Show Your Vintage Knife

[ararat]

No. It doesn't show at the **** end.


I don't know what to call this sort of composite handle, but it's similar to vintage CutCo knives. Although, it has a very interesting mix of colors and "textures." The CutCo handles seem to be made to mimic wood. The ones with pointy butts are the next generation (serrated sandwich knives/spreaders). They also made them with red handles. The white one is pearly. The swirly ones are early. (little serrated steak knives)



The material is very durable, but I'm guessing years of cleaning them in the dishwasher would explain why they get rough and dry looking. I like how grippy those are.



The handles polish up nicely, if you take them through the grits. CutCo will do that for you and sharpen them too, all for free, if you pay shipping both ways.

My buddy sold cutco in college to make extra money. He said the handles were made of the same stuff as bowling balls. Don't know if it is true or not.

 

[Mintgrun]

Searching ePay sold listings for vintage west-cut knife brought up an example of a knife like mine that sold recently; although the handle coloration isn't as interesting. FWIW, it sold for $21.50.

 

[ararat]

Picked this up at an estate sale at an old farmhouse in SW Virginia. Whoever owned it really got their money's worth.
Is this a style of blade? Or was it just sharpened so many times it got this narrow? Someone took the time to make a new scale for one side. I can't read any markings due to some pitting on the blade.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Is this a style of blade? Or was it just sharpened so many times it got this narrow?

It's a filet or stiletto now, but probably a classic drop point originally that was sharpened down to that. You can see how much excess tang there is.

 

[MisterEd]

The SigO finds the oddest things and thanks to @woody 73 we figured out that amongst a pile of rusting punches she’d found a Briddell Oyster Knife. Basic and sturdy. Edges are slightly nicked, but it’s still straight and probably fully functional. No “Made in USA” marking. Perhaps an early version which might make it "vintage".

 

[Beerhippie]

It's been a while since I dded a new knife to the collection.

I picked this one up today for $2:





RH (PAL) 50

After ruining the patina:



"According to The Official Price Guide of Collector Knives by C Houston Price & Mark D Zaleysky, PAL was originally used as a trademark by the Utica Knife & Razor Company of Utica, NY from about 1924-1939. PAL marked knives of that era used blades imported from Germany, and the blades typically bore the word "Germany" as well. Another company using the name PAL was established in Chicago in 1934. This company was known as the Pal Blade Company of Chicago, and was started by Otto Kraus. In 1935 the two "PAL" companies merged into one, known simply as the PAL Blade Company, and opened a manufacturing facility in Plattsburg, NY. Around 1940 PAL purchased the cutlery division of the Remington Arms Company, including of their existing stock of completed knives and knife parts.


While PAL was originally a manufacturer of pocketknives, after the Remington acquisition they expanded their range of products to include a variety of fixed blade knives as well. PAL received a number of US government knife contracts during World War II and produced thousands of combat knives during the war years, available in numerous different patterns. Pal went out of business in 1953."

Pvt. Lugz has more info on the PAL RH combat knives in post #134, this thread.

I'll apply a new edge tonight.

 

[Beerhippie]

I picked up another knife today:



It was marked $25, but when I told the gal selling it that it was a Finnish puukko, made by Marttiini, she knocked $10 off the price! It turns out, she's second generation Finnish-American. She also corrected my pronunciation of everything Suomi.

This is the Lynx 121, the first model of knife sold by Marttiini, starting in '28 and continuing today. I can't get a good estimate of age (I think I'll just send the pics to Marttiini as they seem to be rather proud of their heritage), but it doesn't have the blade inscription the current ones do and it has a circle-M logo instead of the full name spelled out. The blade shape is different, with the modern knives having parallel sides, while this blade is diamond in cross-section. The fuller has also been dropped.

I broke out the buffing wheel and cleaned it up some:





Blade length is 3 1/2"

As per Martiinni, the up-swept point is for removing hot pots from the fire.

 

[rustyedge1]

Always been drawn to old HOBO or Pic-Nic knife and tool sets that were complete as is this New York Knife Co Hammer Brand. Have had this one for some time. The bone scales are in great shape and the action is also goI’d..The holder is original. The cork screw is also original and probably non replaceable. The clip point blade hasn’t been sharpened..
Tool kit knives can get habit forming especially the high end ones from Napanoch, Ulery, KA-BAR and other US made sets.
Happy hunting.

 

[Beerhippie]

@Private Lugnutz mentioned that the PAL RH knives were the inspiration for later fighting knives, so I thought I'd post a comparison:



WWII era PAL RH 50 and Vietnam-era Ka-Bar fighters. I think I can see a family resemblance....

Interesting that the older knife is in better overall condition than the newer.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I thought I'd post a comparison:

Nice.

Always been drawn to old HOBO or Pic-Nic knife and tool sets that were complete as is

You're not alone. A few examples have been posted elsewhere, including here, here, and here. There's just something about interchangeable tool bits in a wallet-size case that gets my..., er, car burglar vibe going!

 

[rustyedge1]

Nice.

