Universal Resistain Knives

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 9:27 pm

I ran across these in a catalog circa 1931. I have never heard of Universal Knife Company not the Resistain knives. Perhaps it was an early form of stainless steel.

Notice that tobacco doesn't stain it. I guess plug tobacco was much more popular back then and the thing to do was cut the plug with your knife. None of this biting off a chaw!

Does anyone know about these? LT?

Thanks,
Dale

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:29 pm

they were made or distributed by LF&C

jfarmer · Post by **jfarmer** » Sat Nov 25, 2006 10:50 pm

I'll take a dozen of each at those prices lol.

James

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 6:47 am

Levine agrees LF&C contracts. I would bet the resistain is stainless. LT

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:03 am

I am told that stainless steel is a legal definition, So many parts vanadium, so much chromium, etc.
Back in the 1980s when I ran a cutlery store, there were some German made knives that were "No Stain Steel." They didn't meet the legal criterion to wear the name "Stainless" so the company called them "No Stain."

I don't know when the official definition of stainless steel was established. Resistain may have been a proprietary name for stainless steel before the official definition was established, or it may not have met the proper requirements to be called "stainless."

Just my $.02,
Dale

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 3:25 pm

Hey Dale,

That is interesting about a legal definition, as I've never heard of that, or seen anything in "Legalese".....and there are of course several categories of stainless steel.

The most common definition I've seen, is that a "stains" less steel contains Iron, Carbon, and a minimum of 12% Chromium.
Since you are a knifemaker you may already know this stuff, but others may possibly learn from it so, I'll take a shot...

Here is the steel chart from A. G. Russell's site...
http://www.agrussell.com/knife_informat ... index.html

Here is a site explaining the categories from a chemist's point of view...
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/metalsand ... 71201a.htm

And here is the Crucible Metal site...
http://www.crucibleservice.com/eselecto ... part1.html

Some knife folks are bored stiff by information like this...but maybe some others will enjoy at least some portion of it.

Besides, your post woke me up and sparked my juices this morning.

Bill

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 3:35 pm

I don't know I guess it is all up to definitions. I was at an auction once and the auctioneer held up one of a set of fancy goblets he before auctioning them described them as being cut glass. One of the buyers in the crowd asked him what he meant by cut glass. The auctioneer stopped for a minute looked at the faceted surface of the goblet and replied. That if you drop it and break it when you go to clean it up it could if you were not careful cut you. So I guess whatever that knife is made of if you do not use it then it will resist staining and remain stainless steel. LT

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Sun Nov 26, 2006 3:51 pm

Well now...

Like they say, if you just keep boiling something down...it all eventually fits into a shot glass.

Good to have you laying down some smack this morning LT.

Bill

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:26 pm

Hi interesting thread Dale. I too did not know that there was a legal definition for stainless.

In doing a little reading on the early stainless knives in Sheffield, it seems many different terms were used to market the new development. I have one knife that says 'rustless'. I believe George Buttler used the term 'non-stain' One of my knives has Rodger's stainless stamped on the blade which I believe they made, whereas a Wostenholm I have says Firth Stainless a trademark of a steel making company that supplied the blade for them. Expanding the ad shows that the middle knife in the left column has stainless on the blade and in the description. Given that it falls unders the general Resistain heading at the top, I conclude that they are of the same general category and that this is a catchy name used to market the product. That's my 2p worth anyway.

s-k

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:31 pm

2P or not 2P whether it is more noble to stain or retain and remain stainless, that is the question. The old English knives are among the nicest in the world. Unfortunately they especially the old automatics are extremely difficult to find even more difficult on this side of the pond. Should you ever see any ( old automatics please keep me in mind ) here are some pics of three in my collection. Mid 18 hundreds. Wostenholm. Late 18 hundreds French pearl stilleto, and a hand forged pre guild Austrian from bone . Of course of the euros the most common are the Italian and German. By the way often people will look at a european knife and will when asked what brand it is say INOX or ROSTFRE since those words often appear and often are all that is on the blade. If anyone cares those are not the brand names ( for which they are often mistaken ) no what they mean is simply stainless steel. LT

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:36 pm

S-K,
I am not sure if the definition I was told about is accepted internationally or if it just applies in the USA, My impression was that it was a US definition. But, a knife salesman told me about it, so I am not sure how accurate his info was.

You know what Plato said about salesmen.

Dale

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:21 pm

lt... i will keep my eyes peeled for Sheffield automatics. The are illegal here so I think they are especially rare. Thanks for posting your e.g.s

s-k