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.
msteele6
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by msteele6 »

KAW wrote:Thanks msteele6 for those pattern numbers. 8)
Would you happen to know the time range they were offered?
I'm trying to pin down the probability of them being made by Walden.
With the rat tail bolsters on the sleeveboard, I was hoping it would be a good candidate?...
The K0678 3/4 is shown in Sellen's as being produced from 1914 thru 1920 therefore I believe that it is a Walden produced knife. The K2718 3/4 is shown being produced from 1905 thru 1929 therefore it might have been produced at the Winchester plant after the acquisition of Walden, still probably a Walden pattern produced on Walden equipment by Walden workers primarily.

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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by KAW »

Thanks Joe for the complement.
Great info msteele6! ::tu:: ... just what I was hoping for! 8)
Would you know anything about the fixed blade knife with MoP handles? Is it a steak knife?
It has a razor sharp edge with the the logo stamped in the middle of the blade.
'til later....
Ken

10031 means.... never having a dull moment. 8)
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Nice finds, Ken! ::tu:: Great master blade on the coke bottle. I am intrigued by that lovely MOP fixed blade.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by Tsar Bomba »

I don't think I've ever posted this knife here (or anywhere, at least until yesterday). It's an ugly, worn-out HOK but it's a Simmons.
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EC Simmons KEEN KUTTER Barlow bone 02.jpg
EC Simmons KEEN KUTTER Barlow bone 03.jpg
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by KAW »

Tsar Bomba wrote:It's an ugly, worn-out HOK but it's a Simmons.
That's exactly how I would describe the Ulster barlow I picked up while on vacation this summer...
but its the first real old one I've come across so far & figure it will make due until a better one comes along...
besides... just imagine the stories such a knife could tell... :)
'til later....
Ken

10031 means.... never having a dull moment. 8)
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Tony, that truly is an honest old knife, I don't find it ugly at all! ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by edge213 »

Tsar Bomba wrote:I don't think I've ever posted this knife here (or anywhere, at least until yesterday). It's an ugly, worn-out HOK but it's a Simmons.
It's a Barlow,
It's a Keen Kutter,
Therefore it's beautiful!
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by FRJ »

Here's a nice little whittler. 2 7/8" closed.

I can't find this exact knife in Sellin's book.
He does show a K3808 with a bar shield and a milled back.
1912 - 1916
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by Duffer »

Joe, very nice! Who wouldn’t be attracted to that beauty ::tu::
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danno50
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

That is a beauty, Joe! ::tu:: Still has some blade etch left to boot!
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by FRJ »

Thank you so much for your comments, Lloyd and Dan.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by BWT »

That's one beautiful little knife Joe, very nice!!!
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

Here are 2 Keen Kutters I bought today at my local antique store. Any info on them would be appreciated. I am unfamiliar with Keen Kutters. Thanks for looking. :)
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by FRJ »

Thank you, Bill. ::tu::

There you go woodwalker. ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

FRJ wrote:Thank you, Bill. ::tu::

There you go woodwalker. ::tu:: ::tu::
Thanks Joe!! :)
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Couple of nice Keen Kutters, woodwalker!
The first one is an EC Simmons, so definitely pre 1940. It could be a K02071? What is the closed length? I have attached a photo of a K02071
(3 3/8") from a 1930 catalog reprint. I would guess it was Winchester made.
The second one is a later knife, post 1940. Sellens states that the shield with Keen Kutter stamped inside was used starting in 1942.
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Dan
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

danno50 wrote:Couple of nice Keen Kutters, woodwalker!
The first one is an EC Simmons, so definitely pre 1940. It could be a K02071? What is the closed length? I have attached a photo of a K02071
(3 3/8") from a 1930 catalog reprint. I would guess it was Winchester made.
The second one is a later knife, post 1940. Sellens states that the shield with Keen Kutter stamped inside was used starting in 1942.
Thanks for the info Dan. I will measure it when I get home. It looked Winchester to me as well. I sure appreciate the info. Away at the moment. :)
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

danno50 wrote:Couple of nice Keen Kutters, woodwalker!
The first one is an EC Simmons, so definitely pre 1940. It could be a K02071? What is the closed length? I have attached a photo of a K02071
(3 3/8") from a 1930 catalog reprint. I would guess it was Winchester made.
The second one is a later knife, post 1940. Sellens states that the shield with Keen Kutter stamped inside was used starting in 1942.
Dan: This one is 3 3/8. Looks like a Winchester and it looks like your knife in the picture (K02071). I think you nailed it!! Mine has a long pull though. Does that make a difference? The one in the picture looks like a nail nick pull. Also the picture says Stag. Mine is bone. At least I see haverson canals thru a loop. I know some knife companies descriptions state Stag when in fact it's bone. Any insight? And I just want to say a big old Thank You for your time and response!! :)
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danno50
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

In the Keen Kutter catalogs, stag means jigged bone. Actual stag is call genuine stag in the catalogs.
I am not sure about the long pull vs. nail nick. I would imagine that when a pattern is produced over a number of years that things like that might change from year to year?
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

danno50 wrote:In the Keen Kutter catalogs, stag means jigged bone. Actual stag is call genuine stag in the catalogs.
I am not sure about the long pull vs. nail nick. I would imagine that when a pattern is produced over a number of years that things like that might change from year to year?
Thank you for your knowlege and feedback Dan! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond and all your valuable insight. It's always nice to know as much as we can about our knives and I really appreciate you! Have a good one! ::handshake::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

In a recent exchange, Charlie (Upnorth) sent me this lovely Keen Kutter pen knife as an extra. It is 2 3/4"closed, has a faint blade etch, and an etched pattern number (K02529). Sellens say this one was in the catalogs from 1905 through to 1938.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

danno50 wrote:In a recent exchange, Charlie (Upnorth) sent me this lovely Keen Kutter pen knife as an extra. It is 2 3/4"closed, has a faint blade etch, and an etched pattern number (K02529). Sellens say this one was in the catalogs from 1905 through to 1938.
That is a Beauty Danno!! Great pick up!! :)
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by msteele6 »

Nice ones! ::tu::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Beautiful MOP pen Dan ::tu:: ::tu:: ...
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by FRJ »

Very nice Keen Kutter pen, Dan. ::tu::
Joe
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