does anyone have information on this knife? Hartford Cutlery Co. Prussia

[MikeyYackson]

It has Hartford Cutlery Co stamped on each blade, and location of manufacturing was prussia, so it's german and quite old. but that's all i know... i got this from a guy who was in the marine core during the 80s

[bestgear]

I believe that was a brand name that Marshall Wells Hardware Co. used in the late 1920's but I could be wrong.

[Mumbleypeg]

I believe that was a brand name that Marshall Wells Hardware Co. used in the late 1920's but I could be wrong.

According to Goins’ Encyclopedia that is correct. It says Hartford Cutlery Co. Prussia is “prior to 1914. A trademark used by Marshall Wells.”

Ken

[Ridgegrass]

Interesting that its marked "Prussia:. Germany was finally unified in 1871 and the Kingdom of Prussia became a "federal state. The German cutlery towns of Solingen and Ohligs are in Prussia. Not sure when they stopped using Prussia in their stamping ? That knife could be pretty old. J.O'.

[bestgear]

Interesting that its marked "Prussia:. Germany was finally unified in 1871 and the Kingdom of Prussia became a "federal state. The German cutlery towns of Solingen and Ohligs are in Prussia. Not sure when they stopped using Prussia in their stamping ? That knife could be pretty old. J.O'.

I was thinking the same thing JO - most of the Hartford Cutlery stamps that I’ve seen have Duluth MN on them; I’ve never seen Prussia on their stamp leading me to believe it’s an early import.

[Ridgegrass]

Gee its nice to have someone agree with me. Doesn't happen that often. Its an interesting subject and knife. O'.

[Mumbleypeg]

I was thinking Prussia existed until WWI (not trying to be disagreeable ). I think it was part of the German federation or something for a while before WWI but don’t know when they ceased referring to it as “Prussia”. Good question - maybe someone here more familiar with European history knows?

Ken

[bestgear]

maybe someone here more familiar with European history knows

from Google - Prussia became part of the Northern German Confederation in 1866, and then the German Empire by 1871. Prussia still existed, but within the German Empire. The empire dissolved with the abdication of the German monarch in 1918, which led to the establishment of a German republic

[wlf]

I would think that style of jigged bone probably dates it to the early 1900's, wouldn't it?

[Ridgegrass]

We live and learn. Collecting sure broadens one's horizons. Thanks all. Auf Wiedersehen. J.O'.