A vintage LL BEAN “hunting and fishing” knife

[KalamazooKid]

Over the years I’ve evolved to buying stuff I like, irregardless of the value.

This knife is a good example, offered for $19.99 plus shipping so I grabbed it. A supposedly 1950’s era LL BEAN knife advertised as a fishing and hunting multiple use knife with original sheath. I did a search and found a handful of them all in very used condition for $30-$50 each.

Anyone have one?

 

[Piwo]

My dad bought several of those over the years. he gave them away as gifts. We used them mostly in the kitchen. I have the remnants of one....my friend's dog chewed up the handle. I remember they took a razor edge. I learned how to sharpen a knife on one of those. One of my first camp knives. I remember cleaning a 5 gallon pail of smelt(fish) with one after my dad showed me how. Your post has taken me down a trail of pleasant memories. Thanks!

 

[Inusuit]

Nice. I am fond of basic utility working knives and this is a fine example.

 

[sceva]

Nice knife, looks like what a butcher shop calls a boning knife

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I also like it.
It’s does have a Chicago Boning Knife look.

 

[03clyde]

Similar looking to many "Trout and Bird" models.

 

[s&wchad]

Neat knife! A number of companies produced knives for LL Bean, including Dexter. The construction of this one is very similar to yours.

I don't have an LL Bean like yours, but I do have one of their earlier Chef knives. It features a forged blade and a tapered full tang. They were a respected outfitter and offered quality goods back in the day.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Pretty little bird knife.

 

[Marshwheeling]

That blade is similar to a Dexter-Russell Sani-Safe paring knife. Dexter keeps the price down by using a white plastic handle in place of wood.

Before the internet and Amazon, I used to shop quite a bit out of the LL Bean mail order catalog. Khaki pants, felt hats, Swiss Army knives and Opinel knives. I still buy Opinel knives and Swiss Army knives on line. I do not recall running across this fish knife, however.

 

[Catwrangler]

My dad bought several of those over the years. he gave them away as gifts. We used them mostly in the kitchen. I have the remnants of one....my friend's dog chewed up the handle. I remember they took a razor edge. I learned how to sharpen a knife on one of those. One of my first camp knives. I remember cleaning a 5 gallon pail of smelt(fish) with one after my dad showed me how. Your post has taken me down a trail of pleasant memories. Thanks!

Consider the chewed handle as custom stippling. Some folks love the texture.

 

[TheTinMan]

I like it!

I found one exactly like that in what had been my grandfather’s garage. Only the leather was so mouldy and the brass rivets corroded it had to go.

 

[mauser9]

Thanks for sharing. Love to see those older hunting knives from the past like this and the older Marbles with the leather handles. Used to see or owned a lot of bone handled hunting knives back in the 50s. Make great collector items today.

 

[s&wchad]

Mark,
I did a little searching on your knife. Blade HQ sold a later version and listed the manufacturer as Ontario Knife Company. The handle shape is the same, but the knife had a full tang and three pins instead of two.

Ontario LL Bean Bird & Trout | Fixed Blade Knife ON6264SEC - Blade HQ

 

[SF VET]

bought that knife about 50 years ago, but about 5 years ago, my wife was using it out in her garden, and it vanished. I bought a Pukko about the same time, superb edge, nifty sheath, and my so has that one now. SF VET

 

[Bald1]

Mark,
I did a little searching on your knife. Blade HQ sold a later version and listed the manufacturer as Ontario Knife Company. The handle shape is the same, but the knife had a full tang and three pins instead of two.

Ontario LL Bean Bird & Trout | Fixed Blade Knife ON6264SEC - Blade HQ

When I first looked at it I thought it had an “old hickory “ kitchen knife look to it. That makes sense as Ontario knife makes them in central NY. Same handle same carbon blade.

 

[OLDSTER]

Classic Herters "bowie knife", ca. 1965.