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!
bladebuddy
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by bladebuddy »

Roger, thanks for the info on CHATILLON and Phoenix knife. I've never seen a Phoenix tang stamp in real life. Another one to add to the Holy Grail list. Thanks Steve B.
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peanut740
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by peanut740 »

Steve,Phoenix marked knives are rare,you'll see way more marked John Chatillon.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by knifegnome »

The only marking is Hofmann,beautifull stag and 3 backsprings.
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Miller Bro's
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Miller Bro's »

:D wow! How long is it closed?
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whitebuffalo58
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by whitebuffalo58 »

Man, check out the stag on that beauty!! :shock:

Here's one I think is pretty obscure, I can't find ANY info on it at all. Both blades stamped "Best Ever Cutlery Co.-New York", also has a faint etch on the primary blade. Single heavy backspring with spacers to offset blades. I'm thinking maybe a contract brand from Schrade? ::shrug::
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

Another rather obscure brand on this 3 1/4" advertiser jack. B & B St. P MN USA = Brown and Bigelow, St. Paul, Minnesota. The Cargill on the handle is a HUGE ag business in the Twin Cities.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by espn77 »

Cargill is huge everywhere.
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peanut740
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by peanut740 »

espn77 wrote:Cargill is huge everywhere.
Ditto!
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Woodly »

peanut740 wrote:
bladebuddy wrote:Here is a tang stamp I've not seen before.
JOHN
CHATILLON
& sons NY

I think it is a moose pattern with smooth bone handles and steel liners and bolsters. Clip side bolster is larger than the Spey side. 4 1/4" long closed. Still snaps like a gator. Anybody else have one or information about the company? I think they made scales for weighing but not sure what else. Thanks Steve B.

PS. Sorry for the fuzzy pictures. Gotta get a real camera.
Your knife was made by Phoenix Knife Co. Chatillon owned it until it burned down in 1917.I have had that pattern marked like yours and Phoenix.Great pattern. ::tu::
Doesn't Levine mention that brand in one of his earlier editions?

Sure are some incredible pieces of history in this thread of old and obscure.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

Spotted this knife in a grouping on Ebay. They are still for sale.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-7-Antiq ... SwKvJavpBh

This beautiful knife, unfortunately, has a broken pen blade.

Cocobola handles, I think. Nice bar shield.

Tangs are stamped QUAKER CITY / CUTLERY / CO. with a representative William Penn like Quaker logo on the back of both tangs.

Goins says circa 1886 to 1935 and a trademark of H. DISSTON.

SMITH & SELTZER was the exclusive agent for the brand.

I think that is a great knife.

Photos should expand with a left click.

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FRJ
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by FRJ »

This knife has no tang stamps. The only mention of the maker is stamped on the main blade. 3 1/2" closed.
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OLDE CUTLER
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

That's a real nice one, Joe. I have not seen one like that.
I picked up this 3" MOP pen at our local flea market because I had not seen the tang stamp before. It is marked on the front of the tang "Adolf Blaich, San Francisco, Razor Steel", and on the back of the tang "J. S. Holler, Germany". Blaich was in business from 1885-1954, and Holler from 1867-1906, so this must be pre 1906?
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Eustace
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Eustace »

FRJ wrote:This knife has no tang stamps. The only mention of the maker is stamped on the main blade. 3 1/2" closed.
Very cool!
FRIEDRICH VON DER KOHLEN
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FRJ
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by FRJ »

Thank you, Eustace.
And thank you for that informative name and stamp.
That will be very helpful for future searches.
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FRJ
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by FRJ »

Thank you, OLDE CUTLER. ::tu::
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by FRJ »

While looking through some folding toothpicks and fish knives to find one made in New York state I found one.
But where in New York state I have no idea and neither does Goin's. I was hoping to find one to place it in the "Little Sheffield"
thread.

This stamp reads; A.A. Fisher Co., N.Y.
Goin's gives one date - 1919

Slowly approaching the one hundred year mark makes it old
and since we don't know how long they were in business (1 year?) I'm going with obscure.
So, old and obscure.

A very solid and well built knife with composition handles that have shrunk slightly a long time ago.

Thanks for looking.
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by BWT »

Very nice Joe, I have never seen that maker before, that's what I like about it, thanks for sharing!!!
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by 1967redrider »

I've had this Wade Bros, Celebrated Cutlery knife for some time now. I have always been meaning to post some pictures and I'm looking for your opinion on what type of wooden scales these are? I'm guessing Cocobolo??? ::shrug::

This is the condition I received this knife in, minus rust that I carefully removed. Half-stops on the smaller blades but not the main, tang stamps on each blade, brass wedge between the springs as typical on whittlers and long match-striker pulls on each blade.

Including a picture from Goins book to explain how this German maker tried to pose as British, which rallied the cause for "Country of Origin" legislation here in the U.S. Interesting how some modern knife makers TODAY are still trying to label their knives as "Made in _____ " through deceitful practices to avoid stigma and increase sales/profits. ::hmm::
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michaelspayth
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by michaelspayth »

A few of mine that I think fall into this category.
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A.J. Jordan
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Henry Wilton
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Wright &amp; Wilhelmy<br />H. Boker &amp; Co
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michaelspayth
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by michaelspayth »

Not sure exactly how old it is but its a brand that has been seldom to come acros for me atleast.
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Optimist
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Optimist »

This pretty little penknife has silver or german silver side plates showing roses and sunflowers. The wear suggests it must have been much loved and a broken blade has been carefully trimmed. The style suggests German origin to me but the only mark is the word, in capitals, HAKE. I found it in a French flea market, h
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as anyone encountered this maker before?
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wlf
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by wlf »

Nice old knife Joe.
Stamps not seen much Micheal. I have a Jordan farmers jack below,which I think is the same company as your Jordan.
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1967redrider wrote:I've had this Wade Bros, Celebrated Cutlery knife for some time now. I have always been meaning to post some pictures and I'm looking for your opinion on what type of wooden scales these are? I'm guessing Cocobolo??? ::shrug::

This is the condition I received this knife in, minus rust that I carefully removed. Half-stops on the smaller blades but not the main, tang stamps on each blade, brass wedge between the springs as typical on whittlers and long match-striker pulls on each blade.

Including a picture from Goins book to explain how this German maker tried to pose as British, which rallied the cause for "Country of Origin" legislation here in the U.S. Interesting how some modern knife makers TODAY are still trying to label their knives as "Made in _____ " through deceitful practices to avoid stigma and increase sales/profits. ::hmm::
::tu:: ::tu:: Hello buddy
I found this very interesting John and did a little research a few years back . Here is an exert from the 1891 "Tariff Review" that is pertinent:

https://books.google.com/books?id=gcQ7A ... ia&f=false
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1967redrider
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by 1967redrider »

Cool link and awesome knife, Lyle! ::tu:: ::tu::
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

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Old Folder
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by Old Folder »

Beautiful knife Lyle. ::nod::
It's a perfect example of what leads us down the path to be "Collectors"
It's always important to know what you don't know.
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michaelspayth
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Re: Old and Obscure Brands

Post by michaelspayth »

Love everything about that Jordan!
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