Hardware Store and Distributor Knives

[RobesonsRme.com]

Another Birmingham, Alabama based hardware wholesale company was Wimberly - Thomas, located on the South Side, adjacent to railroad tracks.

There have been very few folding knives found that were marked Wimberly - Thomas, I think I have seen three and it's possible two of those were the same knife.

I picked this off of Ebay a few months ago.

We had another hardware jobber here, Long Lewis Hardware. Sometime in the late teens or early twenties, they started selling Ford automobiles and that, now, is all that remains, Long Lewis Ford.

I have never seen a Long Lewis knife, but the Ford dealership has old photos of the hardware store in their showroom and there are obviously pocketknives in some of the display cases, makes unknown.

Charlie Noyes

[RobesonsRme.com]

There are avid collectors of Birmingham hardware affiliated knives in this area and when one finds something like this, it can be quickly sold.

That goes for razors, too.

I once had a razor marked "Birmingham Stove and Range Co."

Never did figure that one out, unless they were meant to be give-aways.

Charlie

[philco]

Nice little piece of history you have in that knife Charlie.

[1967redrider]

How about some E.C. Simmons Hardware Company Keen Kutters? The serpentine and barehead jacks are SHAPLEIGH HWD. CO. (DE) stamped.

[wlf]

You once said "He has cornered the market". Seems you are trying to go down the same road.Wish I still had this E C Simmons.I will try and run it down,if you're interested.

I absolutely love that jumbo whittler. How about it going solo here.

[1967redrider]

Great looking knife, Lyle. Here you go. Including a picture from Sargent's 2nd Edition, Page 327. His is in a little rougher condition.

[carrmillus]

............this one has really "flung a cravin' on me"!!!!................ ....................

[wlf]

That's a prize buddy,I love that knife.

[Colonel26]

Man what a looker! That ol Keen Kutter whittler is something else!

[danno50]

Beautiful Keen Kutter whittler. Alvin Sellens claims that model was manufactured from 1921 through to 1929.
Dan

[1967redrider]

Thanks guys, and for the info!

[dcgm4]

This congress is marked "Ainslie-Martin Co." The hardware store was located in Lynchburg, VA from about 1900 to 1922.

[FRJ]

Very nice congress, Dave.

[dcgm4]

Thanks, Joe.

[RalphAlsip]

Here are pictures of a moose knife marked "John Primble Belknap Hdw. & Mfg. Co." I believe this marking indicates a date range between 1940 and 1968. It is also marked with 4989 as the pattern number. The closed length of the knife is 4".

Does anyone know who made the knife for Primble?

Thanks for looking and for any insights.

[peanut740]

Jerry,it's similar to a Miller Brothers surveyor pattern.But they went out of business in 1926.

[RalphAlsip]

Thanks Roger. I have the Milller Bros surveyor moose which is the reason that I acquired this Primble .

[espn77]

I really like both of your knives Jerry. Thanks for showing them.

[dcgm4]

Those two are fantastic.

[Old Folder]

Just posted this: Simmons Hardware Co. Austria c1890s on the "General Knife Discussion Board" Titled: "11 Blade-Pearl Handles".
I think it belongs here also.

[kootenay joe]

A "Moose" is a double end jack built on a premium Stockman frame. The Primble & Miller Bros shown above are built on a 'fancy' Cattle knife frame are are called a double end Surveyor jack. "Double end" because the same frame can have both blades at the same end in which case it is a "Surveyor jack".
A double end Surveyor jack is more rare than a Moose and usually is more valuable. The 2 shown i think are great finds, very collectible !
kj

[mountainad82]

I collect items from the C.M. McClung Company that was located in Knoxville, TN. Here are some C.M. McClung knives I have picked up recently. The bone handled knives are branded Keeneredge which was a McClung brand of pocketknife. The wooden handled knife is the oldest. It dates to around the first decade of the 20th century.

[dcgm4]

Those C.M. McClung knives are very cool. You've done well to find that many considering it's a more obscure stamp. Collecting local knives can be a really interesting hobby. You can do a bit of research and become quite the expert on a particular company.

I collect knives from the Chesapeake Bay area. While I no longer live there, it's where I grew up. Here's a whittler made for the Virginia-Carolina Hardware Co. which was located in Richmond, VA. I've been unable to find the years for when the company opened and closed, but I do know it was in business at least from 1904 to 1925.

[mountainad82]

Thanks Dave. It is good to know that I am not the only one that is interested in collecting knives from their local area. That is a really cool hardware knife (and in much better condition than the hardware knives I have been able to locate). I have never heard of the Virginia-North Carolina Hardware Company. I just recently started collecting C.M. McClung knives. I knew it was going to be a challenge when I asked local knife collectors about them and I get a puzzled look or they tell that they have never owned/seen one. Makes the hunt that much more fun.

[dcgm4]

I agree with you completely. Searching for rare tang stamps is more fun than looking for knives you see every day. The hunt is definitely more difficult and can take a long time, but that just makes it more exciting and rewarding when you finally find the knife. It leaves you with a real sense of accomplishment.