All About Pocket Knives

LongBlade wrote:Nice swell-center pen Joe ... I like those old swell-center pen or jacks - and nice old ebony too!!

Another nice one Joe.

Yes Lee they look good in whatever size they come,which does not apply to all patterns.

Looking through my old pictures, I found a Stag Whittler. I no longer own it, as it went with my collection! Sigh . . . . . . . . .

One more pic! A pair of Empire made LB Hunters that I bought after I sold my collection.

Thanks for the nice compliments every one. I really appreciate it.

upnorth, those knives are real beauties. You're blowin' us out of the water here.

Charlie

Awesome knives Charlie - just really like that saddle horn pattern .. an Empire like that (even those they made for Shapleigh) are on my bucket list of finds for my collection ...

In fact did any other CT companies or MA companies make that style knife?? Or was that pattern unique to Empire?

My niece and I found the attached pocket knife metal detecting yesterday. Based on some online research we think it's an Empire knife.

Would anyone be able to confirm that or provide more information? It would be greatly appreciated. We know very little about knives and are hoping someone can help us.

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum, cincyfan356.
Why do you and your niece think the knife is an Empire?
It surly could be an Empire or another brand. Can you get a blade to open to see the tang stamps?
If you can get a look at a tang stamp try to get clear focused pictures of it and post them for us.
Nice find!

Hard to say with that amount of damage to it. The knife looks like a big equal end jack which numerous companies made in those days. Here's an Empire for comparison.

Those Empires Charlie posted are killers.
Lee,I think I handled one like those lockback hunters Charlie posted. He had given it to Tony Bose and Tony brought it to the Central Ky. Knife Show,along with a massive Joseph Rodgers farmers jack to show me.

Nice old bone on that nice Empire Greg.

Welcome Cincy

Thanks Lyle! I want some like Charlie has.

This is a catalog page from an old 1925 sporting goods catalog - Eppingers in Detroit Mich.

Most hardware and sporting catalogs of that era showed Remington knives - this one shows two Empire folding hunters.

Thanks Steve. I like catalog cuts almost as much as the knives.

Look at the prices on those two hunters. I'll take 6 dozen apiece please.

Steve, those are really neat. I can hardly read the print.
Were they selling for $3.50 and a mere $3.00 for the stag handled Saddle horn?

I'll take one of those stag lock backs if you can spare one Greg Lloyd

Those saddle horn hunters are one of the most distinctively attractive patterns I have ever seen. I sure would love to have one, some day.

LongBlade wrote:Awesome knives Charlie - just really like that saddle horn pattern .. an Empire like that (even those they made for Shapleigh) are on my bucket list of finds for my collection ...

In fact did any other CT companies or MA companies make that style knife?? Or was that pattern unique to Empire?

When Empire was sold, ca.1919, some of the cutlers were unhappy, and they left and reprised the American Knife Co, in CT.
They made the same pattern for a brief time. I am fortunate to own one - they are pretty rare. A friend in Winsted, CT found it!

Thanks for posting that catalog Steve!! I've never seen that one before!

That's a beautiful knife upnorth.
I always enjoy looking at that pattern.

Thanks Charlie ... another awesome knife of that pattern ... I had read that some of the Empire cutlers went to American Knife in Winsted but haven't seen many of the patterns from American Knife Winsted ... though I have a jigged bone Fishtail Jack from American Knife Winsted which is sweet .... posted somewhere on this forum but here is photo below (looks like someone cleaned it prior to me getting it but I liked the pattern along with maker stamp (bit worn to say the least) which is not easy to find as you alluded to in your post... and the price was right )...

Nice score, Lee. I had an Ebony fishtail in my collection, with Empire markings.

Charlie that is some fine knife!

Again - awesome knife Charlie ... Great to see the same pattern from Empire similar to mine but with Empire etch and a unique looking shield !!! Indeed that to me is a great connection in cutlers jumping ship to American Knife and bringing a more rare knife pattern... Very cool .... Thanks for sharing that Charlie!!

FRJ wrote:Welcome to the forum, cincyfan356.
Why do you and your niece think the knife is an Empire?
It surly could be an Empire or another brand. Can you get a blade to open to see the tang stamps?
If you can get a look at a tang stamp try to get clear focused pictures of it and post them for us.
Nice find!

Thanks for your reply. We did a little research online. There is a emblem/stamp that appears to be consistent with Empire. Unfortunately, the blades are rusted shut. We've tried applying wd-40 as well as other lubricants, but no luck yet. I will get a better shot of the emblem on the knife. Thanks so much!