Red Devil UK55

[ambenz]

So I am refilling all my knifes with new blades as I am cleaning up the garage and I come across my fathers old Red Devil UK55.
This thing has got to be older than me...I am 58.
I remembered something funny about this knife as when I got it, the blade was ground down and sharpened with a grinder. I remember needing it and flipping it over, wondering WTH? ...but used it to finish the job and threw it in the back of the drawer.
So hear I am today, remembering my surprise to see a drift pin in the oddest place with holes in the blade to facilitate installation! That a hole in a hardened steel blade! How is that made?

So, that pin sure looks factory installed...do they make special blades for this or is this just a big waste of time and go out and get a new one?
I thought it was something you guys might know about...Dad was pretty good at jury rigging tools, but drilling holes in hardened steel blades?

 

[PelicanPines]

Ok I'm interested in this. I'm your age... my father had a homemade knife...

You know how cheap safety razor blades are... my father used to sharpen them on the inside of his shaving mug... got months from a blade.

I want to try to drill a hole in a utility blade... to see how difficult... but I have visions of fumbling for pliers to pull the blade out of my body after something goes wrong.

 

[Fretters]

I want to try to drill a hole in a utility blade... to see how difficult... but I have visions of fumbling for pliers to pull the blade out of my body after something goes wrong.

Sandwich it between two pieces of wood if you're wanting to play with minimal risk.

 

[captain14]

I’m curious. Is the right side of the blade been sharpened down that much it’s shorter than the left side?

 

[RivennHewn]

Typical depression era behavior.

Good thing history never repeats itself.

 

[cvairwerks]

Pin is factory, I think it was so that you had to buy their blades to fit it. Blades are still available too.
http://www.fawcettboat.com/pc_produ...MI46CdlKiO1wIVTYF-Ch0Abwa-EAQYAiABEgK47_D_BwE

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I think I have a STANLEY DEFIANCE from the same era that has a similar set-up. I will take it apart tonight.

 

[DadsTools]

It doesn't surprise me that the blade was sharpened that much--I don't think that's so unusual.

The pin sure does look original. Some modern blades have holes in them, but they look as if they'd be too big for this pin, and the blade would flop around. But all such blades have to have some means to secure them into the handle, most today have the notches in the top. On this particular blade, there are no means other than those holes, so even if one suspected they might be home-drilled, there would be no other means to hold it were those holes not there. Similarly, without the pin, the handle itself has no means to hold the blade other than lateral pressure, which isn't enough in my opinion--blade would shift under load.

Even so, why bother drilling the second, lower hole when it engages nothing I can see?

I suspect it's all original--pin and holes. Both together appear necessary to make the knife functional. If so, there may be replacements available, but they'd have to be for that specific style knife. In any event, great memento that takes up very little room in the drawer to keep it.

Let's see what Lugz finds out. He has a 'handle' on just about everything!

 

[DadsTools]

Yep, pin looks original.

https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/161991-interior-of-red-devil-uk-55

If so, then the blade HAD to have hole similar to pin diameter to function.

Looks like it's all original.

 

[Larryjones]

I have one of those but looks like the pin was removed. A regular utility blade will slide in but there is no way to retain it. And my dad always sharpened his utility blades, instead of popping a new blade in he would get out the stone and put a new edge on it. And I just found this link to what seems to be the correct blade. https://www.maxwarehouse.com/produc...MI_fng_oWP1wIVUgOGCh1qYgB9EAQYAyABEgJ_5vD_BwE

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Even so, why bother drilling the second, lower hole when it engages nothing I can see?

Uh, unless I'm totally missing something, I assume the two holes are to adjust the length of the blade, the same way you would use the notches on a notched blade and pin type safety knife.

Let's see what Lugz finds out. He has a 'handle' on just about everything!

Nah. Just too much junk and too much time on my hands.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

So I was wrong or misremembering. The Stanley No. 199 uses notched blades. See thumbnails.

I could've sworn I had one like ambenz's though. It wasn't a Red Devil because I would remember that. (They supplied cocobolo handled putty knives and glass cutters and other tools to WWII tool-sets.) I will keep looking.

