Show Your Vintage Knife

[gpw_42]

Double Barrel makes a STRONG entry to the thread - welcome aboard! Randall 2-7 and Randall 14. The sheath on the 14 is from the mid-90s or newer (based on Randall button), but very unusual to me with the gator (?) skin, plus Sullivan's and Randall marks. I've never developed any skill at estimating the age of RMKs from the knives themselves.

Mvcorse the Facom catalog is interesting, since it's in French. When was it published? Looks like Facom has gone in a very different knife direction since then, whenever that was. https://www.facom.eu/uk-en/generaltooling/productoverview/hierarchy/7084/ Facom is apparently not available in the US, or at least there is not a distributor listed on their website. Of course, there's always the secondary market.

​

 

[Doublebarrel]

Well done gpw_42 I special ordered the 14 around 2003 and did not recieve til 2006 randall knives will not special order sheaths and they said I can special order from sulivans shop so I did, yes it is gator!
As for the 2 7 I believe it's from the 1970s.

 

[mvcorse]

Double Barrel makes a STRONG entry to the thread - welcome aboard! Randall 2-7 and Randall 14. The sheath on the 14 is from the mid-90s or newer (based on Randall button), but very unusual to me with the gator (?) skin, plus Sullivan's and Randall marks. I've never developed any skill at estimating the age of RMKs from the knives themselves.

Mvcorse the Facom catalog is interesting, since it's in French. When was it published? Looks like Facom has gone in a very different knife direction since then, whenever that was. https://www.facom.eu/uk-en/generaltooling/productoverview/hierarchy/7084/ Facom is apparently not available in the US, or at least there is not a distributor listed on their website. Of course, there's always the secondary market.

​

This catalogue should be a F78 (1978) or F87 (1987), I took that picture long ago and I'll double check soon. The basic Facom knifes for industrial use are made in France, and the fancy ones are usually made in Germany or Sweden.
I believe Ultimate garage is in charge of US market.
Some Facom knifes are avaiable here:

Ultimate Garage

 

[mvcorse]

Facom knife from Sweden (EKA oem, too)


Restored.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Restored.

Nicely done. What is the composition of the handle/scales?

Facom knife from Sweden (EKA oem, too)

...and with a US Design Patent! Granted in 1973, by the way. (It'll be vintage next year. )

 

[MisterEd]

This is a 1929 Bread Knife because the inscription says so:

“keep my edge keen I will slice all the Bread you your children your Grand Great Great Grand children will eat Take care of me I want to become a multi cetinarian 1929 Clara”

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This is a 1929 Bread Knife because the inscription says so:

That's the most charming thing I've seen here in awhile. Great find.

 

[MisterEd]

That's the most charming thing I've seen here in awhile. Great find.

Thanks and agree. Folk art. Actually quite well-made. Sharp. And has soul.
Someone'll have to buy it at my estate sale.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And has soul.

Indeed.

There are a couple common refrains here on the vintage board, such as "If a tool could only talk," or "oh, the stories that tool could tell." Well, in this case, it's quite literally true, and it quite literally does.

 

[MisterEd]

"If a tool could only talk,"

One of the joys I found when I was working with Spanish Treasure coins was imagining the stories the coin could tell. Hidden treasures like those displayed on Garage Journal and the things we find in our searches have adequately replaced those imaginings and do so much less expensively. I think Clara's bread knife cost $15. The longer we have it the more priceless it has become.

 

[gpw_42]

MisterEd, that bread knife is SUPERB! Are you already planning what to cut with it as you ring in 2029?

mvcorse, nice resto on that Swiss FACOM. Looks like she's ready for another ~50 years.

 

[MisterEd]

MisterEd, that bread knife is SUPERB! Are you already planning what to cut with it as you ring in 2029?

Thanks for the comment. Very pleased to be able to share it.

I can hope to be able to still cut the mustard, but perhaps will welcome just being able to still cut the cheese.
What I might hope for is to be a "cetinarian" in 2046!

