Parker Cut Co ..... need advice!

[coyote711]

I don't recall ever seeing a thread about these knives. In my extremely small, infinitesimal, almost non-existent knowledge of knife history, about the only thing I think I know is that there may be some connection to Case knives. I'm guessing these knives aren't much to write home about since no one seems to collect 'em.

So, are they obscure little gems that no one knows about (fat chance), or pieces of junk, or what? And thanks for edu-ma-cating me!

 

[T. Erdelyi]

I've had a few Parkers and a Parker/Frost.

This is what I found with a quick search:

Parker Cutlery Sets
The Parker Cutlery Company basically manufactured and sold pen knives, pocket knives, game hunting knives, folding hunting knives and vintage game knives. James F Parker in collaboration with Bruce Voyles launched The Blade Show and International Cutlery Fair, which is today the largest knife event in the world.

The Parker Cutlery Company Chattanooga, TN and several companies and brand names have been associated with James F. Parker. In 1976, the Parker-Frost Cutlery Company was formed but it lasted only until 1978. However it was instrumental in beginning the import of high quality knives from Japan. In addition, several patterns were made for the company by Schrade and Rodgers-Wostenholm in England.

Over the next several years Parker concentrated on promotion of his Eagle Brand knives from Japan. In 1984, the Parker-Edwards Cutlery Company was formed in partnership with Fain Edwards. Parker vintage knives are on auction on the internet sites and can be located easily. The company focuses on the finest Sheffield knives seen since the 19th century.

The Parker Cutlery Company deals inthe world’s best multi-bladed sportsman’s knives, some with horse-hoof picks, cartridge extractors and saws, fishing knives with hook removers, fly-tying vises, and buttonhooks (for high button shoes). You will see many other one of a kind knives advertised on e-auction sites on the internet.

Provided bySkyland Cutlery

 

[DennisStrickland]

parker was a large manuf. during late 70s into 90s & maybe 2000.the earliest issues were made by schrade but the great majority were japanese manuf. quality of the knives wre good but business practices by parker caused lots of controversy. [ this is not my info]

 

[kidwholaughs]

I have heard a lot of negative things about Parker. I would stay away in general, unless you are really sure.

God Bless

 

[RobbW]

Parker was a con man whose fraudulent knives continue to rip people off long after his time. Do a search on Parker, fraud and con in the Levine sub-forum.

 

[Cheeseburger]

^^^Yes. That was a fascinating thread.

 

[navihawk]

If you ever see a "warehouse find" in a certain catalog, Don't buy it. I did have a parker/Edwards trapper in Damascus that I kind of liked.

 

[runninmike]

I had two 3-7/8" stockmans that I bought from a Sears outlet in Encinitas, Ca about 20 years ago. They were $2 each, and at that time I thought anything marked Japan may as well have said China imo, but I was wrong with those 2 knives. They were great. One was bright red bone scaled, marked surgical stainless steel Japan, and it had fit and finish like my red MSA stockman(Queen). I gifted it to a friend who enjoyed it. The other was a white bone handled variant of the same but the blades were brushed stainless as the other was high polished ss. The white one was gifted to one of my friends back home in MT. I had sanded the bone way down on that one as it was super thick and had an unattractive burned job to make it look like red stag. It looked swell after I sanded it down.
I haven't seen any Parkers like them for a long time, but at my local ACE Hardware they have some Chinese Rough Riders that look really good with their bright colored bone scales-they remind me of the Parkers visually.
I may swing in there and buy one of the peanuts to give it a try.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Parker was a con man whose fraudulent knives continue to rip people off long after his time. Do a search on Parker, fraud and con in the Levine sub-forum.

Didn't find it under those particular three terms, but I'm pretty sure I did find the thread in a 'James Parker' search (in the Levine sub-forum).

All I can say is, WOW! I never knew the guy had such a reputation. I guess another layer of my own naivete has just been peeled away...