Old Keen Kutter Knives

Keen Kutter was first used as a knife brand by Simmons Hardware Company in 1870. The trademark was used on the highest quality tools and cutlery Simmons offered.
User avatar
jxr1197
Posts: 963
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:47 am

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by jxr1197 »

KnifeSlinger#81 wrote:Wow, that is one heck of a knife. Quite expensive for the time too.
Thanks Paul. When you go through the old Walden catalog the first thing that grabs your attention is the prices. This knife would have been about $100 wholesale (adjusted.) All the patterns were kind of expensive, but man were they pretty ::nod:: !
- Jason
User avatar
KnifeSlinger#81
Posts: 4171
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2015 8:50 pm
Location: Oklahoma
Contact:

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by KnifeSlinger#81 »

Some people are willing to pay big bucks for high end or fancy knives, I guess back then wasn't much different.
-Paul T.

WANTED: Shapleigh Diamond Edge branded Schrades in good condition.
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3657
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

That is a beauty, Jason, great find! ::tu::
Dan
User avatar
1967redrider
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 16106
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:23 pm
Location: Alexandria, VA
Contact:

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

jxr1197 wrote:I don't look for old lobsters but this one sure caught my eye. Simmons crammed a lot of character into this little guy ::tu::

K4943
K4943.jpg

1917 catalog image from COSRUS
cat.jpg

That's really nice, great find! ::tu:: ::tu::
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!

You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
User avatar
jxr1197
Posts: 963
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:47 am

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by jxr1197 »

Thanks fellas - I appreciate the comments ::tu::
- Jason
User avatar
LongBlade
Posts: 3416
Joined: Mon May 18, 2015 3:00 pm
Location: Woods of CT

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by LongBlade »

Late to the party but that is an awesome Simmons knife and cool pattern Jason ::tu:: ::tu:: .. pretty unique design for a lobster too imo 8) ... Thanks for sharing that catalog cut from 1917 as well ...
____________________________________________________________________________
Lee
User avatar
wlf
Posts: 4763
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:55 am
Location: WV

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by wlf »

Nice knife. It’s always icing on the cake with their catalog cut ::tu:: ::tu::
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]

GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

May the Father and Son bless
Lyle
User avatar
jxr1197
Posts: 963
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:47 am

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by jxr1197 »

I just picked up this interesting Keen Kutter 3.5" jack. The tang stamp is 3 lines: SIMMONS - H'DWARE - CO
It's not in Goins. The same stamp with England beneath it is a known 1868-1905 mark so it's likely the same era. Any guesses on who made it?
closed.jpg
tang.jpg
- Jason
User avatar
New_Windsor_NY
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 10828
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2018 4:50 pm
Location: I'm On The Far Right On The Left Coast In Commiefornia

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

It looks like the price is Per Dozen. ::shrug::
Attachments
image.jpeg
image.jpeg (39.29 KiB) Viewed 3107 times
Kid: "Wish we had time to bury them fellas."
Josey Wales: "To hell with them fellas. Buzzards got to eat, same as worms."
Clint Eastwood-The Outlaw Josey Wales

Skip
User avatar
jxr1197
Posts: 963
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 3:47 am

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by jxr1197 »

New_Windsor_NY wrote:It looks like the price is Per Dozen. ::shrug::
You're right but I think you may have missed the year. It would break down to a wholesale of about $4.66 per knife in 1917 which would work out to about $100 today. At $56 per, we'd be talking about a $1200 wholesale cost.
- Jason
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3657
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Interesting stamp, Jason, I have not seen that one before.
Dan
JAMESC41001
Posts: 892
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:14 pm

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by JAMESC41001 »

I’ve seen Keen Kutter knives advertised saying the are made with “Sheffield Steel” does anyone have information that can shed more light on this. Like what year this started or ended. I recently purchased Mr. Sellens book but have to say I’m a little disappointed with the lack of information. Makes a great catalog though.
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3657
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

JAMESC41001 wrote:I’ve seen Keen Kutter knives advertised saying the are made with “Sheffield Steel” does anyone have information that can shed more light on this. Like what year this started or ended. I recently purchased Mr. Sellens book but have to say I’m a little disappointed with the lack of information. Makes a great catalog though.
Good question. Below is a page from the 1912 catalog. Hopefully, it is readable. Under the section titled Blades, it has a description of the blades being hammer forged from the "Highest Grade of English Crucible Steel imported especially for the purpose". The 1917 catalog has exactly the same description. The 1930 catalog says the blades "are forged from the Highest Grade of Steel especially for the purpose". So they quit importing English steel sometime between 1918 and 1930?
In the picture of the boxes, I believe the box on the right may be from before 1905, when the wedge and bar shield was first used. It states that the knives were manufactured from S & C Wardlow's English Knife Blade Steel. This still doesn't answer when they first started using English steel?

