Iroquois and Seneca Knives

[Dragunski]

I don't know much about these brands, except that they're part of the Utica/Kutmaster family. And most of them aren't worth much. But some of them are pretty old and cool looking.

Anybody know much about these brands?

I saw one once with what looked like 2-tone celluloid bolsters, and an Indian head shield. This one has "snakeskin" handles.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-IROQUOIS-CU ... 2c6e84ea89

[Dragunski]

Here's a Seneca with green "marble" handles and what looks like integral steel bolsters/liners.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SENECA- ... 1e7a290105

[Dragunski]

Seneca listed as 1932-1942.

Iroquois listed as "30s-40s". Depression era brands.

[Dragunski]

Here's a Seneca "Moose" with waterfall handles...

(already sold, $36)

[Dragunski]

How about that French nick? Doesn't look very straight, does it?

[Unk]

The knife on the left is an Iroquois with bone handles. It's the only Iroquois I have.

[tjmurphy]

WOW Unk!! I don't think that I've ever seen an Iroquois that pretty before. Don't think I've ever seen a serrated cap lifter/screwdriver before either. That is a great knife

[Cutty]

I love to see your old jacks Unk

[philco]

I love to see your old jacks Unk

+1 on that

[knifegirl888]

One of Bret's favorite knives is a Seneca.

[Unk]

Thanks guys.

Nice one, Knifegirl.

TJ - I haven't ever seen a caplifter serrated like this one, either. I have pondered why they did that - haven't figured it out. The serrations are not sharp enough to saw or file anything - more like to grip.

Maybe to grip the top of the bottle cap when lifting?

[reddirtknives]

Do you think that it would be a likely place to crack nuts? I opened lots of wine bottles and champagne bottles in a previous life and the bartenders knife I used had 2 blades. One was sharp and the other had the dull serrations like your knife. For wine bottles I used the sharp blade but for Champagne I would use the other "serrated" blade if you want to call it that because the wire cage was under the foil and all you needed was something to to grip the foil and cut it without biting into the wire. When opening 10 or so cases of Champagne 1 bottle after the other you tend to leave the "serrated" blade out at all times along with the corkscrew because who has time for all of the opening and closing of knife blades when there are thirsty guests. The sharp blade could have become dangerous in all of the hurry... Well those are my two guesses

[Dragunski]

I would think it's more likely that the serrated cap lifter was designed to scale fish.

But I love that big Seneca with the Buffalo head. That's one gorgeous knife. I think it's rare that Senecas and Iroquois would have real bone handles. Almost all the ones I've seen have cell or plastic of some kind.

[Miller Bro's]

TJ - I haven't ever seen a caplifter serrated like this one, either. I have pondered why they did that - haven't figured it out. The serrations are not sharp enough to saw or file anything - more like to grip.

Maybe to grip the top of the bottle cap when lifting?

I would like to see a picture of the serrations looking straight down at them

I suspect they were added by a previous owner as they look to be unevenly spaced and rather crude.

[Dragunski]

Here's a Seneca 3-7/8" Baseball bat.

[Dragunski]

Here's another Iroquois with interesting handles. Must be celluloid, but the seller doesn't say much in the way of a description. Also seems to have an etch on the blade.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iroquois-2-blad ... 41734f8ce1

[Dragunski]

Can't stop looking at these cheap ones...Purple cracked ice!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iroquois-Cutler ... 4d0cb4155a

[Dragunski]

Another Iroquois. Seller says "Thermoset or Bakelite" handles...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Thermos ... 35c7b60f3e

[Dragunski]

OK - Final exam question.

Which one is the Iroquois?

See if you can guess by the handles.

[Dragunski]

OK - either nobody knows or nobody cares, one way or another.

So, I'll tell you. It's the peach colored one with the wavy lines, 2nd one down on the left. Iroquois had some of the best celluloid, for those who appreciate it. Modern plastics don't come close. And this celluloid has held up pretty well over the years.

[vikingdog]

What brand are the other knives in the picture?

[313 Mike]

OK - either nobody knows or nobody cares, one way or another.

So, I'll tell you. It's the peach colored one with the wavy lines, 2nd one down on the left. Iroquois had some of the best celluloid, for those who appreciate it. Modern plastics don't come close. And this celluloid has held up pretty well over the years.

Very nice, I like that peach jack!
Here's an old Iroquois jack that I've had for a while, nice rough black scales, one small crack but still solid, and very pleasing to the eye I think!

[Dragunski]

What brand are the other knives in the picture?

According to the completed Ebay listing. they are:

L-R, T-B

Thornton
Iroquois
Johnson

JW&S, Newark, NJ
Cornwall

[Dragunski]

OK - either nobody knows or nobody cares, one way or another.

So, I'll tell you. It's the peach colored one with the wavy lines, 2nd one down on the left. Iroquois had some of the best celluloid, for those who appreciate it. Modern plastics don't come close. And this celluloid has held up pretty well over the years.

Very nice, I like that peach jack!
Here's an old Iroquois jack that I've had for a while, nice rough black scales, one small crack but still solid, and very pleasing to the eye I think!

Iroquois Jack 001.jpg

That's a nice little knife, too! Also seems to have integral steel bolster/liners. Probably cast in one piece.

[313 Mike]

[quote="
That's a nice little knife, too! Also seems to have integral steel bolster/liners. Probably cast in one piece.[/quote]

Yes indeed, bolsters and liners cast in one piece. I also like the way the nail nick on the main blade is out towards the tip, so it's easy to get to when the blades are closed. Nice touch.