The Peanut Jack

[LongBlade]

I would like to start a thread on the Peanut Jack… also known as a Serpentine Jack but characteristically if I understand correctly the Peanut Jacks are somewhat smaller (3” or less) and I would guess are a subcategory of Serpentine Jacks. Shaped like a peanut sometimes these have rounded ends or are slightly pointed. I am not sure who is credited with the first “Peanut” knife design… I imagine Serpentine Jacks have been around since the 1800s. From what I gather Case produced what is probably the most talked about Peanut Jack as I have read threads on just this knife alone. I also believe the Case Peanuts were produced long after this Empire which I am showing to start the thread. Peanut Jacks are known for having that size just comfortable enough to stick in your pocket and are considered good utility knives according to folks who use them as an EDC.

Below is an Empire Winsted CT Peanut Jack with fancy celluloid scales – not sure if there is a particular name for this celluloid design. The Empire Knife Co itself had a lifespan from 1856 to 1930 (for those who do not know and are interested) and was considered one of the major manufacturers of knives in the late 1800s – early 1900s. The length of this peanut is 3” closed… blades have a hard snap, half-stops and are near full with a nice long pull on master blade. The end bolster is pointed. The tang stamp is Empire Winsted CT and I do have an Empire Whittler with this same tang stamp. I only see Empire W. Winsted in Goins so not sure why this particular tang stamp is not pointed out as I have seen it on other Empire knives as well. (As an aside my only other Empire knife right now is a Swell End Jack with a very early tang stamp – Empire Knife Co. Winsted CT (1856-1860) according to Goins – different topic and different thread but think Empire may deserve a thread to itself).

Just an aside to the celluloid on this one – I see some brown/bronze tint through some of the clearer parts of the celluloid handle – I think I am seeing the brass liner… HOPEFULLY not starting to outgas but was this way when I found it at Brimfield… There is very slight shrinkage at the bolsters – but maybe it was not exactly tight to the bolster to begin. This knife has its own little mansion and gets waited on hand and foot since it sports those scales … It sure was happy to have his picture taken and get out of the house - open air design mind you … This knife is also what triggered by previous thread about re-handling and collectability/value should the celluloid decide to self-destruct!!

If you have Peanuts.. ( popcorn and cracker jacks )) please post them up… any makes, old ones, new ones, add some history or comments about them etc etc … I’m sure I’m mssing something important about them.. I have yet to see another made by an old CT knife maker as well… Lets have a Peanut Fest!!

Cheers
Lee

[Colonel26]

I'm not a fan of peanut knives at all. (I love to eat peanuts though).

But that one I like, a lot! I can see why you're so drawn to it.

[knifeaholic]

Lee; There is a guy that is an NCCA member who specializes not in Peanuts but in the "3" dogleg" pattern. He would refer to your knife not as a Peanut, but as a 3" dogleg. Further proof that knife pattern names are never cast in stone.

[LongBlade]

Thanks Steve!!! Well - my search everywhere lead me to believe this was a peanut jack - what I gathered was serpentine was the general shape but doglegs were bigger than 3" - quite frankly I see all this as "hazy" in terms of definition. Afterall there is no "bible" in terms of strictly defining a knife... I guess if I assumed wrong I should edit the title of post to "The Peanut Jack or Dogleg" - and edit my post.. So what is his definition exactly and the basis for it? Just trying to understand and I do appreciate your comment...!! Guess this should generate some good discussion here based on members of this forum !!

[carrmillus]

I'm not a fan of peanut knives at all. (I love to eat peanuts though).

But that one I like, a lot! I can see why you're so drawn to it.

....col., goobers is great!!!!..... ............love 'em parched over an open fire!!!.... .......

[FRJ]

What a beautiful old knife. That thing has everything going for it.
Beautiful spear and cap bolster.
Half stops and long pull. Serpentine, and it's a Empire.
Can't ask for more than that.
Nice one, Lee.

[royal0014]

I like 'peanut' jacks, though with the bullet end I would call the Empire a small dog-leg jack.
I keep one and two bladed versions in my rotation. If you get a chance, check out a Schrade 72OT.

