All About Pocket Knives

Picked this one up at the Lehigh Valley Knife show yesterday. The master is a little slow, the re-profiled secondary is snappy though. Nice reddish brown bone. This one has both blades stamped KK inside the logo and the master blade is stamped K0198. Is the KK stamp common? Used on smaller blades? A couple of pics.

Steve, according to Alvin Sellen's book, the KK stamping was used after 1939 when Shapleigh hardware acquired the keenkutter name. I would imagine that it is fairly common, and used on all patterns made after that date. Hope this helps, and by the way, that's a sweet knife!!

Here's a little peanut I got today at the local flea. Lots of action and half stops x2 with the common KK stamp.
I gotta keep an eye on these covers.
Nice knife Steve.

Thanks for the replies guys. The few references I've got were silent on the KK stamp, so thanks for filling that in.

That's a nice 'nut Joe.

steve99f wrote:Picked this one up at the Lehigh Valley Knife show yesterday. The master is a little slow, the re-profiled secondary is snappy though. Nice reddish brown bone. This one has both blades stamped KK inside the logo and the master blade is stamped K0198. Is the KK stamp common? Used on smaller blades? A couple of pics.

I own 170 Keen Kutters, of those, maybe 2 have the "KK" inside the logo stamping. The ones I've seen do not appear to be late (Goins' says AFTER 1960, manifestly incorrect in my opinion). To me, the ones I've seen appear to be closer to 1940 (more in line with Sellens). In addition, the pattern number K0198 is an early pattern. In Sellens' book, he lists it as being manufactured only until 1941. I would date it to close to the 1941 date.

JMO

I have very few with that tang stamp.

Thought about this a little more and I have a few more thoughts. First, this knife appears to be a Camillus made knife. I base that on appearance and also the fact that the pattern number, as I understand it, incorporates the "K" into it. In my experience knives with the "K" in the pattern number are Camillus manufacture. This stamp might very well have been made about the time of the transition between E.C. Simmons and Shapleigh. It would make sense that the "normal" stamp (the one with the words "Keen Kutter" inside the logo and with E.C. Simmons at the top) would be discontinued. Probably Camillus would still be producing the knives since they seemed to be the one producing most of the knives for E.C. Simmons after the breakup with Winchester and the consequent ending of production of knives by Walden. That would place production right around 1940.

Of course, all of this is speculation, however, it is based on knowledge of the history of the Keen Kutter stamping.

Still, JMO.

Would love to hear other opinions, especially from someone with direct knowledge.

msteele6:

Thanks for the added clarification on my little KK, much appreciated!

This recent acquisition is not old (I'm thinking 1950s). It's in very good condition and most likely made by Camillus.

That`s a nice shield Jerry

Post a picture of it over in the shield thread

Thanks for the suggestion Dimitri. That didn't cross my mind.

Received this Keen Kutter in the mail today. Thanks to Jerry 6818 on arranging the postage.It bone handle and had been drop at some time.Has had some repairs on the pile side handle.I would say this knife was made by Imperial or Schrade before 1959.It has 786 on the tang where Camillus has K30
Grant

Grant, my other one has 78 stamped on the pile side. I suppose it could be 786 but even under magnification it doesn't show any numbers or parts thereof other than the 78.

jerryd6818 wrote:Grant, my other one has 78 stamped on the pile side. I suppose it could be 786 but even under magnification it doesn't show any numbers or parts thereof other than the 78.

Here is a picture of the numbers.They are only just stamped.
If you enlarge your picture you can just see a faint outline of the six.
Mine does not have the matchstick pull.

Grant

That is a nice shield and a nice knife Jerry.All these old knives are nice.

Has anyone ever seen a farmers jack in any KK catalog?I have Shapleigh and a Norvel,but don't remember ever seeing any Simmons or KKs. Thanks

I don't actually recall seeing a farmer's jack from Keen Kutter, however, Sellen's shows one (marked K0243) offered until 1920.

msteele6 wrote:I don't actually recall seeing a farmer's jack from Keen Kutter, however, Sellen's shows one (marked K0243) offered until 1920.

Thanks Steele ,I just bought the book.

Traded for this old small KK with my friend knife-nut. It was hard to scan. Hope you like it.E.C. Simmons/
St. Louis. aluminum bolsters little engraved flowers on them.

Harold

Nice Harold,congratulations,I'd say there aren't many of those to be found....

Lot's of nice knives posted since I last commented. Mike (galvanic1882) was kind enough to sell me this one. Inked on pattern number on the back is K2740, which Alvin Sellens says was manufactured between 1905 and 1916. The last photo is one of Mike's photos from the ad.
Dan

Danno, that's a beautiful knife! And to have the original etch makes it all the better! congrats.

Thanks Tim

Gorgeous pearl.

Beautiful piece of cutlery,Mike has some great knives.

Mike does have some great knives, I am very happy he decided to part with this one.
Dan