 

[DadsTools]

I have one of those but looks like the pin was removed. A regular utility blade will slide in but there is no way to retain it. And my dad always sharpened his utility blades, instead of popping a new blade in he would get out the stone and put a new edge on it. And I just found this link to what seems to be the correct blade. https://www.maxwarehouse.com/produc...MI_fng_oWP1wIVUgOGCh1qYgB9EAQYAyABEgJ_5vD_BwE

I believe the hole in the middle of these modern blades is too large, plus it looks like the notches in the top would actually extend pass the case in the front.

 

[DadsTools]

So I was wrong or misremembering. The Stanley No. 199 uses notched blades. See thumbnails.

I could've sworn I had one like ambenz's though. It wasn't a Red Devil because I would remember that. (They supplied cocobolo handled putty knives and glass cutters and other tools to WWII tool-sets.) I will keep looking.

You have the kind with the tab inside at the top for the notches in the common (modern) blades. I think OP's takes a proprietary blade.

The second hole is a bit of a mystery because it appears to be positioned near the cutting edge rather than toward the center like the other. Perhaps this would allow the blade to be positioned differently? If you look at the recess inside the head, it appears as if two pointed recesses are cut out so that the blade could also be positioned upside down, since the blade point would fit into either one. You'd almost have to have the components in front of you to play around with them. I was also thinking that some models may have had a retracting lever having a pin that fit into the lower hole.

In any event, very cool and unusual.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

You have the kind with the tab inside at the top for the notches in the common (modern) blades.

I said that when I posted the pics. I must be thinking of another one I have laying around here somewhere.

 

[ambenz]

Pin is factory, I think it was so that you had to buy their blades to fit it. Blades are still available too.
http://www.fawcettboat.com/pc_produ...MI46CdlKiO1wIVTYF-Ch0Abwa-EAQYAiABEgK47_D_BwE

WOW! This rocks! Go figure! Ya, now I have to decide just how many different replacement blades I want to stock verses the cost of a new utility knife...old tool or not, sometimes you just have to let it go.....
I can get a new Masterforce® Quick Change Utility Knife to accept the blades I already have for $4.99, it looks much safer too!

Sure Love Dad and all the tools he gave me as hand me downs but I am thinking this one is going out to pasture.... thanks for all the replys! You guys rock!!!
I wonder if a tool collector might want this utility knife??? Hmmmmm....

Loving this old school Stanley....very cool.....

 

[DadsTools]

WOW! This rocks! Go figure! Ya, now I have to decide just how many different replacement blades I want to stock verses the cost of a new utility knife...old tool or not, sometimes you just have to let it go.....
I can get a new Masterforce® Quick Change Utility Knife to accept the blades I already have for $4.99, it looks much safer too!

Sure Love Dad and all the tools he gave me as hand me downs but I am thinking this one is going out to pasture.... thanks for all the replys! You guys rock!!!
I wonder if a tool collector might want this utility knife??? Hmmmmm....

Loving this old school Stanley....very cool.....

I have one of those 'old school' Stanleys--great knife, use it all the time.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I wonder if a tool collector might want this utility knife???

If you send it to me for the price of that Masterforce + the cost of shipping in a cheap USPS padded envelope, I will gladly install your vintage Red Devil UK55 in a high and dry spot in the Lugzsonian.

I have one of those 'old school' Stanleys--great knife, use it all the time.

Different strokes, Dads. Without one iota of judgement toward you, this 1940's aluminum cast Stanley No. 199 with original blades will never see another minute of work in its life. I have a dozen safer el cheapo box cutters with retractable blades around here for that.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This is the knife I must have been thinking of. Not quite the same (the "pin" is a little threaded set bolt with two washers and that wingnut), but similar. A simple, crude, but effective design. This one is pre-ZIP code.

 

[RStewart]

Maybe your dad put a second hole in the blade to make up for the severe grind on the resharpen?
Cool nonetheless.

