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date and identify your knife

Everyone is welcome to post info on dating and identifying knifes. Charts , pictures anything you have to help members to find out more info on their knifes

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 6, 2014 at 14:35

Is it possible to date Colonial knives?

Posted by Charles Sample on May 14, 2013 at 0:20

I just received this Colonial Ranger knife that I won on eBay. Is it possible to date it from the tang stamps? (There are more pictures of it posted under my photos.)

Reply by Steve Hanner on May 14, 2013 at 8:48

Unfortunately the short answer is no. After all those years of making knives, record keeping was minimal.So mich of the knowledge was in the heads of the owners. Steve Paolantonio, who is a member here now perhaps could add more to the story. The only other way to perhaps get an approximate date is another collector who might be able to say, I bought that knife new in 1960!

In a way, that's what differentiates Imperial who made minor changes in the tang stamp to get you closer in time frame.

Reply by Craig Henry on May 14, 2013 at 16:42

That's for sure Steve. Many collectors today wish many of the knife companies kept better records......or ANY records.

Reply by steve @ colonial knife on May 15, 2013 at 10:18

when I took over the sales department back in the late 80's, my first concern after 30 years in the private label business, how to build back the brand ?-I felt that Colonial Knife needed to begin the process of stamping all our products with our name, hence the Colonial on the pocket blade. So, to answer the question as to the date-late 80's-90's. due to lack of interest in the traditonal stockmans patterns- production ended in 2000.

I have a few left inventory and currently selling them "in new" condition for $69.99 each while they last-American made knife-Ranger series

hope this helps

Best regards,

Steve Paolantonio

Colonial knife Corp.

Reply by Charles Sample on May 15, 2013 at 10:48

Thanks Steve, I really appreciate the informatiion.

Reply by steve @ colonial knife on March 23, 2014 at 15:12

this is a Ranger series Brand manufactured by Colonial for over 30 years-A true back bone of the Colonial brand-Colonial has only recently started dating their products with the year of manufacture beginning in 2006

Reply by Charles Sample on March 24, 2014 at 15:16

Steve, I have one of your 2205 Military Scout Knives. The tang is marked AUS 34. I assume this is the type of steel used but I have been able to find no information on this steel. Can you tell me anything about it?

Thanks for your help.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 6, 2014 at 14:39

Schrade Cut Co. Walden New York tang stamps and date codes

Posted by Wayne Whitted on December 19, 2012 at 17:48.

Here is an image I have for some of the older Schrade tang stamps.

Reply by Craig Henry on December 19, 2012 at 17:50

I love Schrade Cuts!

Reply by Brad T. on November 21, 2013 at 9:14

Schrade Logo # 9 1946-73

Got it yesterday. See her here.

http://www.iknifecollector.com/xn/detail/3181080:Comment:1012599?xg...

Reply by Ken Spielvogel on November 21, 2013 at 12:18

Great info, thanks.

Reply by Mike Sankewitsch on January 30, 2014 at 22:47

Thank you for posting that image - the one knife I am trying to date has the #8 logo, now just have to find out what the pattern 881 is. Maybe that will give me a smaller date range.

Thanks again!

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 6, 2014 at 14:42

Imperial Markings

Posted by Don "Cossack Gearhead" Godard on December 9, 2012 at 21:52

Reply by Brad T. on January 4, 2013 at 15:14

I paid $2.26 for this knife, I paid $3.95 for shipping. But the stamp is the Hammer Brand 1936-37 exactly, although some what worn away.

Reply by Steve Hanner on January 28, 2013 at 15:44

I do have some Hammer Brand knives Brad and that is a one good looking knife. I still like the celluloid scales, I wish they still made them! Look how deep that color is!

Reply by Brad T. on February 1, 2013 at 15:30

That is not celluloid Steve. I was dismayed to find, that it is a thin plastic overlay on a steel frame. But it doesn't detract from the fact that this knife at 75+ years old is still tight with STRONG back springs. Besides, I spent less than $7 for a usable American knife.

Reply by Steve Hanner on February 1, 2013 at 15:49

OK funny how they achieved that color and what looks like depth using a thin piece of plastic. I agree still a good deal and somewhat amazing isn't it?

Reply by Brad T. on December 10, 2013 at 9:57

Tiny 1945-55 Hammer Brand watch fob knife. Cracked Ice Celluloid

Reply by Sue OldsWidow on December 10, 2013 at 12:49

Imperial knives was a manufacturer of affordable American folding knives founded in Rhode Island in 1916. By the 1940s, Imperial knives became the Imperial Knife Associated Companies Group when the company acquired Schrade Cutlery. In 1985, the company became the Imperial Schrade Corporation. In 2004, Imperial Schrade's New York manufacturing plant closed, and all production shifted overseas. Dating the American Imperial knives produced between 1916 and 1988 is relatively simple. After 1988, the Imperial tang stamps were discontinued and replaced by the Schrade name.

http://www.iknifecollector.com/group/knifechicks2/forum/topics/gene...

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 6, 2014 at 14:44

KaBar Dating - This came from another post and is very helpful

Posted by Ken Spielvogel on August 5, 2013 at 12:21

Union Cutlery Co.
Olean, NY 1911-1951
KA-BAR brand 1923-1951
Wallace R. & Emerson Brown
Danforth Brown Manufacturer

KA-BAR Cutlery Co.
Olean, NY 1951-1966
KA-BAR brand since 1951
Danforth Brown d.1956
Manufacturer

Cole National Corp.
Cleveland and Solon, OH 1966-present
KA-BAR and KHYBER brands
Manufacturer at Olean, NY 1966-1977
Sold KA-BAR brand to Alcas 1996nother post: a great help

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 6, 2014 at 14:51

Victorinox Swiss Army tang stamps and dating info

Posted by Wayne Whitted on December 19, 2012 at 17:01

The last photo shows a general timeline of Soldier knives on the left side and Officers knives on the right side.

Reply by Wayne Whitted on December 19, 2012 at 17:55

I have another tang stamp image for Victorinox somewhere but It may take awhile for me to get it posted. I also have old catalog images showing different models.

Reply by Ron Cooper on December 19, 2012 at 19:28

Thanks, Wayne! Lots of good info for us SAK fans!

Reply by Brad T. on December 20, 2012 at 9:19

You should post this in the "Knife Dating" group. You certainly do have a lot of great info here. Thanks.

Reply by Craig Henry on December 20, 2012 at 16:31

This has nothing to do with tang stamps, but, Wayne, you are the SAK Professor! I'd like to see a dating list (in the SAK group?) for when the various models came out....like when did the ever popular Classic first come out?

Reply by Don "Cossack Gearhead" Godard on December 22, 2012 at 10:27

Great info Thanks Don

Reply by Anthony "Tank" Meeks on February 13, 2013 at 2:24

Thank you very much, Wayne. Terrific information

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on July 6, 2014 at 14:58