All About Pocket Knives

LT, you are right (of course) Hammer Brand was New York Knife. I guess I got excited seeing the pics.

I am still hoping to find an original New York Knife Hammer. They are so different than the shell hammers (at least from the pics I have seen). Some of the Imperial Hammers are nice knives, especially when compared to the junk that is being imported these days.

A Nap is also on my shipping list, but I have a a priority on the Hammer. I suppose it will all depend on which one I find first.

Thanks for the correction LT

Dale

I have seen LT's grinding stone and remember his telling the tale of how it was acquired. Something like a snail trail of swet across the plant floor and the picture of LT on his belly pushing the grinder onto his overloaded trailer brings a large smile to my face. In case you don't know LT he a large "boned" person about 12' tall. The grinder mus weigh close to 600 lb's. His house should be declared a museum but I dont think the fire laws in NY would allow him to conduct bi-hourly tours besides there aint enough room to walk other than single file through the rooms.

TTYL
Larry

Hey this knife lore forum is great. I have already shown this pic on the general forum but since Hammer Brands are being discussed, I thought I would show it here too.

James

Anyone is always invited for a tour I supply dinner ( homemade venison bratwurst ) and all the Crown Royal you might want or need, soda pop for kids. No charge my pleasure a few fellows have taken me up on the invite. The museum bill is going back to the legislature this years session starts Jan 1 I have to go to Albany since they have not idea one of what I am talking about ( so much for there knowing or caring about there heritage ). It got through the Senate last year however it got slammed in the assembly. Why???? well here is the really great part. The senate made one change it was not applicable for areas in the state over 250,000 people the reason for this was that since it included antique switchblade knives some 200 years old ( it was to dangerous for urban areas ). I don't know, some that I have one inch blades ( designed so that a woman would not break her nails when opening usually these were kept in a sewing basket) personally if I was going to use a weapon it would be one of the 14 handguns on my carry permit or perhapes a semi automatic rifle both of which are perfectly legal. In any event the senators included this codicil which frankly meant nothing to me since finding 250,000 deer up here would be easier that 250,000 people. However heres what happened the assembly commitee which consisted of 17 assembly people 13 of which were from NYC looked over the bill and said yea good idea but it dosen't do anything for us in the city so even though the idea is good well we will just shelve it until we can make a trade for a bill we want. Who cares if it is a good thing . Ah democracy in action. So I will be tilting at windmills again this year with nothing but logic reason and good intentions as my weapons obviously the wrong tools when dealing with politicians. By the way if any one does want to visit do it soon if I put any more stuff in this 10 room house or the 5 buildings outside there will no longer be anywhere for me to lay down let alone walk around. I bet you are sorry you asked. Take care LT

Hey Dale here is an idea make your own see attached pics here is the tang stamp , the box , and how they should come out. LT ( PS very large press is mandatory as hard as I push thid by hand into the steel I cannot get it to make the mark so I feel a press should be used. LT

LT,
Are you offering to loan me your priceless NYK Hammer Brand stamp???
I am truly touched (a fact my wife will vouch for especially where knives are concerned).

I am afraid a must decline your kind offer as I only have a 6 ton press which would not be adequate to cold stamp a blade, and I don't have a forge (yet at least) to hot stamp them. Besides I really don't like counterfeit knives.

But...........the stamp is cool

Dale

Dale,
Found this in an antique shop and they got me for $12.
I'll add another reply to show the stamping as you can only put 3 pics in a post.
Ron

This old knife walks'n'talks stronger than any US schrades that I've got.
It also has a strong half-stop.

2nd picture is the Model #.

That is sweet Ron!
$12 I would like to find one like that in a pawn shop out here!

Mossdancer called me today and is sending me a NYK Hammer. Thanks W.B.! I guess it needs a bit of work, beyond my skill & equipment level, but it is a good start. LT said there were a lot of them made, so they aren't hard to find.

The nice thing about the forum & ebay is that I can have access to knives across the country. In Oregon we find a lot of Gerbers, Kershaws, Bucks and some Benchmades in the pawn shops, along with Schrade & Camillus. Knives from the older companies back East that have been out of business for decades are a bit harder to find out here. The people in Oregon like to buy products from companies based here in Oregon, like Kershaw, Gerber, CRKT & Al Mar. Consequently they are what ends up in the pawn shops.

Happy Thanksgiving All,
Dale

I love this forum. Older knives are my thing. Here are e few more.