You're not alone. A few examples have been posted elsewhere, including here, here, and here. There's just something about interchangeable tool bits in a wallet-size case that gets my..., er, car burglar vibe going!

Old automatics twist my habit too like this Shapleigh probably George Schrade or Schrade Cut Co contract. Last pat on rear tang 1916. The cross guard just makes it for me. In good working order.

 

[30-30remchester]

A couple from the days of quality. First up is an original Remington Bullet Trapper with brown bone scales circa 1920's through the 1930's. Model R1123.

 

[30-30remchester]

Next up is an early Kinfolks rat tail folding hunter with cracked ice scales.

 

[Beerhippie]

The PAL RH 50 got a sheath today:





I wish I could say I made that, but it was $17 from the Jungle.

However, had I made it, this wouldn't be a problem:



Problem solved:



It doesn't budge now.

 

[30-30remchester]

I posted this 0n another forum and figured why not here. One of the rarest WW 2 fighting knives built by the knife historian Cole and pictured in several of his books. This is the rarest of his creations.

 

[AreBeeBee]

The PAL RH 50 got a sheath today:

There are many, many different sheath knives, but for me these RH-50s are just about the perfect type. Their only competition comes from the Marbles Ideal knives, which edge them out (sorry!) by just a tick. Yeah, Ka-Bars and Jet Pilot knives and others are all great in their individual ways but the the Ideal and the RH-50 take top spot in my own Pantheon of Knifeness.

 

[rustyedge1]

One of my favorite scale jigging is the Rogers bone as on this Western folder, which this pattern knife is one of my favorites too. Enjoy.

 

[Beerhippie]

There are many, many different sheath knives, but for me these RH-50s are just about the perfect type. Their only competition comes from the Marbles Ideal knives, which edge them out (sorry!) by just a tick. Yeah, Ka-Bars and Jet Pilot knives and others are all great in their individual ways but the the Ideal and the RH-50 take top spot in my own Pantheon of Knifeness.

While the RH 50 and my old Marbles are mighty fine knives, the Vietnam-era Ka-Bar fits my hand best of the lot and has a balance I find pleasing.

 

[AreBeeBee]

While the RH 50 and my old Marbles are mighty fine knives, the Vietnam-era Ka-Bar fits my hand best of the lot and has a balance I find pleasing.

Hand size, intended use, personal history, and other factors are all in the mix — which is why I said my ranking was personal. And everyone's mileage will probably differ in some way. Enjoy!

 

[Beerhippie]

Hand size, intended use, personal history, and other factors are all in the mix — which is why I said my ranking was personal. And everyone's mileage will probably differ in some way. Enjoy!

Well, it's a combat knife after all....

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...the Vietnam-era Ka-Bar fits my hand best of the lot...

Does "the lot" include a WWII-era Ka-Bar? Reason I ask is, I wasn't aware there was a significant dimensional difference between them. I don't have either one to compare them.

Well, it's a combat knife after all....

True dat. Modeled on a hunter, though. That is, a knife for cleaning large prey that is beefy enough to use the pommel as a hammer, but also the blade to pry, dig, and even chop with, if you had to, in survival mode. Rather more utilitarian than killing. While I admire smaller knives of the same type, such as the Marbles Ideal and the PAL RH-50, that's the reason I personally favor the RH-36, the Cat Q, and the even beefier E.G.W. (Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't leave a Ka-Bar found in affordable circumstances and decent condition behind, but I've been put off by the Borg-like following overshadowing its formidable equals to acquire one anywhere else.)

I'm pretty happy with my fixed blade combat type knives, but if we're talking pantheon, Mt. Olympus-ly, I would love to find an F-S in the wild.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This is the closest I've come to finding an F-S.

 

[Beerhippie]

Does "the lot" include a WWII-era Ka-Bar? Reason I ask is, I wasn't aware there was a significant dimensional difference between them. I don't have either one to compare them.

True dat. Modeled on a hunter, though. That is, a knife for cleaning large prey that is beefy enough to use the pommel as a hammer, but also the blade to pry, dig, and even chop with, if you had to, in survival mode. Rather more utilitarian than killing. While I admire smaller knives of the same type, such as the Marbles Ideal and the PAL RH-50, that's the reason I personally favor the RH-36, the Cat Q, and the even beefier E.G.W. (Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't leave a Ka-Bar found in affordable circumstances and decent condition behind in the wild, but I've been put off by the Borg-like following overshadowing its formidable equals to acquire one anywhere else.)

I'm pretty happy with my fixed blade combat type knives, but if we're talking pantheon, Mt. Olympus-ly, I would love to find an F-S.

I don't have an example of the "classic" WWII Marine Ka-Bar with the staggered stacked leather handle. Mine is Vietnam-era (see picture above) that looks more like the PAL RH 50--but the blade is an inch longer than the RH 50, the grip is narrower and has finger grooves. Pommel is a little rounder.

