Hardware Store and Distributor Knives

[doglegg]

Looking for help dating this EC Simmons St. Louis jack. Thanks! https://allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_ ... &id=687209

Sweet

[Mumbleypeg]

Looking for help dating this EC Simmons St. Louis jack. Thanks! https://allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_ ... &id=687209

Welcome to AAPK. Thanks for showing the knife.

As you may know E.C. Simmons was a hardware company. They did not manufacture cutlery. Instead they contracted with several different cutlery companies to have knives made and stamped with the brand names they (Simmons) owned. They also were merged with or bought out several other brands, like Shapleigh and Keen Kutter. Simmons also owned the Winchester cutlery factory at one time. I think I got all that right. If not someone here will correct me.

Confusing this even more, Jim Parker had knives made in Germany in the 1990s which were stamped with the names of E.C. Simmons and other old brands, but there were no “date code” or other markings to indicate their status as “reproductions”. Some of those had “Germany” ink-stamped on them, which can fairly easily be removed. The result of all this being it is difficult at best to determine the age of knives stamped E.C. Simmons.

Ken

[Miller Bro's]

Here's are some I have .....

[Waukonda]

Here's are some I have .....

Nice lineup of knives! I like that Deboer & Bach, and find the well used Shapleigh to still be a striking example of cutlery! Thanks for showing.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Here's.....

That is a wonderful sextet, Dimitri.

[Miller Bro's]

Nice lineup of knives! I like that Deboer & Bach, and find the well used Shapleigh to still be a striking example of cutlery! Thanks for showing.

Thanks Ike

[Miller Bro's]

That is a wonderful sextet, Dimitri.

Thanks Skip

[1967redrider]

Sweet group, Dimitri!

[Bpack68]

Nice old knife. Is there any KK etch showing at all? It is before the bar and wedge logo.

Harold

HI Harold,

Can't see any etchings.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Picked this up at Lexington. The dealer had eight or ten pearl handled gunstock whittlers like this, so I stopped to see if, by chance, one might be a Terrier.

No such luck.

But, he had this Moore-Handley Hardware.

Moore-Handley was one of three wholesale hardware firms located in Birmingham, along with Wimberly-Thomas and Long-Lewis.

All three sold pocketknives. I’ve seen Moore-Handley and Wimberly-Thomas marked knives. Not sure Long-Lewis ever sold their own brand.

Blades are full, but pitted.

Faint “AMERICA’S BEST” remains.

Good snap all around.

All but the nail file are stamped.

Probably made by Camillus.

[Reverand]

Picked this up at Lexington. The dealer had eight or ten pearl handled gunstock whittlers like this, so I stopped to see if, by chance, one might be a Terrier.

No such luck.

But, he had this Moore-Handley Hardware.

Moore-Handley was one of three wholesale hardware firms located in Birmingham, along with Wimberly-Thomas and Long-Lewis.

All three sold pocketknives. I’ve seen Moore-Handley and Wimberly-Thomas marked knives. Not sure Long-Lewis ever sold their own brand.

Blades are full, but pitted.

Faint “AMERICA’S BEST” remains.

Good snap all around.

All but the nail file are stamped.

Probably made by Camillus.

That is a fine knife, Charlie!
I had not heard of Moore Handley hardware until I "restored" (modified, really) one of their knives, a cigar patterned Moose. I found out that they moved from being a hardware retailer and became the 3rd largest hardware wholesaler in the U.S.!
Sad that they went out of business.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Yes.

They became “HomeCrafters”, I think, but places like Lowes and Home Depot did them in.

[Bpack68]

Hey Sears experts,

Can anyone tell by the pics which company made this Wilbert knife? Thank you.

Wilbert 3.jpg (31.74 KiB) Viewed 716 times

[Mumbleypeg]

Likely Napanoch. They made most Wilbert’s - maybe all of them.

Ken

[Bpack68]

Ken,

Thank you for the reply. I've read Napanoch, Empire and possibly others. Doesn't resemble the Empire that I have.

