All About Pocket Knives

I am hoping one of you someone can give me a little information on this knife.
It is 3-3/4” and stamped STANDARD/KNIFE CO on the master blade. The other blades are not marked. All the blades have good walk and talk and only slight wobble on the master blade. The handles appear to be a black composite; perhaps it is “rough black” although I am not very familiar with that material.

I have consulted Goins and LG4 pursuant to Standard Knife Co:

Per Goins:
There was a Standard Knife Co in Little Valley New York circuit 1901 – 1903 founded by Elliott and Dean Case.
Another listing Standard Knife Co circa 1920 – 1948 made by W.R. Case & Sons. The knives were contracted by Kinfolks for Case from 1926 – 1928. Goins also says Kabar made them in the late 1930s.

Aside from the above information I know next to nothing about Standard Knife Co.
I would certainly welcome more information about the company and the knife!
I would also like opinions on a reasonable asking price for when I put the knife in my store.
I know according to LG4 he rates these as having High Collectible Value. Obviously condition plays a big role in this instance!

I would like to put the knife in my AAPK store and sell it. It is not among the brands/patterns that I collect so I really need to find a new home for it. I don’t know what it’s worth; obviously it’s far from mint but it is still a usable knife and from what I have read, quite collectible.
I would welcome more information about the knife and Standard Knife Co. , as well as a reasonable asking price for this knife.

Thank you in advance,
Dale

Dale,
The old 1901-02 knives were contract knives and are super rare. They are stamped Standard Knife Co usually in an arch and have Little Valley, NY on the tang as well.
The Standard knife Co knives like you have were supposed to be a lower priced knife compared to the Tested Case knives. I was unaware of any made by Kabar. Steve may be able to help.

Tom

Tom

Thanks Tom.
I had pretty much ruled out it being from the 1901 – 1902 era. Murphy's Law alone prevents me from finding that rare a knife!

I had never heard of Kabar making knives per Case before but that's what Goins said, in Goins Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings, but I know very little about Case and its history.

Thanks again,
Dale

I have heard that Kabar made some hobo knives for Case back in the day but not Standard Knife co knives. I know the Standard knife co knives I am familiar with marked like yours were made during the Tested Era and look almost exactly alike. I have a Standard Knife Co jr scout listed on eBay that looks just like the Case Tested Junior Scout. My area of knowledge is more with the pre 1920 Case knives but Steve is an expert on the eras in question here. Maybe he will chime in.

Tom

STANDARD KNIFE CO is somewhat of a mystery brand. The ones sold by Case are marked with just STANDARD KNIFE CO. Every example that I have ever seen has the "family" resemblance to Case knives, including the pattern/tooling/handle materials. Usually the Standard marked knives did not have shields.

There is no real agreement as to when Case offered them - some books say only the 1920's.

My earliest Case factory issued price lists are from the years 1931-32-33-34. The lists from 1931-33 each include a separate section for Standard Knife Co, knives, with a separate but similar pattern numbering system for Standard as compared to Case knives.

My opinion on Dale's knife is that it is a fake. I could be wrong, but all I can say is that if I saw it I would not buy it. The handle material does not match any Case material of the period (I have never seen a Standard with jigged black composition handles anyway). The tooling and construction does not look like Case, in my opinion.

Tom,I have a Standard Knife hobo that was no doubt made by Kaber. I will have it at Lexington next weekend.

peanut740 wrote:Tom,I have a Standard Knife hobo that was no doubt made by Kaber. I will have it at Lexington next weekend.

Interesting, if you ever get a chance please post pics.

Here are two Standard knives and stamps and shields.

knifeaholic wrote:

peanut740 wrote:Tom,I have a Standard Knife hobo that was no doubt made by Kaber. I will have it at Lexington next weekend.

Interesting, if you ever get a chance please post pics.

Here you go Steve.I was setting up at the Queen show so I went ahead and shot a couple pics.

Very nice, Roger.

orvet wrote:I am hoping one of you someone can give me a little information on this knife.
It is 3-3/4” and stamped STANDARD/KNIFE CO on the master blade. The other blades are not marked. All the blades have good walk and talk and only slight wobble on the master blade. The handles appear to be a black composite; perhaps it is “rough black” although I am not very familiar with that material.

I have consulted Goins and LG4 pursuant to Standard Knife Co:

Per Goins:
There was a Standard Knife Co in Little Valley New York circuit 1901 – 1903 founded by Elliott and Dean Case.
Another listing Standard Knife Co circa 1920 – 1948 made by W.R. Case & Sons. The knives were contracted by Kinfolks for Case from 1926 – 1928. Goins also says Kabar made them in the late 1930s.[/color]

Aside from the above information I know next to nothing about Standard Knife Co.
I would certainly welcome more information about the company and the knife!
I would also like opinions on a reasonable asking price for when I put the knife in my store.
I know according to LG4 he rates these as having High Collectible Value. Obviously condition plays a big role in this instance!

I would like to put the knife in my AAPK store and sell it. It is not among the brands/patterns that I collect so I really need to find a new home for it. I don’t know what it’s worth; obviously it’s far from mint but it is still a usable knife and from what I have read, quite collectible.

Standard Knife Co a.jpg
Standard Knife Co b.jpg
Standard Knife Co c.jpg
Standard Knife Co d.jpg

I would welcome more information about the knife and Standard Knife Co. , as well as a reasonable asking price for this knife.

Thank you in advance,
Dale

I too have the same information about Jean Case's Sons Dean and Elliot venturing out on their own starting their own business during those years and starting " Standard Knife Co. " When it comes to their Stamp Pattern this was their ONLY stamp used "Just like the one on your Knife" after their factory closed down possibly due to Elliot's passing in 1903 among other hardships I'm sure ~ The Stamp on this knife looks Correct and Authentic to being a Genuine Dean and Elliot Case's Handiwork ~ I know their was another Manufacturing that lived over the Ocean that was Called Standard as well and I think if I remember right it was a Similar Stamp but not the Same ~ Hope this Helps ~ as what its worth that's up to you and the next guy ~

Wow Roger, amazing knife. Thanks for posting. I have never seen a Standard in that pattern or with that bone style.

Thanks Steve.I have another old original well worn Standard Knife at home that will make you think.

Please show us pictures of that knife if you can, Roger.
Thanks.

While we are waiting for Roger to come back from Pa. with his pockets bulging with Cash I thought I would post an old authentic Standard Knife Co. knife made back in the 1901-03 era. Back then reportedly if you were found dead with this knife in your pocket your funeral expenses would be paid. Notice the Little Valley Stamp and that all blades are stamped. These were all contract knives as they did not have a factory.

Thanks for looking!

Tom

Here is another old Standard Knife Co knife, a well worn Jack from the 1901-03 period. This one has the arched Standard etch. I got this one several years ago from David Anthony and have only found 2 other examples since then both of which I purchased. A fool and his money are all too soon parted.


Thanks for looking!


Tom

Tom,I have heard that somewhere before.

Here's an early Standard Knife Co,Little Valley.This is a odd knife.It is well worn.The frame says Robeson and the blades and backspring appears made by Phoenix Knife.No sign the knife has ever been apart.

My one and only Standard Knife Co folder(I have a kitchen knife too).Sadly it isn't in very good shape but the celluloid hasn't degraded.Picture isn't all that visible.The kitchen knife is a salesman's sample.

I have an old two bladed hollinger Fremont pearl handle knife were the word Fremont is spelled with two e's (Freemont) is this a miss print or what