1920-1940 Remington Knives

[boykinlp]

I am hoping to acquire one of these in the near future. The jigged bone handles of the Remingron knives from this time period are second to none. I know other companies made them later, but I am interested in the originals. Please show me what you have so I can start my drooling now!
Larry

 

[30-30remchester]

Spending 40 years collecting antique knives I have acquired a few. Remington's of that era are stunning and one of my top ten antique folders. For those that don't know, the newer Remington's are not Remington's. Most were built under contract by Camillus. Nice knives but not near the quality of older real Remington's. So, what exactly is your preferences? Stockman's, whittlers, Barlow's, cattle knives, ticklers? Original bullet knives are pricey. Then there are the "6". These are the wholly grail of Remington's. I was fortunate enough to acquire one of the 6 a few years ago. A stag handled small muskrat bullet knife. A near mint example sold for $9,600 a few years ago. Mine is not mint by any standard but I was able to find it in an old painter toolbox. I paid a whopping $3 for it.

 

[boykinlp]

30-30remchester, glad you jumped in here. I am not very knowledgeable about Remington knives at all. I am more a Sambar Stag Case and GEC guy. That is why I am coming here for information.

I have just been cruising the internet learning about them, and when I kept seeing picture after picture of spectacular jigged bone knives, I kinda got hooked. As far as my preferences go, I don’t really have any. Their bullet and scout knives are cool, but if they are nice jigged bone, I would like to see them! Above, you mentioned “the 6”, I have no idea what they are. Please enlighten me, and even though your muskrat bullet is Stag, and not jigged bone, I would love to see a picture of it and any others that you would like to show . Remember, I said my first love is stag.

I would like to acquire one, but haven’t yet. Hopefully, with this large a forum membership, we will have some others wanting to show us what they have!
Larry

 

[30-30remchester]

BOYKINLP, it is nice to talk with a fellow antique knife guy. Early Case, xx and earlier, was my main focus for decades. Old Remington's were hard to find in my area. In my early collecting days, I believed W.R. Case and sons and Case Tested's were the elite "Snap-On" of the knife world, I have come to the conclusion there are some other outstanding brands. And ordinary brands that did outstanding work. Case could not hold a candle compared to early Remington bone stag. Those early Remington's with their dark brown bone stag has me weak in the knees. One thing I always looked for as a way to determine quality and care and pride of manufacture was the blade design itself. And in many cases, Case fell short by simply stamping out a flat blade with small nail nick and lack luster shape. Remington stood head and shoulders above most all others of their day. Their early long spear blades with cut swedges, and often not only on the main blade but even the smaller blades, and long pull was sexier than any girl in high school. When a manufacturer goes the extra mile to sculpt blades is my mark of excellence. Weird side note, that extremely rare stag handled baby bullet muskrat doesn't have sculped blades just flat stamped. As for the "6", this refers to 6 Remington's that are ultra-rare and very valuable. Without my books to remind me I can recall a few. One was the afore mentioned baby bullet muskrat #4466. Another was a bullet knife called the H.T.T. for hunter , trapper, trader, then their was a 5 blades sowbelly. Those are the ones that come to mind at present. My early interest was bone scales only. Now I lean towards odd US manufactures and fancy celluloid scales. There are some beauty's out there. I find myself carrying of all things, a very early Imperial, don't judge, serpentine stockman with cut swedge main blade, long pull and with scales I can only describe as linoleum. Green and black and looks just like the flooring in grandma's kitchen from the 1930's. Nickle bolsters and shield, with brass liners. Quality all the way and the steel is superb and easy to keep shaving sharp.

 

[SmithNut]

Fascinating discussion about Remington knives, never paid any attention to vintage models....

If possible, can you post pics of the "6" or other Remington vintage models, I'm curious as to what they look like in case I ever run across one at a garage sale.... (I know - fat chance.. )

Thanks, in advance

 

[30-30remchester]

Fascinating discussion about Remington knives, never paid any attention to vintage models....

If possible, can you post pics of the "6" or other Remington vintage models, I'm curious as to what they look like in case I ever run across one at a garage sale.... (I know - fat chance.. )

Thanks, in advance

The problem I have in posting pictures on the net is I am completely computer, electronics challenged. If I knew how to scan a picture from an old book, then transfer to the net it I still wouldn't be able as I don't own a scanner. Fortunately the newer Remington's made by Camillus have recreated some of the 6. Google search R293 and that is the bullet HTT knife. 4466 is the baby bullet muskrat I have in original form. Then there was a humpback lock blade splitback whittler #R 6816 that in mint original form cost more than house payments. At least two of the remaining 3 were iterations of their bullet line of knives. All older bullet knives bring good money. Some bring far more than others. The last of the 6 was a 5 blade sowbelly. There is even one example of an old Remington bullet knife that did not have the 30 caliber rifle cartridge as a shield but instead had a handgun cartridge shield, a 45 ACP. Only one known example has been found.

As to finding a rare one at a yard sale, I have done so on several occasions. Just this week I sold a knife I paid $20 for at a small local gun show, to a collector back east for $1,500. I have several other examples of such finds and resales over the decades. My original 4466 was found in an old house painters tool box in a second hand store, all covered in paint and costing the princely sum of $3 plus tax.

 

[sceva]

The Remingtons from that time frame are great. Winchesters from the same time frame were also very nice with great jigged bone which they called stag for some reason ( they called real stag Genuine Stag)

Here is a 1920's Winchester Senater.

