Old Keen Kutter Knives

Keen Kutter was first used as a knife brand by Simmons Hardware Company in 1870. The trademark was used on the highest quality tools and cutlery Simmons offered.
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wlf
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by wlf »

No problem Solomon my friend. :)

I think it’s fitting to carry what you collect, especially if you have a niche. I carry a Lockwood Bros farmers jack given me by Paul Hilborn on BF. I’m monogamous as to carries, I don’t switch around, I’ve carried this one for a couple years.
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]

GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

May the Father and Son bless
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1967redrider
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

wlf wrote:No problem Solomon my friend. :)

I think it’s fitting to carry what you collect, especially if you have a niche. I carry a Lockwood Bros farmers jack given me by Paul Hilborn on BF. I’m monogamous as to carries, I don’t switch around, I’ve carried this one for a couple years.
I've got both of them today, Lyle. I left my usual carrying knife, a Case 6202 1/2 at home, it's probably feeling jaded and jilted at this point. ::mdm::

Easy to tell which is which. The spear is 3 1/2" in Cocobolo and I believe it is a 7725/C, the pattern number is worn off. But the E.C. Simmons tang stamps are perfect and there's little to no blade loss on this one.
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woodwalker
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

Picked up this Keen Kutter K28811/2 recently. Does anyone have any info on possible age?
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by Robo »

JAMESC41001 wrote:http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/common/nysm/f ... vol1_0.pdf
Dan, check this out. It’s a lot of info to digest but I think you will find it interesting. There are many things that pertain to what was happening at Walden knife. Specifically the capital investment NYK made around 1905. At this time NYK went to Drop pressing their blades and you can see production went up as the number of employees fell. At the same time Walden’s employees went up. This is during the time Simmons touted their knives as being hand forged from the finest Sheffield steel. Their is a lot there but the numbers are pretty fascinating to me. Check it out.
This was a fascinating read. These lines from page 77 got me thinking:

"The economic decline of the New York Knife Company factory was caused by increasing competition with a number of knife factories that had continued to modernize their machinery and manufacturing process after World War I."

I recently got a well preserved "Stainless Cutlery" (Camillus) "Stainless Sportsman". These knives went for $21.50 a Dozen in 1926 and scream "modern machinery and manufacturing process". It appears as if all the little imperfections found on most knives of the era due to human hands still performing some of the manufacturing tasks are gone. The standard, carbon blade NY Knife Company #177 Tickler went for $25.20 a dozen in 1925. In 1929 The "Stainless Sportsman" went up to $23.90 per doz. while the NYKco #177s dropped in price to 16.80 per dz. The next listing I found for the #177 was $15.00 per doz, but this was in 1932, sadly, a year or more AFTER the company went belly up. I've only seen one example of a Wallkill River Works toothpick in Richard Langston's book. These, as you probably know, were a last ditch attempt by NYKco to put out a cheaper line of knives, But from the looks of this one, the machinary and manufacturing process hadn't changed only perhaps the gauge of the steel, etc. used.

I'm not making a scholarly analysis here, just a small observation having studied the catologs and purchased some of the knives. But it seems that the authors/historians who made this study are correct saying: he who modernizes his machinary and manufacturing processes (Camillus)-- lives to see another year. He who doesn't modernize--despite continuing til the end to make superb cutlery like NYKco did--doesn't survive.
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danno50
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Nice pair of doglegs, 1967redrider! ::tu::
Woodwalker, your KK barlow would be made after 1940 for Shapleigh. Good find! ::td::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

danno50 wrote:Nice pair of doglegs, 1967redrider! ::tu::
Woodwalker, your KK barlow would be made after 1940 for Shapleigh. Good find! ::td::
Thanks. ::handshake::