Have to click on each of the images to make them large enough to be readable.
Attachments
simmons-1912-no-776-394.jpg
RIMG1363.JPG
Dan
stockman
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3666
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:19 pm

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by stockman »

Jason, I have a couple KK's marked like yours. You have a nice old knife. It is before the Bar and wedge logo, probably pre 1905. IMO.

Harold

Sorry I did not read Dans reply. Edit

Harold
JAMESC41001
Posts: 892
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2012 8:14 pm

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by JAMESC41001 »

Thanks Dan, That’s perfect I think I may be able to fill in the blanks. Picked up an interesting book. I think I will be able to connect some dots using the info you provided here. Much appreciated.
Jay
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3657
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Harold, if you have KKs with the same stamp as the one Jason posted, could you please post photos?
Jay, please keep us informed as to what you figure out.
Dan
User avatar
wlf
Posts: 4763
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:55 am
Location: WV

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by wlf »

First is an old KK. Not much for looks, but it is the only one I've seen alive. Greener bone than most any other old green bone I've seen.Standard 4" FJ.I'm not good on the stamps dating like you Dan. I hope it's visible enough.
Attachments
Keen Kutter063.jpg
Keen Kutter067.jpg
Keen Kutter065.jpg
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]

GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

May the Father and Son bless
Lyle
User avatar
wlf
Posts: 4763
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:55 am
Location: WV

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by wlf »

Here is a Simmons Hardware (less Germany,as far as I can see) Hornet (less the triangle too).
Attachments
Simmons Hardware514.jpg
Simmons Hardware513.jpg
Simmons Hardware 1.jpg
Simmons Hardware 2.jpg
Simmons Hardware 3.jpg
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]

GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

May the Father and Son bless
Lyle
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3657
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Lyle, the information I offer on KKs is not based on tang stamps, it comes from matching a knife to the most likely one listed in Alvin Sellens book on Keen Kutters. Sometimes it is very obvious and sometimes not. Anyone who has the book can do the same.
There is only one farmer's jack in Sellens book, pattern number K0243. His lists it as being in the Simmons catalogs from 1905 through to 1920.
The Simmons Hardware FJ is a beautiful knife!! ::tu::
Dan
JohnR
Bronze Tier
Bronze Tier
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2015 11:43 am
Location: Maryland

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by JohnR »

Added this decent Keen Kutter Barlow, pattern 2881. Fairly full blades other than a divot out of the main, thinking 1920's due the the Made In USA and hammered pins.
Attachments
IMG_0106.jpg
IMG_0103.jpg
IMG_0113.jpg
User avatar
wlf
Posts: 4763
Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:55 am
Location: WV

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by wlf »

Pretty nice John.
I buy roosters combs and farmers..........................................................jack knives [/b]

GEC SFOs and others at LICK CREEK CUTLERY- www.allaboutpocketknives.com/wlf

May the Father and Son bless
Lyle
JohnR
Bronze Tier
Bronze Tier
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2015 11:43 am
Location: Maryland

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by JohnR »

wlf wrote:Pretty nice John.
Thanks Lyle, I do like these old ones, lots of character.
User avatar
KAW
Posts: 522
Joined: Thu Aug 03, 2017 8:33 pm
Location: was Ulster Co., NY; now Hanover Co., VA

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by KAW »

Very nice John ::tu:: ... really an every day workman's knife... tough to find a vintage barlow that not well used... and why I have only one which also is of lower grade condition until something better comes along... been years and still waiting...
'til later....
Ken

10031 means.... never having a dull moment. 8)
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3657
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Nice old barlow, John! ::tu::
Dan
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3657
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

I picked up a few Keen Kutters at the OKCA show this year.
Attachments
RIMG1756.JPG
RIMG1757.JPG
RIMG1758.JPG
RIMG1759.JPG
RIMG1760.JPG
RIMG1761.JPG
RIMG1762.JPG
Dan
Post Reply

Return to “Keen Kutter”