Welcome Home...THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

iKnife Collector

The online community of knife collectors, A Knife Family Forged in Steel

"The good ole days" - show us some OLD KNIVES

I was talking with my Grandson the other day, and I told him, "I like old knives" - he said "I like the new ones". I shared that with my wife and she said "you gotta be old to like the old things". Maybe she is right. I find myself more and more liking older things, sayings, buildings, guns, knives, and a large assortment of older things. Seems like things made more sense (to me anyway) in the good ole days.

So when were the good ole days?? For me (I'm 67) the good ole days were in the 60's. When it comes to knives, I like a knife that was made either before I was born (1946) or at least before I graduated from High School (1964). I graduated in Arcade, New York and was surrounded by great cutleries, and didn't even think about it at the time. How many times have I driven by the Robeson factory in Perry, NY and didn't even know it.

Anyway, I like old Knives. I like all knives, but especially the older ones. Lets use this discussion to show some-of what you may think as an older knife. Looking forward to seeing a taste of "the good ole days".

Tags: Old, Robeson, Vintage, knife, knives, older

7 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on July 31, 2013 at 18:44

Thanks guys, I need to learn about vintage knives, if I'm going to collect them. This is what makes IKC, so great. No, be little-ing of a member that doesn't have all the facts. Bless Ya'll.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on July 31, 2013 at 18:57

I agree Robert, I have a lot to learn also. Tobias is a great help.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on August 1, 2013 at 13:02

Old Camillus 4 Liner - pre WWII

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 1, 2013 at 13:41

Those little EZ outs are nice. The patter was known as the No. 40 Jack by the U.S. Navy. It was also the No. 2 Official Boy Scout Knife. in the early years of scouting.

I showed my 4 line Camillus with the altered pen blade earlier. The one below is a 1960s era Klein Tool single blade coping knives (not so much the good ole day, but the days of my youth! LOL). This one is still getting use in my basement with a variety of chores. It is a great little user. Blade has virtually no wobble, snaps to the half and full open. Easy to sharpen and holds a good edge. good closing snap, nice fit and finish especially for a cheap utility knife. I think I paid around $5 (including shipping).

Klein marketed to electricians for use in stripping/cutting light wire. Klein actually was contracting with Camillus for the production of their knives at this time.

The Knife is known as the Klein 1550-45. They switched to stainless some time ago. I'm pretty sure production moved to China in the 1990s. I think this model may have recently been discontinued.

Pattern: Rope Knife (Klein 1550-45)
Manufacturer: Klein Tools (Camillus)
Country: USA (Chicago)
Closed Length: 3 1/4 inches
Blade:2 1/2 in. Coping-Sheepfoot
Blade Carbon steel (probably 1095)
Handle: Wood Grain Composition
Shield: None
Pins: Brass
Lining: Brass
Bail: Steel wire
Bolsters: Carbon steel

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on August 1, 2013 at 13:48

Great knife Tobias - I love an old knife with a strong half stop and full snap. What is the ring on the bail - a key ring??

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 1, 2013 at 13:53

The ring on the bail:

Yep it is a key ring. I use the key rings so I can easily hang and display my knives from a 3/4 in cup holder hooks.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on August 1, 2013 at 14:44

Really neat way to display your knives.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on August 1, 2013 at 14:55

I agree with Ken. I like the way you have all of those knives hanging up.

When I look at your display the word "utilitarian" pops into my head. Because so many of those knives fit the true description or definition of the word, utilitarian. To wit: Something that provides a useful function.

Of course, I suppose that could be said of just about any knife, eh?

Bottom line: Very cool, Toby!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 1, 2013 at 17:37

Thanks Ron & Ken.

The key rings are around 19 cents a pop. I pick up the cup holders for about $2 for a box of 100. I have a local hardware store near my house that sells the key rings Truly a neighborhood store. I've been going there for over 20 years and pretty much no everyone who works in the place. A couple years ago I started going in to the place and buying cup holders and key rings. After my third trip for key rings I wiped Mike (the owner) out of rings. He was stunned. He hadn't ordered them in several years. He said he was lucky to sell three or four a month. I told him he would need to double his order and I'd let him know when I was going to stop buying them.

I'm usually in the place every Saturday morning and the women (Mike's wife, sister, and mother) who work the desk (and know more about hand tools and fixing stuff than most men I know) always greet me with "Now what are you up to!" They're stunned when I ask for something normal. I never get out of the place without chatting with them for at least 1/2 and hour. On the bright side, Ive become such a regular that I get 10% off every purchase I make!

Neighborhood Hardware Stores, General Stores, and old fashioned Barbershops -- boys today don't know what they're missing!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ken Spielvogel on August 1, 2013 at 17:46

You are so right Tobias, we have gotten so far away from "The Good Ole Days". That is one reason I like a good ole knife so much. New ones are alright but I like the old ones better.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ron Cooper on August 2, 2013 at 2:21

Toby,

The hardware store that you described sounds just like the one in my little town. Ours is an Ace Hardware but it's named Arnold's Frontier Hardware Store and it hasn't really changed much in over 75 years. There's only enough space for 6 cars to park in the parking lot. If that gives you any idea of how small it is? I've mentioned this before, but, to give you an idea of what kind of town I live in, I'll tell you again. We do not have even one traffic signal in the entire town -- NOT ONE! We have an all volunteer Fire Department, too! So, yep! I know exactly what you're talking about. For many of us it still is the good ol' days! I hope to keep it like that!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tobias Gibson on August 2, 2013 at 6:02

Ron,

You're one of the lucky ones. I live in the big, politically corrupt city of Chicago. My neighdorhood is truly one that time has passed by, unfortunately time is catching up. The hardware store is Aniol's Hardware & Paint Store (the big sign out front reads True Value Hardware. Mike has worked the store all of his life, taking over from his dad. Mike's Grand father ran an old butcher shop. I guess one of the sons saw more money in tools. Obviously, being part of the Chicago we have all the amenities of a big city and all the bad stuff that comes with it. (Not too much crime, however) We also boast the last remaining lumber mill in the city as well as the last remaining wet lands in Chicago.