KNIFE COLLECTOR FROM THE NORTHWOODS

 This Swiss Army Knife has only one blade and unlike other SAK models I own is not a spearpoint but rather more of a Sheepsfoot shape (see picture). The handle, again unlike my other 'red' models is not the usual cellidor, but rather seems to be a red nylon (or polyamide).  They are marketed as floral or gardening knives .  They are currently sold by Victorinox for $22.99.  Since the tang stamp reads "Rosterfrei" it may reflect and older or vintage model.    

 According to Wikipedia:    Imperial Schrade Corp. was an American knife manufacturer of hunting knives , pocketknives , utility knives , and bayonets during the 20th and early 21st centuries. The consolidation of five forerunner companies, including its namesakes, the Imperial Knife Company , founded 1916 , and the Schrade Cutlery Company , founded in 1904 , Imperial Schrade manufactured its products in the United States and Ireland and sold through hardware stores, department stores, and on military bases. The original company's fortunes declined and in 2004 it entered into bankruptcy where all equipment and intellectual property was sold off to reimburse creditors. The name and intellectual property (but not the factory nor equipment) was bought by Taylor Brands and used for marketing purposes. As of 2016, these brands are owned by Smith & Wesson .  The knife shown below, which is marked "Scout" on the jigged bone handle, is marked "Imperial, ...

 The Barlow knife is among the oldest classic patterns of knives today, often used and prized by the common working man.  With its substantial nickel silver bolster it was a tough knife designed for rugged work.  Colonial was not a high-end knife company, but one that mass-produced. It was established in 1926 in Providence, Rhode Island.  My knife is from the period stretching from 1938 to the early 1970s.  The original Colonial Knife facilith closed in the late 1990s due to shifts in the industry and foreign competition.  However, former employees and members of the Paolantonio family restructured to keep the business alive. Today, the company operates in Rhode Island, distinguishing between its US-manufactured lines and imported value tools.  The Paolantonio brothers—who had years of experience working for the Empire Knife Company after immigrating from the famous knife-producing city of Frosolone, Italy—officially incorporated Colonial Kn...

 Every now and then you find a good deal on vintage knives.  Today was one of those days.  Between a flea market and the antique store next door I scored a total of six pocket knives. Not all are high-end collector items, but they are interesting as vintage pieces.  I'll devote one post to each knife.   The list price on this knife was $12.50, but the vendor was marking everything down 35%, so it only cost me $8.13.  Online it sells anywhere from $8 to over $20, so not a huge collector's item, I suppose, but they are collectable nonetheless.  It appears to have been made from the mid to late 1970s.  Richards of Shefield was a major 20th-century knife company well-known for mass-producing affordable pocket knives and scissors.   The company ceased operations in 1983.  It was founded in the 1930s by two German brothers, Paul and Stefan Richartz, who immigrated from the renowned cutlery town of Solingen, Germany.  Richards w...

 For Father's Day we stopped at a little antique shop in a small town.  I saw from their FB page that they had knives, so my interest was piqued.  None of what I examined seem to have manufacturer's stamps, so I can only guess their origin.  With a little online research the patterns on the bolsters along with Damascus steel blade seemed to resemble a Shokunin brand knife I saw. That said, I paid only $15 for the knife and those I saw online were far more expensive.  Regardless, it's a nice little EDC knife.  Update: It might also be a knife from Skokie Knives, Ltd.   *Last update: I'm beginning to think it's just a simple mass produced  Pakistani-made knife .  Nice, but nothing too special.  It seems well constructed, so I'm not complaining it feels cheap.  The pattern and structure of the knife, however, seems very similar to more than one Damascus blade knife with a lock-back system as seen below.   

  I don't collect kitchen type cutlery, but I stopped at a little antique store in the country this morning and couldn't resist, especially for a steal.  It is from the L.C.GERMAIN Knife Company.  I picked it up for the low price of $1, yet I see that they go for $10 to $30 either as single knives or sets on the secondhand market.  According to information on the internet they are vintage, budget-friendly kitchen knives usually manufactured in Japan by Lifetime Cutlery , under the label of Rostfrei Edelstahl . They are often found today on the secondary market as pre-owned, everyday-use cutlery rather than premium kitchen tools. Rosterfrei Edelstahl translates from German as "rust-free stainless steel" or "rust-free high-grade steel" which refers to a highly refined, pure steel alloy with strict controls on impurities, usually a high carbon steel.  They were manufactured in the 1970s and 1980s, so my knife is probably somewhere betw...