 

[bbbarracuda]

Patented Superior cleaver and tenderer from 1907 or there about
When you need to beat your meat into submission.

 

[mvcorse]

Nicely done. What is the composition of the handle/scales?

...and with a US Design Patent! Granted in 1973, by the way. (It'll be vintage next year. )

I would say engineering plastic.....
Should post it later

 

[mvcorse]

mvcorse, nice resto on that Swiss FACOM. Looks like she's ready for another ~50 years.

Thanks! I'll try to keep it from rust

 

[mvcorse]

This kind of knife was roughly manufactured.


Then restored.

 

[d42jeep]

My wife spotted this interesting folding knife at yesterday’s Oakland garage sale. She likes to find items with local markings.
-Don

 

[Bockscar]

A knife my Grandpa gave me...

 

[bigredcornhead]

There is only one knife i really want and will never find, heck i cant even find decently priced replica is a WWI trench knife. The one with the knuckle duster, those are awesome!

 

[rdjohannes]

Schrade Folding Produce Knife
Found this unique knife at a thrift shop. It was an advertising piece, probably useful and a little scary. Blade is razor sharp, 3/8” by 4 1/2”.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

A knife my Grandpa gave me...

I like it. Is there a name above "PAT." on the tang? And does that read "9-21-26"? September 21, 1926 was a Tuesday, so that makes sense. Just have to figure out who was making these in Bridgeport, Conn., most likely Schrade.

EDIT: Yup. Schrade. I want one! No scales. Very lightweight, efficient, and not much to break.

 

[kwigly]

Picked up this knife/machete cheap at a local estate auction because of its odd shape with heavy single bevel spatula blade. In rough condition. I replaced chipped wood and missing brass knob on the handle pommel.
Researching the markings was fun. Turns out its US Military M-1904 pattern Hospital Corps "Bolo" knife. This one was made at Springfield Armory ("S.A.") in 1910
The blade back tapers from 3/8" thick, so its heavy, weighing 2.0 lbs.
I cringe at the thought of going to a hospital where the staff use one of these brute instruments.

 

[Bockscar]

I like it. Is there a name above "PAT." on the tang? And does that read "9-21-26"? September 21, 1926 was a Tuesday, so that makes sense. Just have to figure out who was making these in Bridgeport, Conn., most likely Schrade.

EDIT: Yup. Schrade. I want one! No scales. Very lightweight, efficient, and not much to break.

As close as I can focus.....I am pretty sure it says Geo Schrade above....and if memory serves me correctly it was sold as a boy scout knife

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I am pretty sure it says Geo Schrade above

Yessir! Thanks for confirming.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I cringe at the thought of going to a hospital where the staff use one of these brute instruments.

Not used by doctors, and not used for amputation! For clearing brush near field hospitals for sanitation purposes and to make make-shift stretchers and splints.

 

[kwigly]

Not used by doctors, and not used for amputation! For clearing brush near field hospitals for sanitation purposes and to make make-shift stretchers and splints.

Hah ! I've seen that explanation. But I wonder why, if they were good tools for general jungle work, why weren't they for regular army issue, instead of a Hospital Corps specialty.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

They're not bolos, per se, and not called bolos, and I don't know if they're as "good" for "general jungle work" as a bolo or even a machete. But if you're asking what I would ask a slightly different way - that is, why the Hospital Corps wouldn't just be issued a bolo or machete to clear brush and make stretcher poles, why do they need their own yet different version of a similar jungle knife, if memory serves, I have read, but can't cite where (one or more of the major knife books, i.e., Trzaska, etc) that it was to eliminate its classification as a weapon. That sounds marginally apocryphal as well, though. I have not had a reason (such as finding a great example!) to question it. But I knew in passing they weren't used in surgery.

 

[kwigly]

,,, I knew in passing they weren't used in surgery.

