All About Pocket Knives

I recently got this knife and you can barely read the stamp, first line all I could make out was a W. Second line looks like Cutlery Co. Third line looks like Terre Haute. When I searched for knife mfg in Terra Haute,I got Wabash Cutlery co. In business until 1935. Nice bone handles but this two blade Jack knife is not in the best of shape, blades are worn, probably from many an hour on the whetstone. Anybody familiar with this company? Can anybody confirm or deny my suspicion? Thanks.

I have two Wabash Cutlery knives, and the font on your tang stamp looks to be the same as on mine. Not really proof, so take it for what it's worth...

There's a Wabash cutlery guy here on the forum, he might drop by with all the good info. But I'd say that stamp definitely looks like Wabash. If you can make out Terra Haute that's for sure Wabash.

Leo7504 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 5:14 am I recently got this knife and you can barely read the stamp, first line all I could make out was a W. Second line looks like Cutlery Co. Third line looks like Terre Haute. When I searched for knife mfg in Terra Haute,I got Wabash Cutlery co. In business until 1935. Nice bone handles but this two blade Jack knife is not in the best of shape, blades are worn, probably from many an hour on the whetstone. Anybody familiar with this company? Can anybody confirm or deny my suspicion? Thanks.

Love those old bones.

Here are two Wabash Cutlery Co. Terre Haute,IN knives. A nice swell-center balloon pen and a cigar pen that's awaiting new covers. The company also sold knives under the Indiana Cutlery Co. mark. Wish I had more. J.O'.

All, thanks for the good feedback, these knives are apparently very rare, I have a two blade Jack WR Case and sons 1905-1914 and it is very similar to this one including the bones scales but I wouldsaythequality of these knives is very high,these high carbon blades keep a pretty good edge, I do love these old bone scales they take on a particular patina that I find very appealing. Beersman I love that tuxedo and the Eisenhower type knife and those MOP scales on those rare knives makes me jealous. Ridgegrass what type of handles are you going for?

Thatweirdknifeguy,
Yeah, when I get it under the light, using a 10x jewelers loupe, and I twist it around to different angles I can read Terr- Haut-, so I feel pretty confident that it is a Wabash Cutlery…geez I’m thrilled to have it, I’ve never seen one before.

Leo7504 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 5:14 am I recently got this knife and you can barely read the stamp, first line all I could make out was a W. Second line looks like Cutlery Co. Third line looks like Terre Haute. When I searched for knife mfg in Terra Haute,I got Wabash Cutlery co. In business until 1935. Nice bone handles but this two blade Jack knife is not in the best of shape, blades are worn, probably from many an hour on the whetstone. Anybody familiar with this company? Can anybody confirm or deny my suspicion? Thanks.

Yes, Wabash Cutlery Co Terre Haute Ind.
In business 1921 to 1935.
They made cutlery from raw material to finished product.
They specialized in celluloid handles, but also made bone handles.
They did change their name to Indiana Cutlery for about a year and a half in 1931 then back to Wabash in 1933. The also made knives under US KNIFE Co., Levin Bros, TH Adv Co.
Some may argue, but I also believe the made some celluloid handled knives for Harris Bros Chicago.

Leo: I have some nice Brazilian rosewood left over from some guitar work. It's real nice for handles. (L.L.Bean fish knife below) or I have some wild cherry (Ulster Stockman below). Maybe one of each on either side?

The info that i have read says the bone handled wabash's are much harder to find than the celluloid. Just my 2 cents.

dobro59 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 09, 2025 9:55 pm The info that i have read says the bone handled wabash's are much harder to find than the celluloid. Just my 2 cents.

This is true.

Ridgegrass,
Wow,I like that natural grain on that wild Cherry and that rosewood looks so smooth it reminds me of ebony. Can’t go wrong with either.

O'.

I am posting mine for future reference.

Not too recently, this pocket knife arrived in a group or lot of pocket knives that I purchased. It now becomes my first example to be posted under this topic or thread. I did NOT purchase the group or lot to obtain this particular pocket knife. But, it did turn out to be a keeper. It did get added to my general, pocket knife accumulation. It is a WABASH, two blades, two tang stamps, 3 1/4" closed, a long main blade pull and match strike, one spring, pocket knife. The main blade front tang stamp is the curved or arched style. The secondary blade front tang stamp is the block style. The main blade front tang stamp says,"WABASH CUTLERY (over) CO. (over) TERRE-HAUTE, IND." The secondary blade front tang stamp says, "W. C. CO. (over) T. H. IND." The main blade does have a SOFT half stop. The main blade does have an OK opening snap. The main blade does have an OK closing snap. The secondary blade does have a SOFT half stop. The secondary blade does have an OK opening snap. The secondary blade does have an OK closing snap. Overall, this pocket knife is in GOOD condition. This pocket knife did require some VERY minor cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.