The Story of a Wandering Knife Carbon Steel to Companies Like Schrade, Camillus and Utica for Dale Vincent Use in Blades and Bolsters
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KNEWSLETTTER IN A KNUTSHELL 4 A Must read - “Showtime” 4 A Tiny Bit of History 4 Wandering Knife 4 Custom Knife Judging 4 Metallurgy Seminar 4 Oregon Camp Knife Our international membership is happily involved with “Anything that goes ‘cut’!” March 2016 slit or anneal stainless steel, but they sold high carbon and low The Story of a Wandering Knife carbon steel to companies like Schrade, Camillus and Utica for Dale Vincent use in blades and bolsters. It was apparently not high-volume, There are many great things about the hobby of knife but they were nonetheless an important part of the supply chain collecting. Besides the knives themselves, there are to these cutlery companies. the people you meet. I think it has always been that Jeff had gone to Utica way. The internet is an outstanding resource to the Cutlery Company and collector to research knives but it has also been a boon purchased a number of jack in helping collectors to meet online and exchange knives and had the words information. I have been involved in online knife ROME STRIP STEEL forums for a little engraved on the blades of over ten these knives. The engraving years. was done at the Utica factory. In that Jeff gave these knives away time I have met many people, bought, sold to his customers. Jeff occasionally made trips to Oregon to call and traded more knives than I can remember plus on companies such as Omark Industries and other companies I have made many good friends! Most of these that produced products for the chainsaw industry. In 1980 Jeff friends I have never met in person, though we have made a trip to Oregon and called on Omark Industries. At that communicated a great deal through the forums, time he had given a few of these knives to some of the people through email and by telephone. I have met several at Omark Industries. It was one of those knives that made its of my new friends in person at knife shows and in way to the flea market where I found it 35 years later. a trip across the country three years ago. For me knife collecting has become more about the people The story doesn’t quite end there; after Jeff had initially I meet and become friends with then it is about the contacted me regarding the knife, someone purchased it. knives themselves. Unbeknownst to either of us, the buyer was Jeff’s daughter. Since then Jeff has been reunited with one of the knives he This story is about one such meeting. I first met gave away 35 years ago on the other side of the United States! Jeff when he emailed me about a knife in my store on the website AAPK (All About Pocket Knives). I thought the story of the wandering knife was over, but a The knife I had listed in my store was a Kutmaster year later I received an email from Jeff. He said he wanted jack knife. I purchased the knife at a local flea to update me on the story. This year he gave his daughter, market near Salem, Oregon. The knife is 3-3/8” Jesse, the knife for her birthday. Jesse was the daughter who closed, had Delrin handles, a pen blade and a nice swedge had purchased the knife and gave it to Jeff. He thought it was ground clip blade. What was unusual about the knife were the only fitting that Jesse should have the knife because Jesse has words engraved on the blade: ROME STRIP STEEL. worked for Worthington for the past 13 years. Worthington is the company that purchased Rome Strip Steel, the company I figured it was an advertising knife though it is unusual to originally founded by Jeff’s grandfather. It is also the see advertising engraved on the blade itself. Normally the company that sold Utica Cutlery the steel they used to make advertising is etched on the blade, printed or stamped on the the wandering knife. handle. I listed the knife in my online store; and about the second day after listing it, I received an email from Jeff. This This reminds me how the story of pocketknives is really so began a series of email exchanges about the knife in which the much more than just the history of a certain type of tool. The whole story begin to emerge. story of pocketknives reflects the travels, enterprise, industry and lives as well as the hopes and dreams of the American Rome Strip Steel was a company founded in 1926 by Jeff’s people. The story of American pocketknives is woven into the grandfather that specialized in carbon steel. They did not roll, fabric of the story of America. About The Handmade Knife Judging John Priest The following rules are in effect for the 5) The submitted knife must 2016 Oregon Knife Show Handmade have been made after April Knife Competition. Any violation of 15, 2015 and never previously these rules will make the knife and received an award to be eligible the maker ineligible for awards. Any for competition, . infraction identified after the awarding 6) Knives submitted will have will result in forfeiture of the award. their marks covered and will be The categories for the custom knife numbered. Cover material will competition are : ART KNIFE - be provided if you do not have BOWIE KNIFE - DAMASCUS - any. You will be asked to cover FIGHTING KNIFE - FOLDING your mark on your own knife. KNIFE - HAND FORGED - This must be done before you HUNTER/UTILITY - MINIATURE submit it for judging. - SCRIMSHAW - NEW MAKER 7) Awards will be announced 1) Knives can be submitted and accepted Friday afternoon about 5:00 PM. only from table-holders at the 2016 Winners knives will be kept It will be the responsibility of the OKCA Show. The exception is the for display until 6:00 PM. All other knifemaker to abide by these rules. The New Maker category which can be knives will be returned after judging Show Chairman shall be the absolute entered by any OKCA member. A “New is completed. The winners will also be decision maker on any conflicts or Maker”is one who has never entered any announced at the Saturday Nite Awards questions should it become necessary. competition, anywhere, ever. Presentation. FAQ 2) The maker must personally submit the 8) The submitted knives must be 88% Why do I have to cover my logo? knife and identify himself as the maker made by the knifemaker who submits (Answer) To keep the judging fair and of the submitted knife. the knife for judging. Disclosure of the not distract the judges and also to have 3) The Oregon Knife Collectors shall other 12% must be noted. somewhere to put the contest number. not be held liable in any way for the 9) Damascus knives can be placed in We realize that some makers have a very submitted knife after it has been turned any category, except hand forged. Hand distinctive style, but this is the most over to the Oregon Knife Collectors forged knives can be placed in any equitable way we have found. Association. category, except Damascus. A knife can How many knives can I enter? 4) If there is a question by the judges as only be entered into one category. (Answer) One per category. to the class/division/category into which 10) There must be at least three knives Who are the judges? (Answer) We the knife is submitted for judging, that or submittals in a category before that aren’t telling. It’s hard enough to get knife may be ineligible for that class/ category will be eligible for an award. people to leave their table for an hour division/category. The judges, at their 11) A new category this year will or so on Friday without making them discretion, may change that knife to a be Scrimshaw. The artwork must be justify their decisions. I will say that more suitable category. on a knife. It must we have three judges: one local, one a be submitted by the maker and one a collector. They are all scrimshander and be highly qualified, and we couldn’t have original artwork. The the contest without them. knife does not need to What time do I enter? (Answer) 2:00 have been made by the PM - 3:00 PM on Friday, April 08, 2016. scrimshander. What time do I get my knife back? 12) Knives for the Custom (Answer) After the judging is completed, Knife Competition will there will be an announcement. We be accepted in Meeting ask that you pick them up as soon as Room #3 during the hours possible. The only exception: If you win, of 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM then we will keep them long enough to Friday - April 08, 2016. The cut off time will be Continued on page 4 3:00 PM sharp. Page 2 displays that grace the surrounding walls Special Judging OKCA Knews of our Show. category & Musings And then there is Micarta. I have given Since we have ibdennis Micarta blocks to several knifemakers “Trade Knives” which they are to place on a knife and as our theme, it is Ain’t Long Now will be submitted for judging. Knife only appropriate The April Show is sold out with a waiting handle only. Several of the makers have to have a judging list. That is very exciting for Elayne and suggested they will donate their knives to of Antique Trade myself considering the push and pulls we the sawmill that gave us the Micarta or to Knives.