Craftsman Knives

[Meridian_Mike]

I added this one to my Craftsman and EDC family today. A Craftsman 9481 3-7/8" Trapper with the Craftsman Crown Shield. It is basically a Schrade 285UH. The blades are tight, but have patina and spotting. The Clip blade has moderate snap, not weak but not strong, and the secondary spey blade has great snap. It will made a good EDC Craftsman.

VERY nice find!!
The one I just found did clean up pretty nicely.
It looks so much like an Uncle Henry, that I put it in my early Uncle Henry display.

[kootenay joe]

Mike all UH knives are Schrade+ stainless steel. The Craftsman Trapper has carbon steel blades same as most of the Old Timers. However the Delrin handles on the Craftsman do have a UH-like look to them.
kj

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks for the info Roland!
I never thought about the UH line being all stainless. INTERESTING!!
Here is my Craftsman amongst all it's Schrade-Walden cousins.

[Papa Bones]

Added this to my Craftsman and Pony Jack Family today. A Craftsman 9518. A 2-7/8 inch closed Pony Jack.It does not have a tang stamp, but has the Craftsman Blade Etch with the Long Tailed "C" that underlines the word Craftsman, with the model number to the right. This one still has part of the Blade etch, and the blades have great snap and positive half stops. The blades do have scratches and spots, but do retain some of their original luster. It has the brown imitation stag plastic handles as Sears listed them, and has a easy open cutout.

From what I've researched, The First 9518 in this configuration appeared in the Sears Catalogs around 1948. The early years just listed them as a Pen Knife or Vest Pocket Knife. It wasn't until 1957 That Sears listed it as a Pony Jack Knife. Also the early catalogs listed it as having Chrome Vanadium Steel Blades, then in 1954 Sears started listing them as having High Carbon Steel Blades. The 9518 Pen Knife or Pony Jack was listed from 1948 until 1958. In 1959 it was replaced with the 9507 Pony Jack, which was basically the same knife but probably by a different manufacturer.

Here are some pictures of mine.

[kootenay joe]

Interesting knife Smitty. I have not seen handles with the reddish color on Craftsman knives before. Is the pivot pin proud on the mark side ? Looks to be protruding above the bolster in the picture.
Some of the smaller Craftsman folding knives were made by Ulster but i cannot tell an Ulster from a Schrade from a Camillus.
kj

[TPK]

Added this to my Craftsman and Pony Jack Family today. A Craftsman 9518. A 2-7/8 inch closed Pony Jack.It does not have a tang stamp, but has the Craftsman Blade Etch with the Long Tailed "C" that underlines the word Craftsman, with the model number to the right. This one still has part of the Blade etch, and the blades have great snap and positive half stops. The blades do have scratches and spots, but do retain some of their original luster. It has the brown imitation stag plastic handles as Sears listed them, and has a easy open cutout.

From what I've researched, The First 9518 in this configuration appeared in the Sears Catalogs around 1948. The early years just listed them as a Pen Knife or Vest Pocket Knife. It wasn't until 1957 That Sears listed it as a Pony Jack Knife. Also the early catalogs listed it as having Chrome Vanadium Steel Blades, then in 1954 Sears started listing them as having High Carbon Steel Blades. The 9518 Pen Knife or Pony Jack was listed from 1948 until 1958. In 1959 it was replaced with the 9507 Pony Jack, which was basically the same knife but probably by a different manufacturer.

Cool find Smitty! Like how that one looks! Looks a bit different than most pony jacks.
Not that I don't like how the other ones look.

[Meridian_Mike]

Nice find Smitty!

You have found some great history of this Craftsman knife. I always enjoy the history part just about as much as I enjoy seeing a knife.

Way to go!

[Papa Bones]

Interesting knife Smitty. I have not seen handles with the reddish color on Craftsman knives before. Is the pivot pin proud on the mark side ? Looks to be protruding above the bolster in the picture.
Some of the smaller Craftsman folding knives were made by Ulster but i cannot tell an Ulster from a Schrade from a Camillus.
kj

Yes it does. It is almost like they didn't finish polishing it down. As you can see from the pile side, the pin is flush. There is no excessive tightness or while looking at the blade tangs and inside the well any deformation of any of the liners or bolsters. No blade looseness or spread of the frame to indicate a broken pin. From my experience, usually if you find a bolster pin proud, there will be some other indicators present. I don't know, could have just been a quality issue.

[Papa Bones]

Nice find Smitty!

You have found some great history of this Craftsman knife. I always enjoy the history part just about as much as I enjoy seeing a knife.

Way to go!

Thanks Mike. I am the same way!

[black mamba]

I have seen both Schrade Walden 8813 square bolstered stockman and 861 round bolstered stockman with the Craftsman 9514 number. Does anyone know the years the different models were used as the Craftsman 9514? Anyone have Sears catalogs from the 1960s to possibly check this out? Thanks, Jeff

[jxr1197]

Anyone have Sears catalogs from the 1960s to possibly check this out? Thanks, Jeff

You can access ALL the Sears catalogs from 1940-2010 here:
https://christmas.musetechnical.com/

*Pro tip - when you open one of these monster catalogs your first search should be for "knives" to help locate the index page that will guide you to the pocket knives pages. You can go back to the search bar and just enter the page number to go straight there. Sometimes the page numbers are off a little, you'll put in 616 and it will take you to something like 604. There are page back and forward buttons to help finish the journey. It takes a little getting used to how the website works but when you do all the info you seek is at your fingertips. Have fun..

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks for showing us those catalogs Jason!

I remember as a kid back in the 60's, I would sit and look thru the Christmas catalog every afternoon after school.
(And I would dream of what ole sandy claws would bring me.....LOL)

Very nice resource for knives!
I can't wait to go have a look.

[black mamba]

Jason, much appreciated. I'm gonna do some searchin'.

[KnifeSlinger#81]

I picked up a couple of good schrade craftsman’s lately. Technically the second one is an ulster pattern, but same factory and all.

[doglegg]

Great pick ups Paul.

[Papa Bones]

I picked up a couple of good schrade craftsman’s lately. Technically the second one is an ulster pattern, but same factory and all.


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Couple of good looking finds Paul!!

[KnifeSlinger#81]

Thanks Floyd and Smitty.

I bought a box full of old craftsman tools a month ago and guess what was in it.

[dlr110]

Thanks Floyd and Smitty.

I bought a box full of old craftsman tools a month ago and guess what was in it.


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That is a great looking knife, what a purchase!

[garddogg56]

Thats a prize Paul

[kootenay joe]

Here are 2 four blade Craftsman knives, a Senator and Junior Stockman.
kj

[doglegg]

Thanks Floyd and Smitty.

I bought a box full of old craftsman tools a month ago and guess what was in it.


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Icing on the cake Paul!!

Here are 2 four blade Craftsman knives, a Senator and Junior Stockman.
kj

Two sweet old knives Roland.

[KnifeSlinger#81]

Thanks guys for the compliments.

Nice pair of craftsman’s Roland.

[kootenay joe]

Here is a 3 7/8" Stockman with a Turkish Clip blade and marked "Forged/U.S.A."
I think it was made for Craftsman but never received an etch ?
kj

[Meridian_Mike]

MAN.... you guys posted up some NICE Craftsman knives over the weekend.

Way to go everyone! Those are some SWEET knives!!

[Papa Bones]

Here are 2 four blade Craftsman knives, a Senator and Junior Stockman.
kj

Here is a 3 7/8" Stockman with a Turkish Clip blade and marked "Forged/U.S.A."
I think it was made for Craftsman but never received an etch ?
kj

Some very nice knives Joe.