Take a look at these John Primble pocket Knives!

[Nathan Dodds]

Hello all,
What do you think of these John Primble knives? Could they be made authentic?

The first one, a two blade congress could probably be made authentic by fileing the rivets and carefully hand hammering them(All of these need the rivets changed) . I know the congress style is authentic because I have seen a picture of Abraham Lincoln's Ivory handled congress, and a soldier's rosewood handled congress too.

The second congress has four blades, I don't know enough to know if congresses had four blades during the Civil War period. That square-ish blade on the four blade congress looks wrong too, I bet it should be re-shaped some.

The shape of the third knife, a three blade whittler, is a correct shape, but I have only seen them with two blades from the period. however, I am by no means an expert. Someone could take one of these apart and make it a two blade.

And the last one, I am not sure of at all. It looks really nice, but is unlike any dug relic pocket knives, or originals in my collection, and I have not seen any like it on EBay. Need an expert here.

Of course I'm hoping these are not stainless, and they would say made in USA, which knives made in USA during the Civil War did not. Mr. Houde does make nice knives though!

http://www.s-denterprises.com/bluegrasscutlery/content/jp014.html

http://www.s-denterprises.com/bluegrasscutlery/content/jp006.html

http://www.s-denterprises.com/bluegrasscutlery/content/jp030.html

http://www.s-denterprises.com/bluegrasscutlery/content/jp005.html

[Nathan Dodds]

Oh by the way, the John Primble's I have just listed, and the Russell below, are the only commonly made knives I have been able to find that even remotely resemble Civil War era pocket knives, and if they could be made authentic it would take some work. I have replaced handles with wood before though. That stag might be to fancy for a period Russell(jigged bone?).

http://www.oldnew-goodstuff.com/catalog/item/1781428/1209234.htm

[Nathan Dodds]

Hm... silence.:confused_ Could it have been a bad idea?:wink_smil

Nathan Dodds

[Linkstrap]

Mr. Houde does make nice knives though!



I think you've already answered your own question! ;)

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

So what is it that is being said here exactly, as I am a bit confused?

"What do you think of these John Primble knives? Could they be made authentic? "

This post would seem to start out that this line of knives are not "authentic."
And goes through making them "authentic" but drifts back and forth between correct shape but wrong numbers of blades, and that the hope is they are not stainless steel and marked "made in the USA?"

And ends with "'Mr. Houde does make nice knives though!"

Curt

[Nathan Dodds]

Hallo!

So what is it that is being said here exactly, as I am a bit confused?

"What do you think of these John Primble knives? Could they be made authentic? "

This post would seem to start out that this line of knives are not "authentic."
And goes through making them "authentic" but drifts back and forth between correct shape but wrong numbers of blades, and that the hope is they are not stainless steel and marked "made in the USA?"

And ends with "'Mr. Houde does make nice knives though!"

Curt


Mr.Schmidt,
I guess I should appoligize for some of my strange posting habits. I tend to spend more time on the Fedora Lounge(nothing to do with the Civil War:rolleyes:), and the posting style is somewhat different there. You have some idea, that might help you get were you want to go, so you discuss it with other people to kind of iron it out (see whether it is plausable or not) . A kind of sharing of knowledge.

Let me say, I love the standards of authenticity championed by this forum.

So--,to make a long story short, I was excited about finding some knives in the traditional style, with correct style eliments for the Civil War era. They are not strictly authentic without work. I was not nessesarily recomending them as your highly authentic pocket knife. However, it's hard to find anything in the way of a good pocket knife for an affordable price. I would love to have one of Mr. Houde's knives, I'm sure there worth every cent too. I probably will get one sometime, but at this time I haven't the money. I am presently making a copy of a knife in the museum of the Confederacy, it's coming out very well but it's very tough to get all the parts to fit, so the appeal of buying something and simply doing a small amount of work to make it authentic is high.

I mostly know what would need to be done on some of these John Primble knives, but some of these styles I have a limited knowledge of. So in Fedora Lounge fashion, I rushed out to my friends at the Authentic Campaigner, to present my findings, and ask advice and open it for discussion. There are people here that probably know a lot more about knives of the era then I do.

I fear perhaps my findings are not edifying to others, and if nobody expresses interest, I will bring this to a close. It is my fault if I was rather vague. I'm sorry.

