Interesting E.C. Simmons Keen Kutter

[Augie]

I love old knives, just something about them . When collecting old knives every now and then one really stands out and that happened today with a nice early E.C. Simmons Keen Kutter bare end jack. Beautiful, bone, hammered pins, swedges on blades, just a real appealing old knife.

When I unpacked it and started fondling looking it over it was strangely familiar to me, looking it over a little more it hit me, this knife is almost a dead ringer to Lyle's Lick Creek Boys knife, only slightly larger, same blade configuration although pen nail knick is on different sides, bone jigging different but both are very attractive, same number of pins and they are close to same location.
Just think its kind of interesting that knives possibly 100 years apart could be so close and makes me appreciate even more the traditional patterns that Great Eastern is recreating.

 

[supratentorial]

Nice knives, Augie! :thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

Very nice indeed

 

[hamsco]

Great comparison !

 

[pmek5]

Wow, what a wonderful find. Congrats.

 

[philllll]

Nice find, Augie! The knife is spectacular! I love those old hammered pins.

 

[Gevonovich]

It sure is an old gem in my book! Thanks for sharing it with us:thumbup:

 

[gunstockjack]

Great find Augie, and thanks for the comparison. :thumbup: Bill Howard knows more about the old patterns and their construction than most production makers, and it shows! Now, if GEC could come up with a Pick Bone, I'd overlook the round production pins.

 

[supratentorial]

gunstockjack, What about the bone on Charlie's SFO of the navy knife? It is some of the best that I've seen from any modern company. I'd probably go as far to say that it is right up there with some of the best old stuff. It's a shame they haven't used it on other knives.

I also like their peach seed and the pick bone that they did for the New Day barlow and the first SFO for American whittler. Their jigged bone really improved a lot over the years... from store bought, to amateur, to good, to the best in the industry.

 

[glennbad]

Nice find, Augie! The knife is spectacular! I love those old hammered pins.

My same thoughts!

 

[gunstockjack]

gunstockjack, What about the bone on Charlie's SFO of the navy knife? It is some of the best that I've seen from any modern company. I'd probably go as far to say that it is right up there with some of the best old stuff. It's a shame they haven't used it on other knives.

I also like their peach seed and the pick bone that they did for the New Day barlow and the first SFO for American whittler. Their jigged bone really improved a lot over the years... from store bought, to amateur, to good, to the best in the industry.

Agreed!

 

[MerryMadMonk]

Excellent, Augie! Congrats! :thumbup: :thumbup:

Keen Kutter Pocket Knives by Alvin Sellens shows one with same oval shield (pretty unique shield for a KK)... at 3 1/4 inches and listed as the K2583, circa 1905-1920.

 

[gunstockjack]

This is the style of jigging I was thinking of:

 

[wlfryjr]

John your appreciation for knives shows,but Donna may have to work some overtime,if your appreciation continues to escalate.

For some reason I like GEC's blade best.

Walden made most of the earlier E C Simmons.

 

[paulhilborn]

Augie, fantastic knife and comparison:thumbup:

About a two months back I purchase an old Ulster stockman. It was uncanny how it was so similar to the #68 stockman. So much so that it just had be patterned off the Old Ulster. I don't know that but I sure felt that way same pin placement, same spey and sheepfoot, the clip was spot on except the #68 sports a nail Nick and the Ulster a long pull. Now the #68 Pony Jack has the long pull Clip:thumbup:

I spoke to Duncan and expressed what I just stated above. I did post the Ulster in the Old knives thread maybe a couple of months ago? I gifted the Ulster to Duncan but another (almost identical) came up on the auction site and actually arrived today.

If ok and not meant to distract from your thread I can post comparison picks of my Ulster and GEC #68 tomorrow?

I just feel like you, Barry, Lyle and others the appreciation and passion Bill integrates into GEC from the past vintage classics:thumbup:

 

[supratentorial]

Paul, I'd like to see the comparison photos if it's okay with everyone else.

 

[Cory Hess]

Great knife, Augie. You really have a knack for sniffing out the old ones. :thumbup:

 

[danno50]

Beautiful Keen Kutter, Augie! Really like that old KK bone.
Dan

 

[Augie]

Thank you all, everyones comments are very appreciated. Al, thank you so much for the pattern number and dating information, pretty sure it was an old one and this helps confirm it,
Paul, please do post the comparison , I would love to see them. Your comments about Bill and a passion for these knives was very apparent at the Rendezvous, he loved looking at the old vintage knives that everyone had.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Augie - now ...i am going to repeat myself here as I always tend to do- and that is to say Wow!!! my friend, your taste and mine are the same- I love it every time you post up your latest buys.

I agree the Boys knife is right on, Bill does have that talent, I have heard this from speaking to Charlie many times - this is why we are so so lucky to have a company to carry out this most important work, also - we too are doing this by becoming keepers for the next generation to take ownership of our lovely old knives.

Paul - I am astounded that you could get another Ulster like the one you gifted me - its an incredibly beautiful knife my friend - looking forward to the photos of this one matey.