 Recently I watched some videos, or portions of them, regarding why one should carry a knife.  My reasons, as with all knife carriers, will differ.  For one thing, I don't use my pocket knife to cut food.  Even if I camped I would probably bring a designated paring knife.  I would feel compelled always having to purify the knife.  Too much hassle.  I also carry simple and very affordable knives.  Just don't see the need for 'super steel' in my day-to-day needs.  Others will, especially those in the trades or in construction and such.  I'm a pastor, which is essentially a white-collar worker with a minimum of outdoor and industrial type needs.   I'm going to list these reasons in a bullet point format for ease of reading.  Primarily I carry a pocket knife to open mail. This is an every day thing. Thus, as an uban edc guy (even though I live in the country) it becomes a primary chore for the knife.  This, I would guess,...

Another affordable find at the local gun show: A fixed blade knife with, I think, the original sheath, by Imperial Knife Co, Providence, RI USA .   Founded in 1916 by Italian immigrants Felix and Michael Mirando in Providence, Rhode Island, this company was once the largest high-volume knife manufacturer in the United States known for its affordable knives. Their fixed blade knives are highly collectable vintage items.  They can be identified, in part, by their distinctive tang stamps where you have a crown above the Imperial name.  I paid $25 for mine, which is in good condition, and it seems to be a reasonable cost considering the market.  From a tang stamp guide provided online ( https://www.americanedgeknives.com/blog/dating-vintage-imperial-tang-stamps/ ), it appears that this knife was manufactured between 1946 and 1956. Imperial knives are still produced and sold widely and I have a nice, inexpensive yellow Sodbuster in my collection.  But th...

Old Timer knives, originally introduced by Schrade Cutlery Co .in 1958, were originally a US-based brand.   Old Timer was created by Schrade-Walden Cutlery Co. (a subsidiary of Imperial Knife Associated Companies) to create nostalgia for traditional, reliable pocketknives, although they also make fixed-blade knives as well.  I was fortunate to pick up two vintage Old Timer knives, one a folder, and one a fixed-blade, models 25OT and 154OT respectively.  The bonus was getting the knives with their original leather sheaths.  The tang stamp on the folder reads: SCHRADE WALDEN N.Y. U.S.A. 25OT The tang stamp on the fixed blade reads: SCHRADE U.S.A. 154OT   Fixed blade knife, also known as the Drop Point Hunter or Badger ,  is still highly regarded by knife collectors and outdoor enthusiasts for its carbon steel blade and "Sharpfinger" (152 OT) style ergonomics. These knives were made in the USA most likely between 1976 and 1988 . I spent $55 ...

 As readers of this little blog have come to know, one of the areas of my modest collection involves military knives, and specifically knives from World War II, the war in which my father fought.  Every year I try to attend the local gun show in town and the military show just south of town in search of more knives.  Yesterday I was blessed with an unexpected find.  Amazon carries the so-called "Official British Army Knife" and I have one of those; a simple one with only a blade, and obviously made for the civilian market.  But this one is the genuine article, and a real piece of history to hold in your hand.  The blade, I'm pretty sure, was a Sheepsfoot originally, but with repeated sharpening over the years has worn the blade into a different shape.  It lacks the can opener that the Army version has, but possesses the familiar Marlins Spike used in splicing ropes and untangling them and loosening tight knots.   The tang stamp on the blade r...

 I have watched a lot of videos (a lot!!!) and read more than a few articles online on EDC (Every Day Carry) since getting into my 'knife hobby'.  And my views have evolved.  There are a lot of ideas out there as to what a person should carry.  Here are a few of my evolving thoughts.... EDC is different for all people.  One size does not fit all.  Urban EDC is different than country or outdoor EDC.  And EDC differs for those in the trades vs. office workers.  And so on.  You can end up carrying more than you need.  I used to think that I needed to be prepared for any and every situation.  Screwdrivers, both Philips and flat heads were critical.  Yet now that I look at my actual daily routine and needs, do I really need all this stuff all the time?  Probably not. Most of my needs involve small tools, not large ones, and only a few at that.   I do have EDC rotations for different scenarios.  For example, my ED...