 

[DadsTools]

If you send it to me for the price of that Masterforce + the cost of shipping in a cheap USPS padded envelope, I will gladly install your vintage Red Devil UK55 in a high and dry spot in the Lugzsonian.


Different strokes, Dads. Without one iota of judgement toward you, this 1940's aluminum cast Stanley No. 199 with original blades will never see another minute of work in its life. I have a dozen safer el cheapo box cutters with retractable blades around here for that.

My 199 resides on the benchtop I use for packing and shipping. Never goes in a tool box or drawer where retracting would be needed. It gets a lot of precision detailed usage, not just cutting boxes open. Of all the cutters I own, this one has the surest grip in my particular hand, holds the blades rock-solid, and provides the greatest control and precision. Because of how well it works for me--and speaking only for myself--it would be silly for me to hide it away in a drawer in favor of one that doesn't work as well just because it's a vintage collectible.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

...in favor of one that doesn't work as well.

Totally agree. I would never use a modern tool if it didn't do the job as well as an older one just because the older one was vintage. Except for something built explicitly for a vintage component (for example, I've got this little Bristol wrench that is the only thing that will adjust the forks on a Dana T-84 transmission...), I haven't run into one yet. Having said that, there are certain vintage tools that I prefer to use over modern tools. But only if I have doubles!

 

[Farmer J.]

this 1940's aluminum cast Stanley No. 199 with original blades will never see another minute of work in its life. I have a dozen safer el cheapo box cutters with retractable blades around here for that.

The local hardware store here has stanley 199 knives exactly like that 1940's one, brand new for sale on the rack. Doesn't say where they were made though.!
They also have a nice retractable blade version available with a donation to 'help for heroes' included for every one sold and that's 'Stanley,Made In England'.

 

[safariknut]

I have a small collection of old utility knives and a lot of them utilize old single edge razor blades(and one a double edged blade).Seems to have been a popular recycling method in the Depression era. The coolest ones are this Red Devil "Jak-nife" and the Hyde model. Both use single edge razor blades and the Red Devil folds in a way to allow it to be used as a knife.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Doesn't say where they were made though!

One guess! Then again, the patent , if there was one, is long expired.

The coolest ones are this Red Devil "Jak-nife" and the Hyde model. Both use single edge razor blades and the Red Devil folds in a way to allow it to be used as a knife.

Those are sweet!

 

[Farmer J.]

Originally Posted by Farmer J. View Post
Doesn't say where they were made though!

One guess! Then again, the patent , if there was one, is long expired.

I just found them on the Stanley website, to my surprise and delight 'MADE IN USA' .
http://www.stanleytools.com/en-us/p...-classic-199-fixed-blade-utility-knife/10-209

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Some designs never go out of style! (Although, "exactly like that 1940's one" is a bit of an overstatement...)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I just picked up this Red Devil JAK-NIFE this morning. The patent (2,071,562) was granted February 1937. No blades.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have been using this thread, which started out with a Red Devil UK55, as a place to show all kinds of vintage utility knives I find, especially oddballs. Today I found another odd jobbie. The shape is what immediately caught my eye. As soon as I picked it up I knew it was some kind of utility knife. It's a Beno J. Grundlach No. 154 Razor Blade Knife. I had never heard of them, but as it turns out, they are still in business, and have been since 1927. As you can see, it's an interesting design. A simple hinge and a little twist latch to open and close it, with the blades stored inside. It only had the one blade remaining.

 

[bargainhuntingking]

 

[Bryan Burns]

I have been using this thread, which started out with a Red Devil UK55, as a place to show all kinds of vintage utility knives I find, especially oddballs. Today I found another odd jobbie. The shape is what immediately caught my eye. As soon as I picked it up I knew it was some kind of utility knife. It's a Beno J. Grundlach No. 154 Razor Blade Knife. I had never heard of them, but as it turns out, they are still in business, and have been since 1927. As you can see, it's an interesting design. A simple hinge and a little twist latch to open and close it, with the blades stored inside. It only had the one blade remaining.

I have the same carpet knife except for the branding. Very clever design.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Glad I'm not the only one, Bryan!