[peanut740]

Ken,

Thank you for the reply. I've read Napanoch, Empire and possibly others. Doesn't resemble the Empire that I have.

Possibly a Challenge,they made at least as many as Napanoch.

[Bpack68]

Challenge is a definite possibility. Thank you!

[Bpack68]

Interesting find. Wagner Hdwe Co. over Ohio Cut Co. Massillon stamp (very faint in photo). Tru-Temper on back of main blade. OH Cut Co was only in existence for 4 years 1919-1923 due to a fire (Goins’). Would this knife be Ohio Cut Co made or possibly someone came across old blades and assembled some knives for Wagner? Anyone have any insight? Thank you.

IMG_1157.jpeg (109.94 KiB) Viewed 291 times

[Jacknifeben]

HAR MAC , HARPER McINTIRE had a ware house in Ottumwa Iowa back in the 1930,s. This had to be one of there fancier knife with whittler pattern,slant,grooved bolsters, and three back springs. Nice UTICA CUTLERY CO. UTICA N.Y. Stamp.

[C-WADE7]

HAR MAC , HARPER McINTIRE had a ware house in Ottumwa Iowa back in the 1930,s. This had to be one of there fancier knife with whittler pattern,slant,grooved bolsters, and three back springs. Nice UTICA CUTLERY CO. UTICA N.Y. Stamp.

Great knife, that big spear point is awesome.

[edge213]

HAR MAC , HARPER McINTIRE had a ware house in Ottumwa Iowa back in the 1930,s. This had to be one of there fancier knife with whittler pattern,slant,grooved bolsters, and three back springs. Nice UTICA CUTLERY CO. UTICA N.Y. Stamp.

I love everything about this one.

[Reverand]

Interesting find. Wagner Hdwe Co. over Ohio Cut Co. Massillon stamp (very faint in photo). Tru-Temper on back of main blade. OH Cut Co was only in existence for 4 years 1919-1923 due to a fire (Goins’). Would this knife be Ohio Cut Co made or possibly someone came across old blades and assembled some knives for Wagner? Anyone have any insight? Thank you.
IMG_1154.jpegIMG_1157.jpegIMG_1158.jpeg

I am no expert on this manufacturer, but in studying the pictures I see no evidence of tampering. The grind line for the tang stamp looks odd (typically they are straight across), but it does not look altered to me. I can only assume that it was part of their manufacturing process, but would love to compare it to others to see.
It would be rare for a counterfeiter to also put a Hardware distributor's name on one, so until we find out more I am going to assume that it is legitimate.
It is definitely a beauty!

[wlf]

Hey Sears experts,

Can anyone tell by the pics which company made this Wilbert knife? Thank you.

Wilbert 3.jpgWilbert 2.jpgWilbert 1.jpg

Camillus made some too.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Interesting.....

From GOINS 1998 Edition.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on the picture to ENLARGE.

[wlf]

Interesting find. Wagner Hdwe Co. over Ohio Cut Co. Massillon stamp (very faint in photo). Tru-Temper on back of main blade. OH Cut Co was only in existence for 4 years 1919-1923 due to a fire (Goins’). Would this knife be Ohio Cut Co made or possibly someone came across old blades and assembled some knives for Wagner? Anyone have any insight? Thank you.
IMG_1154.jpegIMG_1157.jpegIMG_1158.jpeg

I am no expert on this manufacturer, but in studying the pictures I see no evidence of tampering. The grind line for the tang stamp looks odd (typically they are straight across), but it does not look altered to me. I can only assume that it was part of their manufacturing process, but would love to compare it to others to see.
It would be rare for a counterfeiter to also put a Hardware distributor's name on one, so until we find out more I am going to assume that it is legitimate.
It is definitely a beauty!

Although this knife seems legitimate , we've seen many sway back jacks that have been put together with old hardware stamps. There are threads where this was discussed.