type of blade steel these knives have. I had not read the literature carfully before, but did this time on this last one I received. It specifically states to take care of the blade by lightly oiling it to prevent tarnishing because it is made of a carbon steel. It does not state the grade of steel, but being that it is carbon steel, and Utica Cutlery made, it's a sure bet to be good ole 1095 :)
 
I guess my last purchase of one of these Winchester branded pocket knives, was not to be my last one afterall.
The vendor had a free shipping offer this past weekend, and I had also earned a $10 gift card from them. So, with the savings totalling about $15, buying another one of these specimens for a total of just under $10, was a no brainer.
This makes for my fourth of these Blue Grass/Winchester/Utica cast handled knives.
I'm digging the fact that these are all new old stock American made knives that come built in with a 20 to 30 year old vintage :)

Here is my new bronze handled Winchester branded knife that was just added to the stable, (one of my other recently purchased knives is shown as well to add a bit of interest to the photos)...





 
My daughter has often asked me how I always seem to find room for newly acquired do-dads in my collection. I always respond with, "There's plenty of room!" :)
Truth is, pocket knives take up very little real estate, so it's easy to play a little musical chairs with my items and fit that ONE MORE aquisition in ;)

 
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