All About Pocket Knives

knifeaholic wrote: ↑Tue Oct 06, 2020 5:25 pm Looks like a New York Knife Co. knife to me.

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Tue Oct 06, 2020 8:13 pm It is not a regular Whittler as it is a 3 spring knife, Eureka pattern ? This might help with ID as it is not an often seen pattern.
I too thought the 'V' looks like bottom of Keen Kutter logo.
kj

1967redrider wrote: ↑Tue Oct 06, 2020 5:39 pm That's not the bottom of a Keen Kutter stamp, is it?

Gone2Three wrote: ↑Tue Oct 06, 2020 8:36 pm
Interesting so pardon my newness here but what is different with a 3 spring compared to others?

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue Oct 06, 2020 10:55 pm

Gone2Three wrote: ↑Tue Oct 06, 2020 8:36 pm
Interesting so pardon my newness here but what is different with a 3 spring compared to others?

A “whittler” pattern is generally described as having a master blade on one end which when closed falls between two secondary blades hinged on the opposite end from the master. (There are other patterns called whittlers by their makers but for purposes of answering your question let’s assume the definition I just used). Over the years there have been several different constructions used to make them.

Probably the most common is one having two back springs separated on one end by a tapered spacer (wedge). The two springs come together on one end, on which the master blade rides. On the other end where the springs are separated by the spacer, each of the secondary blades rides on its own single spring.

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Another version also uses two back springs, without a tapered spacer between them. Instead the two secondary blades are separated by what’s called a “catch bit” spacer, which sits between the blades but on top of the two back springs, and only on the end where the secondary blades sit. Again the master blade rides on two springs.

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A third version uses three back springs, like the OP knife. Those are simpler to make but result in a generally “thicker” knife. Each blade rides on its own spring.

The other version uses a single back spring which has been split into two springs on one end. These are rare, and older than other types described above. Most believe the maker started with two separate springs which newer then forged together on one end. In this case, again each secondary blade rides on one of them”split” back springs, while the master blade rides on the consolidated single-piece end of the spring.
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Ken

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 12:14 am Ken has covered all "Whittler" bases but a simple definition is : a 3 blade, 2 spring knife in which the master blade bears on both springs.
Your knife has 3 springs so it is not a 'true' whittler.
Some knife collectors like to use the various knife words exactly as defined where as others use a looser interpretation: e.g. main blade on your knife lies between the other 2 blades, "hey it's a whittler" where as purist: "not a whittler, has 3 springs and master does not bear on 2 springs".
Hope this is clear
kj

peanut740 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 1:49 am It is a whittler,a 3 backsliding whittler.It is also at least 100 years old.The old pick bone tells us that.Also a knife of that age should be stamped on all 3 blades.

peanut740 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 2:01 am This is a modern version of your knife.

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 3:13 am The "modern" knife shown above is what GEC called "Stockyard Whittler" but others have referred to it as a "Eureka" pattern because it has a swell at center back. A true Eureka has a front bolster that is more pointed in shape than the rear caps and size is different. In OP knife the size of bolster differs from size of caps but shape is similar.
Going by Levine's definition it is not a whittler. Whether you call it a "whittler" or "eureka" or whatever you have to make exceptions to the standard definition. The closest is shown in LG4 pg. 287 which is a L.F.C. "Eureka Cattle" knife. Have a look. It is very similar and might have been made by same manufacturer as OP knife. It is a 3 spring knife with master lying between the secondaries, with a swell at center, spring side and unequal size of bolsters/caps. Why Levine decided to put this with Cattle knives he does not explain. I think it is an odd pattern that he had to put somewhere.
kj

rea1eye wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:01 am Looks like the group has this knife identified. Very knowledgeable group.

What does “pick” mean in pick bone? I know I have seen this bone before.........

Bob

rea1eye wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 11:01 am Looks like the group has this knife identified. Very knowledgeable group.

What does “pick” mean in pick bone? I know I have seen this bone before.........

Bob