Ulster

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:10 pm

Hiya fellas,
I have got an old ulster ez pull jack that was unsightly when I bought it, but is a decent carry knife now. I was wiping a few knives down last night and I decided to have a closer look at the stamp. Through the glass I read"
ULSTER
DWIGHT DIVINE
&SONS USA.

I was wondering when this stamp may have been used and for what length of time?
Thanks

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:19 pm

old ulster before albert and henry baer bought in 1941.

ulster knife co. - dwight devine & son - ellenville, n.y. - mfr. - 1876-1941

factory was located at 28 canal st.

began as the cooperative knife co. in 1871 by a group of english cutlers. they failed and devine bought in 1876.

info gathered from goins and levines

LRV · Post by **LRV** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:19 pm

The company became Dwight Devine & Sons after 1900 probably in the early 20's. It was & Son right after 1900, Sons after that.
I'm still looking for those specific details.
TTYL
Larry

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:23 pm

Great find MM

I have a Divine myself, an old Girl Scout knife. They are nice old knives.

Happy hunting,
Dale

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 8:47 pm

Markings for Ulster generally went from Ellenville CO ( co op) to Ellenville Knife , then Dwight Devine, then Dwight Devine and sons. Then Ulster, I havent looked this up it is from memory so feel free to jump me ( I mean jump in and correct me ). Now during this entire frame there were crossovers and various changes in tangs as far as type of print, seriffs or not it is not an absolute science and you should not be surprised to see anomalitys or differences even during similar time frames. Here are two pictures of the same model knife probably made not to far apart In the early 40 tys notice the earlier Devine and sons uses a new style of lettering No seriffs ( I am probably spelling that wrong ) but it is lettering without the little caps on the ends of the letters. The Ulster newer tang has it which should make it older so it seems they just adopted the older lettering when Baer took over they soon also dropped it also. Now to further confuse the issue the chances are they were still using the older Devine & sons after Baer. took over any way wartime issues and retooling took time. So my advise is be general on your time line. Do not try to be to precise they sure did not seem to care much about it as long as they sold knives. LT

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:18 pm

LT,
Thanks for the info. Do you know of any book written about Ulsters? I have several and really like them. They seem of be a knife that for some reason attracts my attention.

Dale

LRV · Post by **LRV** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:19 pm

Here is an article that talks about the Devines and the start up of the knife companies in Ellenville. From Wawarsing.net

Take a couple seconds to load.
http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/ ... 409-01.pdf
LT is absolutly correct in the datings. You cannot tell when a company stopped selling knives with the old company's name.

TTYL
LArry

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:21 pm

Nice find, MM. And what a classy piece to carry in your pocket.
Phil

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:38 pm

That is a great article Larry.

Thanks,
Dale

PS- I would still like to find a book on Ulster, if anyone knows of one.

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:42 pm

thanks for the article larry. it printed great, now i have a copy. great pics.

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:18 am

You know tang stamps are among the rarest of knife artifacts. You see while owning a stamp is not illegal in fact to explain, I often use the analogy of buying a bottle of coca cola. You can buy the soda drink it and keep the bottle no problem but should you refill it and sell it as coke you are breaking the law. The same with the stamps you can own them but if you use them to fake a knife it is illegal. As a result knife companies did not sell or give away tang stamps for while someone said they would not use it they still might. sometimes they were destroyed usually when a company went out of business until then obsolete or worn stamps were hidden away in the bowels of the factorys usually ending up in a landfill at the companies demise. Stamps often brought good money by those who were collectors or had other ideas in mind. I know one big time collector in texas who often brags that he has acquired 5 tang stamps over the years. So somewhere in the Schrade plant or Ulster plant all this history is gone . I have always sought this as my own personal grail. Yet we all know that quests such as these always end in failure . Still one can hope you never know perhapes these have been found what do you think. LT

upnorth · Post by **upnorth** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:23 am

Nice grouping of obsolete industrial artifacts, LT! Missing for years,
I can't imagine where they could be

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:25 am

lt, the depth of your collection is a wonder. great stuff.

LRV · Post by **LRV** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:13 am

Im still wonderin where Jim's Bowie ended up.

Nice stuff!
for more info on Ellenville and the surrounding towns take a look at this site.

http://www.wawarsing.net

TTYL
LArry

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:35 am

I knew I could count on you guys to fill me in. I really appriciate it. This is what it looks like, it's a poor picture. It didn't have handles so I put some maple burl on it, the one blade was broken, so I took it out too, makes for a nice little carry knife, has an unbelieveable spring in it.

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 1:50 am

Nice work MM

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 2:55 am

Muskie when I see your work it keeps reminding me of an old saying we used to use in rhe dept. We who have done so much with so little are now qualified to do anything with nothing. Would a couple of blades from a barlow help tell me more specificly what would help I have plenty of stuff but an not as you know a mechanic. Or just stop by and take what you need. Well done LT PS I was hoping some of what I sent would help .

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:13 am

LOL LT,
That reminds me of a saying we had overseas when I was in the Marine Corps; "We are the unwilling doing the necessary for the ungrateful. We have done so much with so little for so long, we can do anything except fix the crack of dawn or mend the break of day."

Funny how my mind can remember that stuff but can't remember where I sat the bottle of soda I was drinking 2 minutes ago.

Dale

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:28 am

I never remember where I left the chaser either.

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:15 am

LT,
The stuff you sent does help, anything helps. If I can't use it immediately, I'm going to run into a junker at the flea market sooner or later and I'll have the needed parts on hand. Something I do seem to find alot of use for is backsprings, those for the 897, 8ot, 34ot in particular. I'd love to stop by and hang out with ya, but it's quite a long drive, if I ever get up that way though I'd like to meet up with ya. Just give me a holler if I can ever do anything for ya bud.
All the best

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:35 am

Got a sister who likes eccentric well off old men.????

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:59 am

nope

P.S I meant for knives

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:05 am

When I did not have money I was often thought a bit crazy. Now however I am considered eccentric. Who says money cannot buy sanity. Shame on the sister thing. LT

muskrat man · Post by **muskrat man** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:08 am

lt632ret wrote: Who says money cannot buy sanity.

W5RWU · Post by **W5RWU** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:12 am

lt632ret wrote:I never remember where I left the chaser either.

LT ,who needs a chaser anyway!
Randy

All About Pocket Knives

Ulster

Ulster

Industrial Art.