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.
knife-nut
Posts: 1427
Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 2:09 am
Location: Wichita, Kansas

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by knife-nut »

Here are some of my favorite keen kutters. 1st is a E.C.Simmons stag handled congress whistler. 2nd is a keen litter quill knife. 3rd is a E.C.Simmoms stag handled doodleg jack. 4th is a Simmons Hornet lockback dirk. It has an unusual locking mechanism. You have to swivel the guard on the back side to unlock the blade.
Attachments
35DBE516-F153-4886-8CB8-DE14686A8991.jpeg
F067E7AE-D543-484D-A51E-EC975BD92B18.jpeg
5EC14599-DEB3-41A7-8D71-B6EEA0BBA987.jpeg
160CF5F5-7849-406B-91A6-FCBC09CA7E25.jpeg
B4781C7D-3BB9-42AA-ABD0-B1CDAB663370.jpeg
94B9C244-0EDC-4C5D-977D-8B91D094C6F5.jpeg
User avatar
btrwtr
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 5061
Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 11:53 am

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by btrwtr »

I can see why they are favorites. Very nice group of KK knives.
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.

Wayne

Please visit My AAPK store https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/btrwtr
woodwalker
Posts: 3776
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2017 12:52 am

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

knife-nut wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2019 2:50 am Here are some of my favorite keen kutters. 1st is a E.C.Simmons stag handled congress whistler. 2nd is a keen mutter quill knife. 3rd is a E.C.Simmoms stag handled doodles jack. 4th is a Simmons Hornet lockback dirk. It has an unusual locking mechanism. You have to swivel the guard on the back side to unlock the blade.
Very nice!! :)
User avatar
edge213
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 7762
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:48 am
Location: The Crossroads of America

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by edge213 »

knife-nut wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2019 2:50 am Here are some of my favorite keen kutters. 1st is a E.C.Simmons stag handled congress whistler. 2nd is a keen litter quill knife. 3rd is a E.C.Simmoms stag handled doodleg jack. 4th is a Simmons Hornet lockback dirk. It has an unusual locking mechanism. You have to swivel the guard on the back side to unlock the blade.
Those are some great KKs.
David
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
User avatar
1967redrider
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 16103
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:23 pm
Location: Alexandria, VA
Contact:

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

The stag on those is amazing! ::tu:: ::tu::
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
User avatar
peanut740
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 7575
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:32 pm
Location: Ohio, along the river
Contact:

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by peanut740 »

Nice group Mark! ::tu::
Roger
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3657
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Four lovely old knives, knife-nut! ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu:: Beautiful stag on the congress and the dogleg, but I am especially partial to the old pick bone on the quill knife.
Dan
User avatar
OLDE CUTLER
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 4287
Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:11 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

I picked up this Keen Kutter over the weekend at our local flea market. It is going to need some work to get it back in shape, but I bet it was a nice one when new and spendy too. I don't know that I have seen the butt end bolsters stamped Keen Kutter before. It is a coffin handle jack, pattern # 2203. The work needed includes a new spring on the small pen blade and there are a couple of pieces of bone missing on the pile side. Blades have been sharpened a lot, but are still usable. The tang stamp includes the E. C. Simmons name.
In reading further back in this thread, it appears that the Camillus made ones were marked K2203, and the Keen Kutter tang stamp had "ears". This doesn't have either of those characteristics, so was it most likely made by Winchester?
IMG_3327.JPG
IMG_3328.JPG
IMG_3329.JPG
IMG_3330.JPG
IMG_3331.JPG
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
msteele6
Posts: 1963
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:29 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by msteele6 »

No knife rule is absolute in my experience, however, in my opinion this is a Walden (Winchester) made knife. Sellens has a date of manufacture for this knife of 1921-1939. If it's not a Walden pattern it's exactly like the Walden pattern. Oddly, in Sellens book this pattern is shown with two different patterns, one at 3 1/2" and one at 3 7/8". The 3 7/8" knife is completely different from the 2201, and 2204 and presumably from the unshown (in Sellens) 2203 (yours).

JMO
stockman
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3665
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:19 pm

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by stockman »

Nice knives Mark.

Harold
User avatar
wlf
Posts: 4760
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:55 am
Location: WV

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by wlf »

Really nice group Mark.

Great pattern Dan.
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
Lyle
User avatar
OLDE CUTLER
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 4287
Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2017 8:11 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by OLDE CUTLER »

msteele6 wrote: Mon Dec 09, 2019 6:35 pm No knife rule is absolute in my experience, however, in my opinion this is a Walden (Winchester) made knife. Sellens has a date of manufacture for this knife of 1921-1939. If it's not a Walden pattern it's exactly like the Walden pattern. Oddly, in Sellens book this pattern is shown with two different patterns, one at 3 1/2" and one at 3 7/8". The 3 7/8" knife is completely different from the 2201, and 2204 and presumably from the unshown (in Sellens) 2203 (yours).