Nathan Dodds

[fahtz]

One thing fellows around here tend to do is carry either originals or no names that are older (late 19th or early 20th century) knives but still hold true to the style and materials. I myself carry an IXL (without england stamped on it) Another pruner style with no markings, and sometimes a nice bone handle pen knife. Of those I can only for sure say that one if a period pocket knife, but the others hold true in material and style. I think you already have the knowledge base, so hit up a flea market or an antique shop and see if you can come away with one or two. I haven't paid more than 40 bucks for a period knife in a long time.

[Hoosier Yank]

I think you already have the knowledge base, so hit up a flea market or an antique shop and see if you can come away with one or two. I haven't paid more than 40 bucks for a period knife in a long time.

I have at least six pocket knives that I've picked up at flea markets and antique stores. I wouldn't recommended Ebay since you need to inspect the knife first. This will ensure that the knife is in good working order i.e.,:


The blade(s) are not grounded down that now the blade(s) looks like a finger nail file.

The handles are not cracked.

The blades don't have any "play" in them. This is where the blade is out and can be moved side to side real easy.


Don't re-invent the wheel by purchasing a modern knife and tearing it up.

You may end up having a $40.00 "pocket brick" after your handy work is completed.

If you are handy you might try pocket knife kit from Koval Knives. I picked up a few of these kits at a gun show years ago. The styles (blade arrangments) are period correct.

All I had to do was select the handles and put the thing together. My cost (less my time in the gargage)... less than $15.00 since I had slabs of walnut and deer anter laying around in my shop.

http://www.kovalknives.com/

[Nathan Dodds]

I have at least six pocket knives that I've picked up at flea markets and antique stores. I wouldn't recommended Ebay since you need to inspect the knife first. This will ensure that the knife is in good working order i.e.,:]

Well, the truth is, I already have quit a few antique knives. I broke the blade on my favorite one, so I decided no more of that.:mad: Sometimes the old blades seem to get brittle. I don't care if the knife is only 90-100 years old, it just eats me up when I lose or brake one(especially my favorite). Therefore, repros. They may be expensive, but once an old one's broken, that is a piece of history ruined--rusting away on the ground somewhere, or still in your hands, so you can look at it ever afterwards, and say, darn!

O.K., I admit it, I'm one of those really soft guys:)

Nathan Dodds

[Nathan Dodds]

Don't re-invent the wheel by purchasing a modern knife and tearing it up.

You may end up having a $40.00 "pocket brick" after your handy work is completed. ]

You might be right there. I have done work like this before though--on a way cheaper knife, but I may be stubborn and try it anyway. Fools folly I suppose!



If you are handy you might try pocket knife kit from Koval Knives. I picked up a few of these kits at a gun show years ago. The styles (blade arrangments) are period correct.

All I had to do was select the handles and put the thing together. My cost (less my time in the gargage)... less than $15.00 since I had slabs of walnut and deer anter laying around in my shop.


The knife kits sound interesting. What styles do they have? Do they have the Congress, or swell-end jack knife with spear blades, or the dog leg jack knife? Thanks!

Nathan Dodds

[Hoosier Yank]

The knife kits sound interesting. What styles do they have? Do they have the Congress, or swell-end jack knife with spear blades, or the dog leg jack knife? Thanks!

Nathan Dodds

Crimeney! In post #8 I provided YOU with the link to Koval Knives. :confused:

[mslaird]

As I followed this thread, I took a gander at Orchard Hill webpage. I am a fan of traditional Barlow knives. And a good knife is well worth the money. Has anybody seen or own one of Mr. Houde's? How does the steel hold up? How well do they hold an edge and how do they take sharpening? Some knives have a tendency to turn if carried in a pocket for an extended period of time (older old timer knives by Schrade). Some are very difficult to get the bevel to break down enough to sharpen and some when you do get them sharp do not maintain an edge for very long. Thanks in advance for the info.

[john duffer]

I've had two of Mr. Houde's knives (sadly I lost the first one). They are works of art, based on originals and are excellent from a functional perspective as well. You get what you pay for is very true in this case.

[Nathan Dodds]

Crimeney! In post #8 I provided YOU with the link to Koval Knives. :confused:

I went to the website, and I can't find the kits. The reason I asked you what styles they have, is because I thought maybe you had to ordor a catalog.

Nathan Dodds