Mohawk Valley Knives

29/04/2024

Humason and Beckley Mfg. Co. New Britain, Conn. 1852-1916.

28/04/2024

A few flea market finds from today, hit a new place I've never visited. Found a H&B Mfg Co. (Humason and Beckley), New Britain, Conn. This is one of the early Connecticut makers and one of the earliest US makers, 1852-1916. Too bad she's got a broken secondary blade, but for $1 I'll take it, and it's one I don't have and a hard one to find. Then a NY USA made Schrade Senator Pen in genuine black lip pearl... beautiful condition. The earliest US cutlers started up shop in Connecticut. As skilled cutlers migrated to the New World from Sheffield and Solingen, many were either offered jobs in existing Connecticut firms or started their own firms in Connecticut. As the local market became saturated and too competitive, they moved on to the Hudson Valley in New York, then followed the Erie Canal through Central and Western New York and some went to NW Pennsylvania and further westward. You can literally trace Westward Expansion across our Country through knife manufacturers.

25/05/2023

Stag handled Congress. Ulster Knife Company, Ellenville, NY

25/05/2023

Nice examples of hawkbill pruners.

25/02/2023

Engraved mother of pearl handles, engraved blade with English hallmarks, engraved bolsters and back spring. The hallmarks call out sterling silver, and a date of 1834-1837.

29/12/2022

Look at the curves on this stag handled jack. Sheffield, England.

02/12/2022

20/11/2022

So... I've been pretty clear that I am not in the business anymore, I keep this page up as a reference material resource. That being said, I have an invite to set up next year at Remembrance Day, I know that's a year away, but just looking for some feedback. Would anyone have an interest in my wares (folders and fixed blades), if I were to set up a table in Gettysburg next year for the 160th Remembrance Day? Maybe some Gettysburg Witness Tree wood handled knives, and some bone, stag, horn and wood handled period correct folders and fixed blades.
I have year to build up some inventory if anyone would be interested?

18/11/2022

I've always been a Civil War guy... being a reenactor slash living historian for many years, with a great interest in the era, thus I've done much research on Civil War period knives and have done many based on patterns of that time period, along with some post CW era stuff. But, being that I live in heart of Rev War country... I have had a lot of interest in the Colonial period as of late, and wanted to do something more Rev War era, thus this is my idea of such. Horn handles, German Silver bolsters, brass pins. A hefty knife at that.

17/11/2022

New folder coming off the bench tomorrow...

05/11/2022

Russell Green River Works knives were famous with mountain men, when they stabbed and killed a grizzly or other foe they referred to as it taking them up to green river, because they stabbed into them deep, up to where the blades were stamped Russell Green River Works. Here's a Russell Green River Works blade that I just handled in some very old dark walnut that was left over from a gunstock blank. There's no stain, that is the natural dark walnut with a boiled linseed oil finish.

04/11/2022

Four blade Congress with file work. Gettysburg Witness Tree wood, the Longstreet Tree. German Silver bolsters, brass liners, and I hid the center nail behind the handles and bonded the handles rather than pinning them to keep the presentation of wood nice and clean. NFS, I made this one to be my new EDC, so I can carry a small piece of history with me.

30/10/2022

Was in a knife making mood... made a couple of my own "Mohawk Valley Knives", a one blade and a two blade, both are handled in Gettysburg Witness Tree wood from the "Brickyard Tree", witness to the first day's fight on July 1st, 1863. Not for sale.

15/08/2022

Most likely made in Sheffield, circa 1850-1860.

14/08/2022

Ruins of the old Northfield Knife Company factory in Northfield, CT. You can still make out parts of the building foundation, and there are even still granite anvil stands on the ground. I brought an old Northfield knife back there with me and set it on what could very well been the very anvil stand where a skilled cutler stood and made it over 100 years ago. Northfield Knife Co. was one of the earliest American cutlery companies and was in business from 1858 to 1926.

14/08/2022

14/08/2022

Nice photo of Civil War era patterns.

24/06/2022

Heads up! WR Case & Son's just brought back an old pattern from the Case Vault. Swell Center Jack! It's only going to be available for 2022, then it's back in the vault. Grab an old pattern, and support an American cutlery company! Get one at https://caseknives.com/
I did, and it's a beauty! Antique smooth bone.

21/05/2022

Walden, New York

25/02/2022

Okay this is cool. My younger brother sent me this pic of a pocket knife that was allegedly taken from Confederate guerrilla, John Morgan, leader of Morgan's Raiders. I am going to make myself a rendition if it this year, it looks like a pretty easy piece, and I already have some killer stag to use for it. The fluted bolster is pretty easy, the hardest part will be the shield.

31/12/2021

Naugatuck Cutlery Co.

26/12/2021

Czechoslovakian made small gentleman's knife, with toothpick and s***f spoon.

26/12/2021

Hibbard, Spencer and Bartlett Co. Barlow pattern with smooth bone handles. 1872 - early 1900's. Post War knife but still shows typical features of a Civil War era Barlow pattern, spear point blade, long nail pull, and notice the absence of any shield in the handle.

30/10/2021

08/05/2021

Tuxedo Pen, W.Wild Celebrated Cutlery, 1843-1860.

08/01/2021

Lt Dixon's beautifully preserved pocket knife, recovered from the H. L. Hunley.