Old and Obscure Brands

This forum is dedicated to the discussion and display of old knives. The rich history of all the many companies that made them through the early years will be found here as well as many fine examples of the cutlers art. Share pictures of your old knives and your knowledge here!
DR_MAGOO
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by DR_MAGOO »

theblindog wrote:that EL TORO got a fine scales Doc! ::nod:: ::nod:: ::tu:: ::tu::
Thanks, the scales are Ivory
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knifegirl888
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by knifegirl888 »

Here is a Sterling L.G.H. Co. I asked about it on another forum. Levine believes it is perhaps a version distributed by McIlwaine, Linn & Hughes, which were importers located in New York. LG4 states made in Ger./Engl., but this one just feels American made to me?
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trail
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by trail »

There was an Alpha brand made by Harrison Brothers & Howson back around 1900 that is highly sought-after, but this battered old rigger probably has no relation. I would guess this is from after WWII when Germany was trying to get back on it's feet through exports. It is built on the American pattern and looks a lot more like a Camillus, Buck or Case than an ABL, Currey or Ibberson.
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Owd Wullie
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Owd Wullie »

Roberts Bros. ANY info welcomed.
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A J Jordan
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FRJ
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by FRJ »

Here is an old American knife co.........Plymouth, Ct.
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trail
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by trail »

Willie, there was a big Roberts Brothers department store chain that evidently had stores in England and the United States.

http://www.pdxhistory.com/html/department_stores.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stor ... 0736.shtml

I wonder if your knife might have been made for them.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Jacknifeben »

PETERS BROS CUT CO. CHICAGO ILL. is the tang stamp on the master blade. I can't find this in any of my books. My jeweler says the handles are 10 carat gold with black enamel inlay. It is heavier than most whittler of this size.
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trail
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by trail »

I find a Peters Cutlery Co. Chicago IL, circa 1876-1886, a Peters Bros Celebrated Cutlery Solingen 1876-1886 and a Peters Cutlery Mfg Co Solingen 1876-1886, in Price Guide to Collector Knives.
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knifegirl888
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by knifegirl888 »

Owd Wullie,

Nice stuff! The A.J. Jordan has very pretty bone.

JKB,

Wholly geez! What a fantastic looking knife. ::drool::

FRJ,

American Knife Plymouth is a really old name. Those old pruners are a handful. Levine did an article a few months ago in Knife World which included American Knife Co.

We have this little ivory quill. The little tip is chipped on the handle though.
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Jacknifeben
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Jacknifeben »

Thanks for the help on my knife. Has any one ever seen handles like this one?
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by knife7knut »

JACKNIFEBEN wrote:Thanks for the help on my knife. Has any one ever seen handles like this one?
Here's a Peter's Brothers Celebrated Cutlery with a patriotic style handle.

Also:
Adams and Brother 2 blade.
Bergman & Scuddig with a salesman's number on the back.
Dame,Smith&Hall.
Duane Cutlery.
F.D.Bast.
Harvey Brothers.
J.Dunlap.
Prolific H.B.&Son.
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trail
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by trail »

If H.B. was so prolific, why is it son and not sons?

Even if H.B. wasn't really so prolific, the members of AAPK sure are. This is an amazing outpouring of old and obscure knive brands.
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knifegirl888
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by knifegirl888 »

trail wrote:If H.B. was so prolific, why is it son and not sons?

Even if H.B. wasn't really so prolific, the members of AAPK sure are. This is an amazing outpouring of old and obscure knive brands.
:lol: :lol:
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knifegirl888
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by knifegirl888 »

My oldest boy's name is Tyler. We try to find any Tyler Celebrated Cutlery knives that we can. Only have found two for sale...
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knifegirl888
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by knifegirl888 »

K7K,

We also have one "Adams & Sons". If you would ever like to get rid of your Adams & Bros or your Tyler, give me a holler? ::nod::
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Here's one: "STEVENSON", a manufacturer of metal handled, four blade utility knives made for the U.S. miltary during WWII.

No one really knows who they were. Noted U.S. military knife collectors have been pursuing the mystery for several years.

However, the earlier version, which is marked only on the bail, "STEVENSON U.S.A." has the cap-lifter/can-opener blade, the short stubby screw-driver blade and a punch that were proprietary blades of Robeson Cutlery Co.

The second version, marked only on the bail, "STEVENSON - 1944" had the more universal
mandated MIL-K hooked can-opener, a separate cap-lifter/screw-driver, and punch.

I've done some internet research. I found a Stevenson Manufacturing Co. in upstate New York that is a long time manufacturer of polishing drums, and abrasives. Could they have been a supplier to Robeson Cutlery? Could Robeson have supplied them with the necessary parts to make the knives, so they could participate in the war effort?

Or, did Robeson just create a separate company for the purpose of making the knives.

Nobody knows.

I wrote Stevenson Manufacturing and asked, but have never received a response.

Here is a Robeson marked bone handled WWII military issue utility, followed by version 1 and version 2 of the Stevenson knives. Notice the common blades in the Robeson and version 1 of the Stevenson.

Both the Stevensons are marked on the other side of the bail.

Charlie Noyes
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Miller Bro's »

Charlie,

does the second version have brass liners and carbon steel springs??
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by buckeyefan »

Very cool thread. ::tu::

This is a Clark Bros. 1895-1929.
Both blades are stamped. Check out the double pinch pointed bolsters and long pull. 8) I guess I should have cleaned it up a bit before posting pics. :oops:
As I recall there is a connection to Northfield Knife Company, does anyone know if this is fact?
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

MB;
I'll have to dig them out of lock-up, but I think they both have brass liners and carbon springs and blades.
But, you know how bad my memory is.......
Charlie Noyes
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by galvanic1882 »

Great thread, I love to see older more Obscure marks. Here is one I picked up not long ago. It is 5 1/2" closed and what I think are jigged wooden handles. Odd how the top bolsters are nickle silver and the bottom ones are brass. Blade marked GALES & CO. Goins has it listed but with no info. Knife is well made and feels good in your hand and is light for a bigger knife.

Anyone with information on this marker please let me know, Mike
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Miller Bro's »

Made in Germany^
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galvanic1882
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by galvanic1882 »

How do you know that??? Any more info??
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Miller Bro's »

Read the Knife.

Look at the construction, materials used, tang stamp, etc.


I have no specific information on that particular company.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by galvanic1882 »

Did read the knife nothing says Germany to me and nothing is marked Germany. Looks like a shop made old US knife to me.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Miller Bro's »

galvanic1882 wrote:nothing says Germany to me and nothing is marked Germany
It doesen`t have to be marked Germany to say Germany, if you know what I mean.
galvanic1882 wrote:Looks like a shop made old US knife to me.
How many old U.S. made knives have Brass bolsters? And if they did have Brass bolsters it would not have a Steel pin through it.

Look at the Tang stamp, specifically the abbreviation of Company. This one has the little line under it, not just Co., all the knives I have seen that have this style stamp are from Germany, Austria, Czekslovakia, and that part of the world.

And other things, I could go on but you get the idea ::nod::
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