JMO
Thanks for your info on the Keen Kutter 2203 I posted.
Sorry, I forgot to put the overall length in my post. It is 3 9/16"
If you go back to page 36 in this thread near the bottom of the page, there are catalog images of the K2203. One looks just like mine and one is different, depending on the manufacturer no doubt. However, mine is not stamped with the K ahead of the 2203.
"Sometimes even the blind chicken finds corn"
User avatar
Pile Driver
Posts: 340
Joined: Mon May 15, 2017 5:18 pm
Location: North Shore MA

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by Pile Driver »

I love that stag dog leg jack that thing is awesome
User avatar
edge213
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 7762
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:48 am
Location: The Crossroads of America

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by edge213 »

Keen Kutter 831 butter and molasses celluloid.
Attachments
20191229_181154.jpg
David
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
User avatar
edge213
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 7762
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:48 am
Location: The Crossroads of America

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by edge213 »

Keen Kutter office knife. French ivory celluloid.
Attachments
20191229_181105.jpg
David
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
User avatar
1967redrider
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 16103
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:23 pm
Location: Alexandria, VA
Contact:

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

The Cigar Jack and Office Knife are great finds. ::tu:: ::tu::

I too would want to get that Coffin Jack pictured above fixed, that's a nice pattern and not easy to find. It screams "Winchester" to me. ::nod::

I find Sellens' book odd in that the 2201 and 2204 are Coffin Jacks but 2203 looks like the 2226 on the next page with different blade engraving. I guess different knife makers at different periods in time would explain that. ::shrug::
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
User avatar
WillyCamaro
Posts: 6091
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 4:03 am

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by WillyCamaro »

Sweet ole knives being shown fellers, thank you for sharing ::tu:: ::handshake:: .
Willy :D
"Never, never, never give up."
Winston Churchill

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:34
User avatar
KnifeSlinger#81
Posts: 4171
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2015 8:50 pm
Location: Oklahoma
Contact:

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

Here is an interesting shadow pattern 2 3/4'' stockman made by schrade for keen kutter. Likely schrade walden era.

IMG_6315_Original.JPG
IMG_6317_Original.JPG
-Paul T.

WANTED: Shapleigh Diamond Edge branded Schrades in good condition.
woodwalker
Posts: 3776
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2017 12:52 am

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

KnifeSlinger#81 wrote: Mon Dec 30, 2019 5:51 pm Here is an interesting shadow pattern 2 3/4'' stockman made by schrade for keen kutter. Likely schrade walden era.


IMG_6315_Original.JPG
IMG_6317_Original.JPG
That is a cool knife!! Congratts!! :)
majorpain1251
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2019 1:13 am

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by majorpain1251 »

I bought this little ("2.875 closed) knife at a flea market cheap. I haven't been able to find out much about it. I read where Frost Cutlery bought the Keen Kutter name. I also where Bear & Son manufactured some of these Keen Kutter knives. The box and the tang are stamped USA. The stag looks real to me but I'm no expert on stag. Was this manufactured by Bear & Son? If not, then who? Was it really made in the USA? Is this really stag? It's a cool little knife and I like it but I'd like to know more about it.
Attachments
Keen Kutter Box.JPG
Keen Kutter Tang.JPG
Keen Kutter.JPG
User avatar
1967redrider
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 16103
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:23 pm
Location: Alexandria, VA
Contact:

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

Looks like one of these, the "manufactured by Bear and Son Cutlery" is marked on the end of the tin this knife came in.
Attachments
15778564474664087383737798930129.jpg
15778565978218772039516876516475.jpg
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
User avatar
edge213
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 7762
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:48 am
Location: The Crossroads of America

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by edge213 »

majorpain1251 wrote: Wed Jan 01, 2020 4:54 am I bought this little ("2.875 closed) knife at a flea market cheap. I haven't been able to find out much about it. I read where Frost Cutlery bought the Keen Kutter name. I also where Bear & Son manufactured some of these Keen Kutter knives. The box and the tang are stamped USA. The stag looks real to me but I'm no expert on stag. Was this manufactured by Bear & Son? If not, then who? Was it really made in the USA? Is this really stag? It's a cool little knife and I like it but I'd like to know more about it.
I've never heard that Frost bought KK.
Yours is made by Bear & Son in the U.S.
David
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3657
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

I really like that old pattern, Dan! ::tu::
A couple of nice additions to the thread, David! ::tu::
Very nice shadow stockman, Paul! ::tu:: Schrade made, I believe.
majorpain, your knife was made by Bear & Son, owned by Ken Griffey, in 1992 in their plant in Jacksonville, Alabama. Definitely looks like real stag to me.
Dan
majorpain1251
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2019 1:13 am

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by majorpain1251 »

Thank you for the input. It does appear to be Bear & Son. My curiosity is now satisfied.

edge213 wrote: Wed Jan 01, 2020 5:47 am
majorpain1251 wrote: Wed Jan 01, 2020 4:54 am I bought this little ("2.875 closed) knife at a flea market cheap. I haven't been able to find out much about it. I read where Frost Cutlery bought the Keen Kutter name. I also where Bear & Son manufactured some of these Keen Kutter knives. The box and the tang are stamped USA. The stag looks real to me but I'm no expert on stag. Was this manufactured by Bear & Son? If not, then who? Was it really made in the USA? Is this really stag? It's a cool little knife and I like it but I'd like to know more about it.
I've never heard that Frost bought KK.
Yours is made by Bear & Son in the U.S.
User avatar
peanut740
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 7575
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:32 pm
Location: Ohio, along the river
Contact:

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by peanut740 »

Walden Knife Co.made E.C.Simmons Keen Kutter folding hunter etched Tickler.I have a couple Walden folding hunters with the same etch.
Attachments
1578325259921283997757263711422.jpg
15783252929722545859283651807865.jpg
15783253165685607904787367752514.jpg
15783253423825919870291195524904.jpg
Roger
Post Reply

Return to “Keen Kutter”