[LongBlade]

Thanks again all for the replies and I find this rather interesting!! I guess I opened a can of worms here ... I knew prior to posting this and based on reading threads on different forums that the 'Peanut" Jack is one of those knives that is not so clear in definition and certainly one in which folks seem to like it or hate it - for whatever reasons.. Quite frankly I don't collect Peanut Jacks but fell on this one that I wasn't going to leave based on price & what I like for the collection as well as being in excellent condition... and I am the first to turn away from celluloid handles except in special circumstances like this.

I am basing my referral to this knife as a Peanut Jack based on my reading of Levine's 3rd edition... I am attaching clips on his reference to Serpentine Jacks - note he mentions Peanuts are 2 3/4" or so in length (note he references jacks as being between 3/1/4" to 3 3/4" in general) and refers to them as having rounded or pointed ends... to that note see the "Peanuts" he has as examples which have a pointed or rounded end - and in fact go up to 3 & 1/8"... clip or spear blades as well... along with a pen blade.

I know Case produced a Peanut that was defined as 2 3/4" and Steve had this in his excellent book on Case knives... maybe that is how folks define a Peanut - by the Case Peanut as it has been sold as such and documented. In other threads on other forums I gather that Peanuts and doglegs are in fact one of the same but all fall under Serpentine Jacks... bigger Peanut Jacks being called Jumbo Peanuts... etc etc... but I found no great definition on a Peanut anywhere which prompted this thread... not the knife per se...

I understand why some folks think a Peanut should have rounded ends - it is supposed to resemble the agricultural legume... which had me thinking about the bag of whole roasted peanuts I ate at Fenway Park a week or so ago ... so check these 2 photos - a peanut with a pointed end and a rounded end

Peanut with pointed end.jpg (135.61 KiB) Viewed 5536 times

Peanut with rounded end.jpg (100.9 KiB) Viewed 5536 times

All fooling around aside - I was hoping this thread would serve as a reference point for folks who are searching for information on Peanut Jacks... I know I have not been in this game as long as many of you but in the last year I have added to a collection of knives that started 50 years ago with a gift from my uncle (which quite frankly is a Puma Jadgmesser with a 1965 serial number - the year he gave it to me - probably worth more now than any other knife I own from my understanding) - except I only became more interested in evolving my knives to a certain degree in the last year and the collection expanded exponentially. I can tell you that AAPK no doubt serves as a great reference for the beginner or more experienced as well!! When I started to search various knife topics I no doubt ended up on AAPK sooner than later... many threads on AAPK are informative from many aspects and serve as a great reference!!

I would like to see this discussion continue and would love to see photos of other knives that are considered Peanuts or even doglegs - I don't have any other Peanut Jacks and quite frankly may never pending the situation (though I would buy them everyday and all day given the same price and condition of this one I stumbled across)... Other comments as to their rationale and definition of a Peanut - why is it a dogleg rather than a Peanut - or why you like or don't like them would certainly be interesting... and of course anything else anybody wishes to add

Cheers
Lee

[jerryd6818]

Dogleg, peanut, serpentine, call 'em what you want. I consider all my two bladed sub-three inch knives to be peanuts.

The 3¼" - 3-3/8" (and larger) two bladed knives, I just call Jack Knives. My knives, my naming convention. Your knives, your naming convention.

[carrmillus]

....jerry, that's a great collection of peanuts!!...I'm still looking for a 4 line Camillus!!.... .........

[jerryd6818]

....jerry, that's a great collection of peanuts!!...

Thanks to you of course Tommy, since you donated almost half of them.

[Old Hunter]

Nice old Empire knife you have there LongBlade; I'm enjoying reading your discussion on peanuts. I see the term "Peanut" as a slang term, or an informal name, adopted by some folks (and "officially" by Case) for penknife sized serpentine jacks - not the only name for the pattern, but definitely a good one. So rather than try to be real specific, I would say if a knife looks like a peanut, then it is a peanut. Although I find them too small for my EDC tastes they are certainly not useless and I like looking at them. I own a couple, but don't carry them - the Case Peanut stays in it's original box unused (since 1990), but this single blade Schrade 12OT "Pal" (2-7/8" OAL) stays in my desk drawer for office use. It is a good little knife, quite snappy, always sharp and gets used a couple of times a week. OH

[carrmillus]

....what???.....now that shows just how old I am!!!.............. ............