 

[Ol' Drover]

I am also a fan of the old Remington knives. This big Trapper, R1128, belonged to my Grandpa and dates to the middle 20s.

It was a gift to him from his brother who was a Texas cotton buyer. You can see where the cocobolo wood on the left side is worn away from his custom of stabbing the knife into a bale of cotton and then bending it back against the steel band to pry out a sample.

That probably would decrease the sale value of it but it's not for sale anyway. The old M&P in the picture shipped in 1923 so I thought it was a good match for the knife...and I'm also a fan of jigged bone.

 

[30-30remchester]

I am also a fan of the old Remington knives. This big Trapper, R1128, belonged to my Grandpa and dates to the middle 20s.

It was a gift to him from his brother who was a Texas cotton buyer. You can see where the cocobolo wood on the left side is worn away from his custom of stabbing the knife into a bale of cotton and then bending it back against the steel band to pry out a sample.

That probably would decrease the sale value of it but it's not for sale anyway. The old M&P in the picture shipped in 1923 so I thought it was a good match for the knife...and I'm also a fan of jigged bone.

I have one like that only it is Remington's dark brown bone. Neat old bullet knives. Too big for me. The few times I carried it in my pocket, it pulled my pants down.

 

[Flattop5]

Old Remington:

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[30-30remchester]

Old Remington:

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Nice old R1253L bullet knife. Wish I owned that, and you had a better one. Some previous owners initial on the bullet shield is a little off putting.

 

[boykinlp]

I haven’t gotten my 1920-1940 jigged bone Remington knife yet. I thought I would get it today, but no joy. But I did get my first vintage Remington knife period. It is a Genuine Pearl Model R7854 Equal End Senators Knife from about 1935. While not perfect by any means, I think it is pretty nice, and the definition of a”gentleman’s” pocketknife. The pearl is so smooth and the knife feels great in hand. Unfortunately, my pictures don’t show the iridescence of the pearl well at all.

Another thing about Remington knives is that you have to watch out for knives called vintage. I consider vintage to be the 1920-1940 knives, not the ones made in the 80’s or 90’s. But some people consider 80’s and 90’s vintage.
Larry

 

[pawngal]

Too bad you didn't ask about the old Remington knives 2 or 3 years ago. My late hubby had about 40 from that era but I've sold all of them. Don't remember how many were the jigged bone. Probably were more that were pearl handled.

 

[30-30remchester]

Nice old Remington. We call them Sunday knives. MOP scales are quite fragile and weren't meant for everyday hard work. Many old MOP scales have started flaking. Yours appears to be in excellent condition. There aren't many larger work knives with MOP scales. I found a medium stockman made by Shapleigh that has MOP. That is the bigger I have seen up close. One other reason I like vintage Remington's is the steel they use. Easy to get shaving sharp. By the 1950's I have a difficult time getting Case knives as sharp as many others.

 

[chief38]

Although I do (as of last year) carry a Spyderco K390 Delica, my real likes go out to traditional folding pocket knives. That's mostly what I have, although in the move we just made some were lost or stolen. In my mind, traditional folders are real history. The modern folders are nice in that they are easy to open & close one handed but they will never have the charm of a traditional folder.

 

[30-30remchester]

Like CHIEF38, I greatly admire and collect antique folder. I have and entire shelf of a hutch full to overflowing with vintage folders and I still don't have enough. And like chief my main carry is a Kershaw Leak and use it multiple times per day. I do have a smaller traditional folder for delicate work.

 

[boykinlp]

Although I do (as of last year) carry a Spyderco K390 Delica, my real likes go out to traditional folding pocket knives. That's mostly what I have, although in the move we just made some were lost or stolen. In my mind, traditional folders are real history. The modern folders are nice in that they are easy to open & close one handed but they will never have the charm of a traditional folder.

I have a Spyderco Delica too that I use quite often. But, like you said, it just doesn't give me the same feeling as when I hold my "new to me" almost 90 year old Remongton Pearl gentleman's knife.
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

Well, I told y’all that I wanted to get a jigged bone handled Remington knife. For quite a while I have also wanted a vintage scout knife. I was able to kill 2 birds with one stone, so to speak. Here is my “new to me” knife showing the important markings, and related information. The second picture shows the Boy Scout insignia with their motto "Be Prepared" underneath.

Antique REMINGTON UMC 1920-1940 RS3333 Official BSA Scout Knife Bovine Bone

Original antique Remington knife made in the USA. Official BSA Scout Knife pattern #RS3333, 3-3/4” closed (plus bail). REMINGTON UMC - 1920 to 1940 era. Marked on the spear and punch blades. Two piece can opener is marked REMINGTON over a patent number. Nickel silver bolsters and pins, brass liners. Milled or gimped center liner. Jigged bovine bone handles, dark color. The front handle has a tight fine line under the center pin. All blades are full, have strong snap, and no wobble. A used knife – carried and very lightly sharpened. The main spear blade has a faint remnant of the OFFICIAL BOY SCOUTS etch remaining. The punch blade has the original bluing inside.
Larry

 

[boykinlp]

Here are some more pictures. In the first picture, you can see the bluing in the punch. In pictures 2 and 3, if you look closely, you can see the remnants of the Boy Scout markings on the blade. It is not in perfect shape but for around 100 years old, I think it looks pretty good!
Larry

 

[IamCaleb]

That’s a cool oldie!


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