All About Pocket Knives

Here are a couple of Keen Kutters that I don't think are right. I can't message the seller as I have long ago forgotten my ebay account name and password. First off, I have, in my limited experience, never seen a Keen Kutter with such a narrow waisted and fat bottomed shield. Also, the lack of a pattern number indicates, to me, an early knife, made by Walden. A Walden made Keen Kutter would never have spun pins, which both of these example do. Also, the blades have obviously been cleaned, but the tang stamps are very clear.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166311073455?h ... R_L5ovrVYg https://www.ebay.com/itm/166302954016?h ... R_b5ovrVYg

The shape of the blade on that first one puts me in mind of some NOS Queen blades that have been for sale on eBay.
I might be very wrong, and other companies might have made a similar-shaped spearpoint blade, but that was my first impression.
The tangs on both do look different on the front than they do the back. Possible evidence of shaven tangs?

I wait to hear more from more knowledgeable collectors, but I have to say that if these are counterfeits, they do look better than most that I see.

Can't say that I like the looks of either knife. This seller has quite a few knives that appear cobbled up in one way or another. Not a good sign.

What in the world is with the extra pin on the pile side of the second knife?

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 1:20 am What it the world is with the extra pin on the pile side of the second knife?

Wow, you are right. I didn't even see that.
It is ... weird.

This seller doesn't know a lot about knives even though he sells a lot of them. He often buys on ebay and then lists them a week later at much higher prices.

Here are the odd-shaped spearpoint blades that made me think of that first knife.

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 1:20 am What in the world is with the extra pin on the pile side of the second knife?

If you blow up the picture, it is not an extra pin. I think the spinner slipped off the pin and gouged out a circle.

danno50 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 3:56 am

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 1:20 am What in the world is with the extra pin on the pile side of the second knife?

If you blow up the picture, it is not an extra pin. I think the spinner slipped off the pin and gouged out a circle.

You're right, Dan. Good eye!

How many old Keen Kutter sleeveboard jacks have you seen with the pen blade on the pile side along with it's nail mark? I don't recall any. That's more a Queen or Case thing. I'd say it's cobbled with most likely re-stamped blades. Being that second knife has a similar shield I'd be wary of that one too.

Eric

First one is an old frame but blades are questionable.

Second one - definitely a restamped Kutmaster.

The shield on the Serpentine Jack looks oversized . . . in fact, that particular shield shape was rarely used by Keen Kutter jobbers. Looking in Sellens book, most have a point at the top

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 4:17 am

danno50 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 3:56 am

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 1:20 am What in the world is with the extra pin on the pile side of the second knife?

If you blow up the picture, it is not an extra pin. I think the spinner slipped off the pin and gouged out a circle.

You're right, Dan. Good eye!

I dunno fellas, that bright brassy yellow piece that's quite outstanding from the rest of the dark brown knife sure looks like a brass pinhead to me, regular or expanded picture.
Then again, it might just be these 70 yr. old eyes!

Madmarco wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 9:12 pm

toomanyknives wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 4:17 am

danno50 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 3:56 am

If you blow up the picture, it is not an extra pin. I think the spinner slipped off the pin and gouged out a circle.

You're right, Dan. Good eye!

I dunno fellas, that bright brassy yellow piece that's quite outstanding from the rest of the dark brown knife sure looks like a brass pinhead to me, regular or expanded picture.
Then again, it might just be these 70 yr. old eyes!

Mark, I thought that looked a bit like an odd extra brass pinhead too. But, if you open the auction and go to the second to last picture of the knife in the auction, and expand the picture, it is clearly not a brass pin head, and it does look like someone had an accident with a pin spinner. I just scrolled through a lot of this seller's other auctions, and I see what could be quite a few of those odd shaped Queen spear blades that Reverend mentioned, that look like they've been "recycled".

Well, my eyes must be worse than I thought they were, Herb, when I posted that comment I hadn't even looked at the ebay auction, I went strictly by the pictures danno posted and that's what I saw.
Then I read your reply and checked the auction, and in the online pictures it STILL looks like a brass pinhead to me.
It seems so obvious I'm having trouble wrapping my head around this for fear my ole' eyes are failing me.
I'm certain it is what you guys say, I just wonder why I don't see it like that.

ea42 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 20, 2023 5:53 am How many old Keen Kutter sleeveboard jacks have you seen with the pen blade on the pile side along with it's nail mark? I don't recall any. That's more a Queen or Case thing. I'd say it's cobbled with most likely re-stamped blades. Being that second knife has a similar shield I'd be wary of that one too.

Eric

Thanks for pointing that out, Eric. I had not previously taken note of that characteristic of Keen Kutter jacks.

Thank you, Dan, & everybody else who just contributed to my free education. I've been watching this seller's site & I really like the looks of several of his offerings. Fortunately, I've never made him an offer & now I never will.