[TripleF]

My understanding is:
Jack = 2 blades, same end.
Peanut = 3" or under

I picked up this Colonial in a lot purchase today...

[FRJ]

Well, I've got Levines 3rd. and that changed my mind about Peanuts. I thought they needed to be under 3" but seeing that plate has changed my mind.
I had more than I thought.
Here's some.

[Old Hunter]

Scott - that is something, your Colonial pen knife. My Ole Granny (Great-Grandma) died in 1970 - she lived across the street from us with my Grandma - I used to visit her nearly every afternoon after school. My Grandma gave me two pen knives that Ole Granny had in her room - this Providence Cutlery Company (identical to yours) and a Kutmaster. OH

[jerryd6818]

Once again I'm swimming outside the rope. I refer to my 3¼" and 3-3/8" jacks as "medium jacks". I've really formed an attachment to that size.

[Colonel26]

Hey, I found one I think. Does this little WHITE HOUSE (Case) count? Or is it not peanut because it isn't serpentine? I don't know.

[TripleF]

Scott - that is something, your Colonial pen knife. My Ole Granny (Great-Grandma) died in 1970 - she lived across the street from us with my Grandma - I used to visit her nearly every afternoon after school. My Grandma gave me two pen knives that Ole Granny had in her room - this Providence Cutlery Company (identical to yours) and a Kutmaster. OH

That is something Bruce....WOW. Too cool.
Under cloer review mine is NOT a Colonial, rather a Prov. Cut. Co. as is yours my friend!

[Old Hunter]

How about that Scott - wonder were the two companies linked (like Imperial and Schrade)? Both in Providence and both makers of inexpensive knives. By the way, mine measures 2-3/4". OH

[jerryd6818]

A copy of a post by Philco in a thread called 'Providence vs Colonial Cutlery Co.' back in July of 2011.
( viewtopic.php?f=4&t=24880 )


"How about a little history lesson?

The Providence Cutlery Co. was started in 1916 by Dominick and Anthony Paolantonio. The business was in Providence R.I. By 1925 they had sold the company to Nicholas Amoroso. They are known for making shell handled knives.

In 1926 three of the Paolantonio brothers, Dominick, Antonio (Anthony?) and Fortunato, started the Colonial Knife Company in Providence, R.I. The company is known for making shell handled knives just like their previously owned company is.

This information taken from Goin's Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings.

I think it can safely be assumed that Providence and Colonial share a lot of the same influence since they were both started by the same family.

Phil"

[LongBlade]

Nice knives guys... and now the infamous Peanut Jack is clear as to a definition ... one of those things you can call a Peanut if you like but has to be serpentine and smaller than your "normal" jack - whatever that is

Jerry - nice display of Peanuts ... I wonder if some of those Camillus peanuts are from the early days of the company..

Joe - nice examples from your collection...

Bruce - I'm glad someone posted a Case - that one no doubt is a classic Peanut having been given the name by the company!! The Schrade single clip blade... nice!!

Scott & Bruce - now that is one cool story with that single knife - all because you guys have "nuts"

Colonel - I would call that White House a Swell End Peanut Jack a distant cousin of the serpentine ..nice looking knife - in truth I have an affinity for swell end jacks....

[jerryd6818]

Jerry - I wonder if some of those Camillus peanuts are from the early days of the company..

Most are not. They are almost all double line (after 1990), with, I think, one long line (1960-1976 although I think you could stretch those dates) and maybe one Italic Stamp (197x-198x).

[carrmillus]

....jerry, the only peanut I got left is a double line, single blade that has the jigged delrin that looks like the old jigged bone.............i really like this one!!....i sure don't remember sending you all them peanuts, though(was it a whole bag??)!!......old age????................. ..........

[Old Hunter]

Jerry, thank you for looking up Phils old thread that answered my speculation; the cutlery industry was interconnected like a spiderweb! OH