Lugs, I agree entirely. It was just the mental image I got when I first found they were issued as Hospital Corps kit.
A bit from the web on its history and use...
BOLO HISTORY: The first Army Bolo Knives were for very limited issue by Hospital Corps troops who had a need to clear brush and cut poles for tents or litters. As a direct result of the experience of U.S. troops in the Philippine Insurrection, the Army developed the Model 1904 Bolo Knife, a heavy curved knife that proved useful in the jungles for cutting through dense, tangled vegetation and as a weapon. Later these BOLO knives were issued to artillery and machine gun crews presumably to clear brush for setting up the artillery or for a clear line of fire for the machine gun crews. The U.S. Army does not consider these edged tools as weapons, although they certainly have been used as both offensive and defensive weapons. Bolos were not issued to every soldier but a few were distributed to each unit in accordance with the T/O for the type of unit deployed and their mission. Machine gun squads received bolos for use in clearing their field of fire. Because of its shortness, weight, and guard, the Army's bolo was an inefficient brush knife compared to a well designed machete. The M-1942 broad machete replaced the bolo knife early in World War II.

 

[Kuma601]

Royal Brand- Scout knife. Seen better days for sure.

 

[four.cycle]

my brain hurts from too much knife history.

 

[four.cycle]

I am reveling in the realization that I can use a "Norge" emoji.

So... Uff Da!

 

[gpw_42]

Don, thanks for reigniting this thread! Bockscar, love the family connection of the knife from your grandfather.

Thanks also to all who've posted up a series of interesting knives (and discussion), from several different eras, and purposes. While they all cut, amazing how differently they approach the task.

That M1904 Hospital Corps knife is nice - and the type is a brute. Swinging one for long would shortly turn the user into Popeye, given the mass of the thing, despite being quite well balanced. I can imagine that if one of those knives were pressed into service as a weapon, it'd be a great amputator!

Cornhead, are you looking for the M1917 (triangular blade, walnut grips) or M1918 knife (2-sided blade, brass knuckles)? Both have knuckles integral to the design.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Here's an oldie:

 

[RTM]

Couple of knives from the past that are being rehomed this holiday season. New York Knife Co Hammer Brand race knife on top, Camillus 1973 Military four blade on the bottom.

 

[555]

I carried a Camillus 4 blade military knife many years.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Camillus 1973 Military four blade

This knife was once known as a "G.P." (for general purpose), but most collectors, including our thread host, call them MIL-K's, short for their full MIL-K-818 military standard designation. I read an early draft of an excellent and well-researched study he has done on them in which I was shocked to learn that they were in development, but not yet issued, as far back as late WWII.

I carried a Camillus 4 blade military life many years.

I still do (a 1963 I got from my Great Aunt, an original WAC and lifer who retired in '73), and I have one in the glove compartment of my truck, and in the top drawer of my toolbox down the basement as well, and I have pressed others I have found into the hands of my children. I am on record here and in a long-lost thread up on the General Discussion board (where I probably argued too vigorously with all the Swiss Army proponents...) saying it's my favorite knife. Stainless steel, indestructible, comfortable grip, and looks great, too!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Couple of knives from the past that are being rehomed this holiday season

Does this mean you are sending them back to their original owners?

 

[Bockscar]

A couple of Western fixed blades

 

[RTM]

Does this mean you are sending them back to their original owners?

Finding them a new home. What is the correct word for that? Not digging any bodies up for this project.

 

[RTM]

I have pressed others I have found into the hands of my children. I am on record here and in a long-lost thread up on the General Discussion board (where I probably argued too vigorously with all the Swiss Army proponents...) saying it's my favorite knife. Stainless steel, indestructible, comfortable grip, and looks great, too!

which is why I feel it was a good one to pass forward. It’s a bit too bulky for me to EDC, and a very classy looking knife, so I’m hoping the new owner will be as thrilled as you are. It’s a Secret Santa, somewhere other than GJ, so you won’t be getting another from me.