Great Electric Knife display case. I see you also posted a couple of Allens the only cutlery company from Newburgh NY ( about 12 miles from Walden ) circa 1917-1925. It is an interesting story on these but kind of complex this inexpensive style of knife actually has quite a history a loosly designed distant cousin metal version of the old English penny knife. Eventually either prior or post having similar versions sold by many companies Ulery made by Nap, Eagle, New York knife , George Schrade in CT. just to name some. In fact one of the original executives was from one of the Walden based knife companies. As usual it all ties in to each other. In fact Electric Knife ( your display ) began in Newark and then was owned and produced by New York Knife. So in looking at the entire story you can see the releationship between. Taking the analogy even further Winchester who bought Nap and Walden also acquired Eagle which also produced a similar line. Later on you will see a lot of these company trademarks reappear Jim Parker bought and owned a few, Smokey Mt I believe has a few Stuart taylor owns the Schrade line and its trade marks. Of course any still used are imported or contract knives and really have nothing to do with the original companies . I have include some pics of a Allen ad and a display of most all of this limited line of knives sold. This is an old ad and terms and names of certain knives and customs which were acceptable then may be considered offensive to some I submit these pics simple as history and not necessarily my point of view. I have some Electrics around but right now a friend of mine just got done hanging a 8 pointer out back and now he is downstairs ( my friend not the deer that is outback ) . If I do not get off of this computer and start breaking it down ( butchering it ) he will drink all my beer and a quantiy of my Crown Royal. LT

What a way to cut ivory.
wb

We've expanded this great thread to include not just the old factory pics, but the fantastic knives produced in them.

Wow! Galvanic1882! Great Display.

Wow LT... Great information

Mossdancer! You Rock! Great photo of the guy sawing the tusk.

Ron, glad you are taking time on your trip to visit with us.

Phil

Im a little late to the party here but this should make up for it. This is a scan of a poster of 40 of the pocket knife manufacturers in 1911

1 picture and a key.
Hope this works!

Nice Larry

Great stuff!

Dale

Reloder I have been busy today so have been bit remiss I missed the posting of the tang looks like early New York Knife ( If I read the tang right ) it appears correct. Tough to make out. LT PS a cursory search only yields a later version which has some differences. Here are two knives that while different together have all the components of your piece the tang is really early which lead me to believe this was an early version, the federal shield kind of contradicts this but does not rule it out.

LRV wrote:Im a little late to the party here but this should make up for it. This is a scan of a poster of 40 of the pocket knife manufacturers in 1911

1 picture and a key.
Hope this works!

Nice stuff, thanks... Many of you have seen these pics already but since he has the 1911 picture of Schatt & Morgan (First picture of the montage) I thought I would compare it to today...

Queen Cutlery (Schatt & Morgan) today...

Here's a page from the 1911 S & M catalog, my favorite (harness Jack) page.
Now to figure out the add-a-pic process!

upnorth wrote:Here's a page from the 1911 S & M catalog, my favorite (harness Jack) page.
Now to figure out the add-a-pic process!

MMmmm I sure do see a similarity with your harness jack page and this knife...

The add a pic process here on aapk is one of the easier forums I have used just browse your picture folder and attach..

Sunburst

Actually this one was modelled even closer sunburst.

I stand corrected... Very nice knife...

They were both influenced, and have elements of, the old designs. It's nice to have these appreciated; thanks for the complements, sunburst!

Hello All;
Would someone know when Hammer Brand NYKC were stamped with the aforementioned Hammer type stamp but without the vertical USA on the right side of Hammer and Logo.
wb

Very good you caught me in my ploy ( when I showed the pic of the tang stamp). actually the tang with the USA was used after NYK went broke and Imperial had it. NYK never used the USA . NYK used several variations from the time they employed the Hammer logo ie 1878. until 1931. Imperial used the USA after that. So the USA started in the thirtys to answer the question. The picture I am attaching shows and explains NYKs logos. Interestingly it also explains the beginning of NYK. ( Which started as usual with the cutlers getting pissed off with the bosses and walking out sound familiar this time it was over money seems new taxes imposed forced a lowering of the salarys ). These people were hard headed and independent they left England and Germany because they would not be abused and wanted the rights of freemen in effect they were what we call true Americans. That is one of the reasons there history is so important.
This article is also interesting because it has a picture of one of the rarest old tangs ever. I have known people who have searched all there life and never acquired one made only for 4 years a Mattewan NYK (1852-56 . it is rare rare rare. Interestingly when the move was made from the east bank of the Hudson from Mattewan ( Now call Beacon and Fishkill ) the entire community of Walden ( Western side ) came out in Wagons buckboards ect to move the company. PS Here is a pic of my Mattewan it only took me 45 or 50 years to get one. PPS . This knife is not in the greatest shape but it is a genuine Mattewan oh and again the handle material is real tortise. LT PPPS the article is from a second edition John Goins ( a great and helpful reference RIP Mr Goins and thankyou for your books.)

cool