I just wish the larger clip blade knife had better blades, but it still cuts.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

danno50 wrote:Nice pair of doglegs, 1967redrider! ::tu::
Woodwalker, your KK barlow would be made after 1940 for Shapleigh. Good find! ::td::
Thanks Danno!! Appreciate you letting me know!! :) ::handshake::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Hi Woodwalker, I just noticed I had given you a thumbs down in my post, sorry, it should have been a thumbs up!, I hit the wrong icon button. I edited it to make the change.
Dan
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

danno50 wrote:Hi Woodwalker, I just noticed I had given you a thumbs down in my post, sorry, it should have been a thumbs up!, I hit the wrong icon button. I edited it to make the change.
No problem Danno! I knew what ya meant!! I've done that myself. Thanks for all you knowlege and help. You are appreciated!! :) ::handshake::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by edge213 »

E.C.Simmons
Keen Kutter
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Very nice ebony jack, David! ::tu::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by edge213 »

danno50 wrote:Very nice ebony jack, David! ::tu::
Thank you Dan.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

Took my dad to Cracker Barrel tonight for his birthday (Monday) and I saw this, had to take a picture.
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Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by mastiff »

Not a hard core collector but having fun... This is my first KA-BAR pocket knife ever...
Not sure how old, it is supposed to be a rope knife!! Very sturdy and strong snap!
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by ratlesnake75 »

Hey Guys, Can you help me with approximate dating of this E.C Simmons Keen kutter & where it may have been made?
It has all nickel silver construction, hammered pins & the small Winchester type shield which lead me to think its 1920s era but I dont know.
On back of master blade is stamped 4428
Thank you very much for the help on this one
Kind Regards,
Mark
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

Cool find, I'll look in the Sellens book when I get home.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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1967redrider
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

ratlesnake75 wrote:Hey Guys, Can you help me with approximate dating of this E.C Simmons Keen kutter & where it may have been made?
It has all nickel silver construction, hammered pins & the small Winchester type shield which lead me to think its 1920s era but I dont know.
On back of master blade is stamped 4428
Thank you very much for the help on this one
Kind Regards,
Mark
Well, Sellens lists a K4428 Vaquero in stag, made from 1905-1942, a red and white striped cell (K4425/C), and some Pearl variations as K4429. Price and Zalesky list it as stag too. ::shrug::

Could it be buffalo horn?
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Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by ratlesnake75 »

Thank you Redrider for looking that up. There is not a "K" in the pattern# --- Does that matter?
I also notice my shield is different than these pics. I really believe the handles are "slick black" composition
Kindest Regards,
Mark
I Buy/Sell/Trade All Vintage Antique Pocket knives from Junkers to Mint. I am Easy going, so Please shoot me a message ANYTIME!!! l Live & Breath KNIVES Everyday.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Nice looking KA-BAR, mastiff!
Mark, I believe your knife is the K4428, which 1967redrider posted from Sellens. Sellens produced his guide by looking at all the Simmons catalogs put out. However, there are gaps of up to 3 years where Simmons did not produce a catalog. I am sure that there were occasional handle variations produced that never made it into a catalog. I have 3 good Keen Kutters that have handle material that is different than that listed in Sellens guide. Also, Sellens picked one catalog cut out of the many years that a pattern was produced to represent that pattern. I am sure there were minor variations in shields etc. which are not represented by the one picture.
I would agree with you that your knife was likely made by Winchester. In my simplified view, a stamped pattern number, not preceded by the K, is usually a Winchester made knife.
Dan
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by ratlesnake75 »

Danno that is Awesome & I THANK YOU Sir for your expertise & sharing of information
Kindest Regards,
Mark
I Buy/Sell/Trade All Vintage Antique Pocket knives from Junkers to Mint. I am Easy going, so Please shoot me a message ANYTIME!!! l Live & Breath KNIVES Everyday.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by peanut740 »

Ebony saber grind spear blade jack.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

very nice, Roger! ::tu::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by peanut740 »

Thanks Dan,it`s an old one.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

Here is an EC Simmons Keen Kutter K2825 I felt sorry for. I found it today at the antique store and I guess the previous owner rehandled one side of it and then carved "J Hill" in it. Previous owners name I guess. Main blade has Hammer Forged on it. I guess I just felt it needed to come home with me. Cleaned her up a bit and oiled it and know she snaps like a gator. Thanks for looking. :)
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by msteele6 »

Nice one ::tu::
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