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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2019 1:33 am
by LongBlade
Late to the party but that is an awesome Simmons knife and cool pattern Jason ::tu:: ::tu:: .. pretty unique design for a lobster too imo 8) ... Thanks for sharing that catalog cut from 1917 as well ...

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2019 7:08 pm
by wlf
Nice knife. It’s always icing on the cake with their catalog cut ::tu:: ::tu::

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:49 pm
by jxr1197
I just picked up this interesting Keen Kutter 3.5" jack. The tang stamp is 3 lines: SIMMONS - H'DWARE - CO
It's not in Goins. The same stamp with England beneath it is a known 1868-1905 mark so it's likely the same era. Any guesses on who made it?
closed.jpg
tang.jpg

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 10:22 pm
by New_Windsor_NY
It looks like the price is Per Dozen. ::shrug::

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 10:37 pm
by jxr1197
New_Windsor_NY wrote:It looks like the price is Per Dozen. ::shrug::
You're right but I think you may have missed the year. It would break down to a wholesale of about $4.66 per knife in 1917 which would work out to about $100 today. At $56 per, we'd be talking about a $1200 wholesale cost.

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2019 1:43 am
by danno50
Interesting stamp, Jason, I have not seen that one before.

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 1:03 am
by JAMESC41001
I’ve seen Keen Kutter knives advertised saying the are made with “Sheffield Steel” does anyone have information that can shed more light on this. Like what year this started or ended. I recently purchased Mr. Sellens book but have to say I’m a little disappointed with the lack of information. Makes a great catalog though.

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 4:55 am
by danno50
JAMESC41001 wrote:I’ve seen Keen Kutter knives advertised saying the are made with “Sheffield Steel” does anyone have information that can shed more light on this. Like what year this started or ended. I recently purchased Mr. Sellens book but have to say I’m a little disappointed with the lack of information. Makes a great catalog though.
Good question. Below is a page from the 1912 catalog. Hopefully, it is readable. Under the section titled Blades, it has a description of the blades being hammer forged from the "Highest Grade of English Crucible Steel imported especially for the purpose". The 1917 catalog has exactly the same description. The 1930 catalog says the blades "are forged from the Highest Grade of Steel especially for the purpose". So they quit importing English steel sometime between 1918 and 1930?
In the picture of the boxes, I believe the box on the right may be from before 1905, when the wedge and bar shield was first used. It states that the knives were manufactured from S & C Wardlow's English Knife Blade Steel. This still doesn't answer when they first started using English steel?

Have to click on each of the images to make them large enough to be readable.

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 8:24 pm
by stockman
Jason, I have a couple KK's marked like yours. You have a nice old knife. It is before the Bar and wedge logo, probably pre 1905. IMO.

Harold

Sorry I did not read Dans reply. Edit

Harold

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2019 9:55 pm
by JAMESC41001
Thanks Dan, That’s perfect I think I may be able to fill in the blanks. Picked up an interesting book. I think I will be able to connect some dots using the info you provided here. Much appreciated.
Jay

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2019 3:07 am
by danno50
Harold, if you have KKs with the same stamp as the one Jason posted, could you please post photos?
Jay, please keep us informed as to what you figure out.

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:38 pm
by wlf
First is an old KK. Not much for looks, but it is the only one I've seen alive. Greener bone than most any other old green bone I've seen.Standard 4" FJ.I'm not good on the stamps dating like you Dan. I hope it's visible enough.

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 9:41 pm
by wlf
Here is a Simmons Hardware (less Germany,as far as I can see) Hornet (less the triangle too).

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 3:21 pm
by danno50
Lyle, the information I offer on KKs is not based on tang stamps, it comes from matching a knife to the most likely one listed in Alvin Sellens book on Keen Kutters. Sometimes it is very obvious and sometimes not. Anyone who has the book can do the same.
There is only one farmer's jack in Sellens book, pattern number K0243. His lists it as being in the Simmons catalogs from 1905 through to 1920.
The Simmons Hardware FJ is a beautiful knife!! ::tu::

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 5:49 pm
by JohnR
Added this decent Keen Kutter Barlow, pattern 2881. Fairly full blades other than a divot out of the main, thinking 1920's due the the Made In USA and hammered pins.

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 6:23 pm
by wlf
Pretty nice John.

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 11:27 am
by JohnR
wlf wrote:Pretty nice John.
Thanks Lyle, I do like these old ones, lots of character.

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2019 2:09 pm
by KAW
Very nice John ::tu:: ... really an every day workman's knife... tough to find a vintage barlow that not well used... and why I have only one which also is of lower grade condition until something better comes along... been years and still waiting...

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2019 3:01 am
by danno50
Nice old barlow, John! ::tu::

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 3:07 pm
by danno50
I picked up a few Keen Kutters at the OKCA show this year.

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 3:09 pm
by danno50
A few more.

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 3:19 pm
by LongBlade
Awesome KK scores at OKCA Dan ::tu:: ::tu:: ... They are all beauties in super condition but the Physician’s Knife is a stunner and really caught my eye - The KK stamp on bottom of rear bolster is very cool ::tu:: 8) ... nice full blades on the EO too ::nod:: ...

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:34 pm
by KAW
That's quite a haul you obtained there Dan!!! ::tu:: 8) That must have been some show!!! :mrgreen:

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 4:43 pm
by danno50
Thanks Lee and Ken. It was quite a show!

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2019 9:35 pm
by Sharpnshinyknives
I looked and looked for this thread when I got this Keen Kutter back from Muskrat Man and couldn’t find it. Here is the before and after. I know the main blade is too short but it was all I could find w/ the same St Louis tang stamp. This is a solid knife and feels great in hand. The handles and bolsters were in such good shape I thought it was worth saving. Need to sharpen it and clean up that edge and it will be ready for anything.
SSk