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.
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danno50
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Very nice ebony jack, David! ::tu::
Dan
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edge213
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by edge213 »

danno50 wrote:Very nice ebony jack, David! ::tu::
Thank you Dan.
David
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1967redrider
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

Took my dad to Cracker Barrel tonight for his birthday (Monday) and I saw this, had to take a picture.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by mastiff »

Not a hard core collector but having fun... This is my first KA-BAR pocket knife ever...
Not sure how old, it is supposed to be a rope knife!! Very sturdy and strong snap!
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by ratlesnake75 »

Hey Guys, Can you help me with approximate dating of this E.C Simmons Keen kutter & where it may have been made?
It has all nickel silver construction, hammered pins & the small Winchester type shield which lead me to think its 1920s era but I dont know.
On back of master blade is stamped 4428
Thank you very much for the help on this one
Kind Regards,
Mark
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1967redrider
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

Cool find, I'll look in the Sellens book when I get home.
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
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1967redrider
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

ratlesnake75 wrote:Hey Guys, Can you help me with approximate dating of this E.C Simmons Keen kutter & where it may have been made?
It has all nickel silver construction, hammered pins & the small Winchester type shield which lead me to think its 1920s era but I dont know.
On back of master blade is stamped 4428
Thank you very much for the help on this one
Kind Regards,
Mark
Well, Sellens lists a K4428 Vaquero in stag, made from 1905-1942, a red and white striped cell (K4425/C), and some Pearl variations as K4429. Price and Zalesky list it as stag too. ::shrug::

Could it be buffalo horn?
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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
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ratlesnake75
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by ratlesnake75 »

Thank you Redrider for looking that up. There is not a "K" in the pattern# --- Does that matter?
I also notice my shield is different than these pics. I really believe the handles are "slick black" composition
Kindest Regards,
Mark
I Buy/Sell/Trade All Vintage Antique Pocket knives from Junkers to Mint. I am Easy going, so Please shoot me a message ANYTIME!!! l Live & Breath KNIVES Everyday.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Nice looking KA-BAR, mastiff!
Mark, I believe your knife is the K4428, which 1967redrider posted from Sellens. Sellens produced his guide by looking at all the Simmons catalogs put out. However, there are gaps of up to 3 years where Simmons did not produce a catalog. I am sure that there were occasional handle variations produced that never made it into a catalog. I have 3 good Keen Kutters that have handle material that is different than that listed in Sellens guide. Also, Sellens picked one catalog cut out of the many years that a pattern was produced to represent that pattern. I am sure there were minor variations in shields etc. which are not represented by the one picture.
I would agree with you that your knife was likely made by Winchester. In my simplified view, a stamped pattern number, not preceded by the K, is usually a Winchester made knife.
Dan
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by ratlesnake75 »

Danno that is Awesome & I THANK YOU Sir for your expertise & sharing of information
Kindest Regards,
Mark
I Buy/Sell/Trade All Vintage Antique Pocket knives from Junkers to Mint. I am Easy going, so Please shoot me a message ANYTIME!!! l Live & Breath KNIVES Everyday.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by peanut740 »

Ebony saber grind spear blade jack.
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Roger
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danno50
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

very nice, Roger! ::tu::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by peanut740 »

Thanks Dan,it`s an old one.
Roger
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

Here is an EC Simmons Keen Kutter K2825 I felt sorry for. I found it today at the antique store and I guess the previous owner rehandled one side of it and then carved "J Hill" in it. Previous owners name I guess. Main blade has Hammer Forged on it. I guess I just felt it needed to come home with me. Cleaned her up a bit and oiled it and know she snaps like a gator. Thanks for looking. :)
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by msteele6 »

Nice one ::tu::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

msteele6 wrote:Nice one ::tu::
Thank you sir. :)
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1967redrider
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

Nice, woodwalker! I like how they stamped the blades on those in the series. ::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
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

1967redrider wrote:Nice, woodwalker! I like how they stamped the blades on those in the series. ::tu:: ::tu::
Thanks redrider!! Appreciate your comment! ::tu:: ::handshake:: :)
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danno50
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by danno50 »

Lot's of character in that old girl! ::tu::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

danno50 wrote:Lot's of character in that old girl! ::tu::
Thanks Danno! :) Some, I feel, still deserve some pocket time! Been carrying that rascal since I got her. I think it makes her smile. Sure does me. LOL. :) ::handshake::
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by knife-nut »

Here are some of my favorite keen kutters. 1st is a E.C.Simmons stag handled congress whistler. 2nd is a keen litter quill knife. 3rd is a E.C.Simmoms stag handled doodleg jack. 4th is a Simmons Hornet lockback dirk. It has an unusual locking mechanism. You have to swivel the guard on the back side to unlock the blade.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by btrwtr »

I can see why they are favorites. Very nice group of KK knives.
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by woodwalker »

knife-nut wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2019 2:50 am Here are some of my favorite keen kutters. 1st is a E.C.Simmons stag handled congress whistler. 2nd is a keen mutter quill knife. 3rd is a E.C.Simmoms stag handled doodles jack. 4th is a Simmons Hornet lockback dirk. It has an unusual locking mechanism. You have to swivel the guard on the back side to unlock the blade.
Very nice!! :)
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by edge213 »

knife-nut wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2019 2:50 am Here are some of my favorite keen kutters. 1st is a E.C.Simmons stag handled congress whistler. 2nd is a keen litter quill knife. 3rd is a E.C.Simmoms stag handled doodleg jack. 4th is a Simmons Hornet lockback dirk. It has an unusual locking mechanism. You have to swivel the guard on the back side to unlock the blade.
Those are some great KKs.
David
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
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Re: Old Keen Kutter Knives

Post by 1967redrider »

The stag on those is amazing! ::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
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