I'm always on the LO for a F-S--but the real "holy grail" for me would be an F-A--Fairbourne-Applegate. It was post-WWII. It's more of a useful knife than the F-S, which is a dedicated sticker with auxiliary edges--it can cut, but not what it's designed for.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

In this book...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

,,,the real "holy grail" for me would be an F-A--Fairbourne-Applegate.

Yeah my face would hurt from smiling.

I am also jealous of our host's Randall.

 

[Beerhippie]

Yeah my face would hurt from smiling.

I am also jealous of our host's Randall.

Forgot that one!

 

[AreBeeBee]

I may have mentioned this before in some thread here. But a number of years ago to carve the Thanksgiving turkey for family and friends, I hauled out my Cattaraugus 225Q, shown here with its original sheath (top). Those were done by a sub-contractor and were surprisingly thin given the stoutness of the knife.

Anyway, I had a new one made out of heavier leather, sending the maker (Harry Savage) the original to use as a pattern.

(Yeah, I like this knife too.)

 

[rustyedge1]

Todays 4.00 yard sale find 1/2 hobo marked E. Collini Italy. Horn scale. Wish I had it all but for the money it’s worth throwing in a cigar box with other parts knives. Can’t seem to find out about the company. Seems to be well made..

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found this Marttiini sheath at the flea this morning. It's badly in need of even more cleaning, softening, and reconditioning. I don't have a Marttiini filet knife, but someone might need/want it. If not, I will put something else in it.

 

[RTM]

E. Collini Italy. ...... Can’t seem to find out about the company

Not these guy?

https://www.coltelleriacollini.com/

coltello is the italian word for knife

 

[Beerhippie]

Picked a new one while yard saling today. One is in the de-rusto bucket, but this one has had the patina completely removed:



It's a Western L58, another hunter/combat knife. According to the self-proclaimed experts at Blade Forums (as good as can be found), it was made between 1955, when the model stamp and MADE IN USA were added to the tang, and 1978 when Western moved from Boulder.





It looked like this as found:



Lots of grinding wheel damage to the primary bevel--as usual. Other side was as bad or worse.

Fortunately, I found this at another sale:



It had a 240 grit belt on it, so I decided to give it a try. I chucked the sander up in my worthless Asian vise:



and went at it.

It worked!



I added a secondary bevel with the Wicked Edge system--which took minutes after re-establishing a proper primary.

The mini belt sander may have been the tool I've been looking for....

 

[Beerhippie]

Oh, yeah--the OAL of the knife is 9" on the spot. Blade is 5".

 

[Beerhippie]

Another one I picked up yesterday:





Contento, Made In Germany. Contento is Spanish for... well, just exactly what it sounds like.

Best I can determine--again, very little info out there--is that the Contento brand was trademarked by Peter Altenbach & Sohne in 1921. The Germany instead of West Germany or similar would seem to indicate either pre-war or post-'89. No idea which.

Main blade is carbon steel. The secondary appears to be chrome-plated. This knife has everything a fisherman would want in a knife--a long, thin blade, hook remover, scaler AND bottle opener.

I'd call this uncommon--not rare, not common, from what I can see browsing the 'net.

 

[Mintgrun]

I have that knife's American cousin, made by Camillus in Camillus, NY. The scaler is incorporated into the back of the knife blade; which had broken off, so I rounded it back up to a point. It's quite thin overall. I'm guessing the scales are some sort of black plastic that's been shaped to look like antler. I've seen several variations on these fishing knives and they all seem to have black handles.








I think this is the first banana knife in the thread. I had to look this one up, to see what it was intended for. I bought it even though I didn't know at the time.

 

[rkenney]

Here is my Camillus #4 lock blade and sheath. Probably about the mid '70s. Don't know that much about them so if you do be sure to enlighten me! Very sturdy, sharp too (just ask my thumb!

 

[Beerhippie]

A package arrived today:



Grits from, bottom row, 40-240, top row, 400-5K. Assorted abrasives.

Once I got them sorted and found a storage solution:



I decided to clean up the Marttiini Lynx puukko:



Before:



The blade has been badly abused. It had a wide and irregular secondary bevel and the primary bevel--which should be the only bevel--was hollow-ground on a bench grinder. Now it has a full Skandi polish and is fairly frightening. I need to try some whittling with it.

 

[four.cycle]

^ Be sure to keep them somewhere DRY. I've had some real disasters with old belts that were stored out in the garage too long.

 

[Beerhippie]

^ Be sure to keep them somewhere DRY. I've had some real disasters with old belts that were stored out in the garage too long.

Thanks! Maybe a sealed container is in the future? I may have to take a look at that ammo box again.

I'll also have to work out a regime for drying the belts after use. I dip the blade so frequently I'm almost wet-sanding.

 

[Beerhippie]

Damn.



I can fit nine of the fifteen in the largest ammo box I have--620 M1909 30 cal. I'm gonna need a bigger can!

I also don't like them laying down, as it means digging to find the one I want. Having room for the belt grinder itself would be nice.

Maybe a Rubbermaid sort of tote?

 

[four.cycle]

and don't let 'em get too hot.
I've had 'em fly to pieces as soon as I hit the button from storing them out in the garage for years.
BK