All About Pocket Knives

I posted this in the Barlow thread, but thought I would post it here also.

Thanks to Joe (FRJ), I've caught the Connecticut knife fever.
Not really a far jump from the Hudson Valley region of New York as many of the cutlers there originated in the Nutmeg State.
...but it has taken a bit of effort over the last few months to finally land the few (...that's all of three) that I've acquired.

I found this Empire electrician's knife a bit unusual in that it is a single blade lockback.
I guess the edge of the screwdriver could be used as a knife blade?

Nice knives posted on this page, guys.

Ken, Empire must have made a lot of those electrician's knives. In various patterns.
I may have one like yours. Nice looking knife, yours.

Well, these Connecticut knives are pretty sweet. I hope you find some more.

Nice Empire Ken ... But unlike Joe's advice stay away from CT knives - they are not healthy for you ...

Ken that single blade lockback Empire Electricians knife was apparently a sort of signature knife for Empire. Ya just gotta have one if you're going to collect Empires!

I've been reminiscing and rereading this thread tonight and my goodness what fine knives Empire made. I may have to double down on my efforts to acquire new candidates. They have certainly been slow in coming of late.
Edit: The only problem with this thought is that most people who have some nice Empires ain't selling em.

My first Empire in a while came in this week. It is a pattern that I didn't have and they don't show up much so I went out on a limb a bit with this one but I must say I am pleased. If nothing else it will be a good place holder until a better one comes along. At 4 3/8 inches closed I would say it qualifies as an English Jack lockback. The blade shows some shallow pitting but appears to be full and lightly sharpened. And of course it has ebony handles ,one of my favorites.

Edit looks like the catalog cut from The Knife Album is my knife.

Real nice score Greg ... definitely a pattern not seen often!! Despite the pitting the blade has a nice shape - swedge and all.... very cool ...

Greg, congratulations on a real beauty. That is just fine.
Yeah, love that Ebony.

Thanks Lee and Joe!

Great pattern and great name. I am amazed that the number of DEs and Shapleighs seem greater than the manufacter's totals. Is it because of the Shapleigh's longevity ?

wlf wrote:Great pattern and great name. I am amazed that the number of DEs and Shapleighs seem greater than the manufacter's totals. Is it because of the Shapleigh's longevity ?

Thanks Lyle! It does seem that Empire made more knives for other companies than they did under their own brand. Gotta make it any way you can I suppose.

Here's a very sweet little pen. 3 1/16". I wonder if it was supposed to be a three inch knife.
I don't think this knife has been sharpened. It has a very responsive spring and a half stop on the little pen.
A numbered Empire; who knew?
I really love these Ebony covers.

Thanks Barry.

Thanks for looking.

Nice old ebony pen Joe ... I have an Empire Bullhead jack that also had a pattern # on the pile side of master - Beechtree shared the catalog cut for my knife a long time back when it was posted and I believe he said in the later years of the 1920s there were pattern #s on some of Empire's knives...

I think I only have one that has a pattern number on it. Joe that's a nice one but dang we're going to have quit trying to outbid each other.

Thank you Lee. That's a good bit of information there. I didn't know that.

Thank you Greg. I always feel bad if that happens. But like we say; they're like Taxis, another one will be along. (we hope)

Well listen guys, I've got some small number stamps and if you send me your knives I'll hammer some 3 diget numbers on the tangs and we can make a killin' sellin' them old knives.

I am a little bit late, beautiful English jack posted back in December, Greg! Lovely pen knife in great condition, Joe!

danno50 wrote:I am a little bit late, beautiful English jack posted back in December, Greg! Lovely pen knife in great condition, Joe!

Thanks Dan!

Here's a new one for me. I had to snatch this one the moment I saw it. Many thanks to our own Olderdogs1 for providing this beautiful cattle pattern.

Awesome looking cattle knife Greg .. Hard not to like an old Empire in great shape !!!

I posted this etched Empire pen in another thread but belongs here as well ... don’t see too many with an etch especially on a small 2 1/2” pen ..

Greg, your Empire cattle Knife is a super nice example. Equal end knives with a spear blade have a really nice symmetry to my eye.

Lee, your MOP pen knife is gorgeous.

Thanks Jerry ...

Great etch on that pen Lee!
Thanks Jerry! They do look sophisticated with that long pull spear and ebony handles.

Greg, really nice old Cattle Pattern.

Harold

stockman wrote:Greg, really nice old Cattle Pattern.

Harold

Thanks Harold!