My old Ulster scout knife

[mnblade]

I've had this old Ulster scout knife sitting around for as long as I can remember.

It was my dad's as a kid (he was born in 1935), but -- oddly enough -- I didn't even know that until recently when he told me. It's just one of those knives I always had laying around in a drawer. As a kid, I'd use it sometimes and tote it around a bit; I do remember taking it to scout camp once or twice. But it was never really my primary EDC knife.

Some time after I quit scouts, some idiot took a Dremel and ground off the BSA insignia. It still ticks me off every time I look at that moron's face -- which unfortunately happens every single morning, when I shave and brush my teeth.

Dad told me that his dad gave it to him. It certainly looks like it's seen a ton of use, and frankly I'm not sure why. I guess Dad used it a good bit as a kid, but he never carried any kind of knife that I can remember (though in the last 10 years or so, he's become a devoted SAK Classic carrier). He's not much of an outdoors man by any means.

Anyway, I thought you guys might get a kick out of this one. This weekend, I sharpened it up a bit and carried it while gardening. It sliced open a few soil and mulch bags, the awl helped dig out a few stubborn rocks from the dirt, and the bottle opener enabled me to enjoy a cold bottle of suds afterwards! Here are some other views ....

-- Mark

 

[Stich2442]

mnblade that is great a blade with history, my dad was not a knife guy but he started two of my addictions, in 1978 when I turned six he bought me my first pocket knife and first fishing pole.
Here is my first knife along with my Ulster Boy Scout knife.

 

[kamagong]

Thanks for sharing your story. Beautiful patina on that knife, with very little pitting that I can see. Too bad about the vandalized shield.

- Christian

 

[pinnah]

Regarding the shield, I can sympathize with the guy who picked up the dremmel. I really dislike the BSA emblems since they sit so incredibly proud. I've filed one off before and the knife just looks like it has a round shield on it. Much nicer in the hand, at least according to my tastes. I understand the authenticity thing but imo, once you commit to using a knife, modifying it in any way to suit you is just fine.

Regarding the missing bail, I've made that look better by filling the void with some solder. Sand it down with 2000 grit and finish the bolster on a strop. You can still see the hole but it's much less noticeable.

I *LOVE* these knives. As luck would have it, I'm carrying my Ulster camper with me today. I got my first Ulster BSA when I was 8 (and got 5 stitches within a month!). You'll note mine has no bail. I took it off and ground down the posts with a file. Transforms how the knife feels in the hand and how it carries. Again, no compunction about moding a knife. Maybe you could tape off your shield and sand it down to a polish by hand?


Modified Ulster Camper by Pinnah, on Flickr

 

[brets-ftw]

For the OP, you can always sand it and polish, then engrave it with a BSA emblem, maybe give it some semblance of it's history

 

[Humppa]

Hi Mark! That knive is amazing! The patina is really great. Thank you for sharing it to us and the story is nice, too.

Kind regards
Andi

 

[jackknife]

Great old knife, Mark. I'd make it an everyday carry. Those old carbon steel blades took a scary edge with very little work. But what's real funny is, looking at the back of the knife and fit and finish, it's better made than a lot of more expensive knives being made today.

Carl.

 

[Grateful]

That is a nice one . I am fortunate enough to have one like it that I picked up at an antique shop for 18 dollars . It is a very solid knife and the blade takes and holds a real nice edge .
Jim

 

[zippofan]

Great story!

I was never a Scout but I always liked the knives, maybe that's why I'm a Scoutmaster now

 

[eisman]

I too have an old Ulster Soy Scout knife. I picked mine up at a gun show early this spring. Then I found a copy of the book "600 Scout Knives" at a thrift store. Now I have half a dozen scout knives.

I'd recommend looking around for a "parts" knife and taking the shield from that. Even better if you want to replace the bail.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Neat knife AND story Mark...eisman's got the idea my friend, get a parts knife, there still are quite a few of them around... a very fixable problem.
Wow... I have said this many-a-time, but I always wish to have known a kind Poppa, and yet alone to have his knife!...just awesome.

 

[mudchroniccars]

I have the same style but, white handle. I'm new to the restoration process but, I think mine and other knives I have are worthy of cleaning them up. Any advice about restoration would be helpful. Your knife is in great shape.

 

[bozack]

I have an Ulster BSA knife. It was given to me when I was seven. I carried it well into my twenties. It is well used and worn out now. But it is one I will never part with.
It has five blade, including the Philipshead screw driver.



It is still sharp. But the main blade is really loose now.

 

[major_works]

Here's my Ulster Scout knife. It's about 90 years old.

IMG_20150428_101016 by major_works, on Flickr

 

[imill3567]

It's a great pattern. Here's mine, although not Ulster, that I picked up for $3 at a flea market.

 

[tongueriver]

xxxxx

 

[AreBeeBee]

Tastes differ widely with these. I took the bail off my Ulster Scout model — as I usually do with all knives that have them or keyring "ears" — but on the Ulster I like the round shield. In my view it looks a lot better than the embossed Delrin on the Imperials. Feels fine, too.

 

[mnblade]

Those old carbon steel blades took a scary edge with very little work. But what's real funny is, looking at the back of the knife and fit and finish, it's better made than a lot of more expensive knives being made today.

Carl.

Very very true on both counts.

-- Mark

 

[wazu013]

 

[Scooter70]

Here's my father's Ulster scout knife that he gave to me years ago. It has the large blade, awl, can opener, and bottle opener. I'm not sure how much he used it but the blade has definitely been sharpened many times in its life. I never carried it on my way to Eagle but still keep it around as a monento.