KINFOLKS USA tang stamp question:

[WCSnow]

I recently purchased a small KINFOLKS USA fixed blade knife but it doesn't have the same Kinfolks logo I am used to seeing on the tang. Instead it is a standard font with all capital letters that reads KINFOLKS over USA on one side and blank on opposite side. I found one similar online but I just can't help but wonder if it is a legitimate Kinfolks knife or when it may have been manufactured. I will try to upload a photo. Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

[WCSnow]

One I purchased, one I found a photo online

[WCSnow]

Trying to get second photo to upload

[WCSnow]

Try again here.....

[btrwtr]

Certainly a legitimate knife.

[Gunsil]

It would be better to see the whole knife, but it looks like a really late model Kinfolks from the early 1960s when they had been sold to Robeson and manufacturing was moved from Little Valley to Perry, NY.

[WCSnow]

[WCSnow]

Thank you very much

[doglegg]

It is a very good looking knife.

[WCSnow]

Thank you. I have been collecting folders for years but just recently started getting into some older fixed blades. I saw this one and jumped on it because I had never seen that tang stamp before. Not much info about this particular stamp online anywhere. I have been reading threads on AAPK for years but only joined today because I know there are some great minds on here when it comes to old knives. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time for this clean little knife. I appreciate y'all's knowledge.

[RobesonsRme.com]

In about 1940, Saul Frankel, the then owner of The Robeson Cutlery Company, lured Emerson Case to come run his new company. Emerson Case was at Kinfolks Cutlery at the time.

Case managed to turn Robeson around, financially speaking and also instituted some new and innovative ideas and designs, some of which we still talk about and admire on AAPK on a regular basis.

Another thing he did was acquire the Kinfolks name for Robeson and they produced a somewhat limited line of pocketknives and straight kinives.

I have never actually taken a great interest in that part of Robeson's manufactury, but I recognize the folders when I see them, based mostly on the blade pulls, which are proprietary to Robeson. The straight knives, not so much, as I never got interested in Robeson straight knives, except for their WWII production.

I suspect the OP knife was made by Robeson.

There is a fascinating web-page for Kinfolks Cutlery Company and a good many of us should have it bookmarked on our computers.

http://kinfolksinc.com/

I have found a couple of errors re' Robeson Cutlery, but otherwise a nice site. For instance, they credit Emerson Case with developing the PocketEze line of knives in 1950. PocketEze knives were being made by Robeson well before WWII, probably as far back as the 1920's or 30's.

Charlie Noyes

[WCSnow]

Great information. Thank you for your time and for sharing your knowledge. I will look into this site.

[Gunsil]

Seeing your whole knife it is definitely as I had said, made in Perry, NY under Robeson ownership of the Kinfolks brand, likely early 1960s. That Kinfolks site is pretty good, Dean Case whose site it is is a friend of mine but there is some info in his book and on the site which has recently been proven incorrect. Dean is a true gentleman whose family owned Kinfolks and there is some good info there also.

[WCSnow]

I checked out the site and tried to send a question about tang stamp dates but I couldn't send the message because I couldn't prove to the site it's self that I am not a robot... I appreciate your willingness to help me with this. I am just going to go with the info I have gotten here. You gentlemen are great.