Featured Toenail- Union Cutlery Co. Single Blade Tear-drop easy open
A few of years ago one of our members, Mr. Barry Stephenson emailed me a treasure he had come upon while out “in the hunt” for toenails.
We love the hunt. Canvassing show tables, networking with other collectors, getting dealers to keep their eyes out- ever now and then we hook a big one. That is what he emailed me- a big one.
If you aren’t familiar with Union Cutlery Co. it were founded in March 23, 1909, but really had been in the cutlery business for years prior, just then it operated as Union Razor Co. Tidioute, Pa. (1902- 1909). I don’t have the time nor space to recount the fascinating history of the people behind or the history of, this knife co. Instead, I highly recommend David Anthony’s detailed account of the cutlery companies from Tidioute, Pa. in Tidioute: A Town With an Edge. In his book, David recounts the history of the folks behind Union Razor/Cutlery Co. It was operated by the Brown family and then in 1951 its name was officially changed to Ka-Bar and continues to operate today.
I love the Union Razor/early Union Cutlery era and have several toenails, billheads (letterhead) and boxes reflecting this period, but back to the BIG FISH story I was telling you. It was on 8.15.2004 when Barry emailed out of the blue to me. And it had a big fish he had found. Here is what he said:
Hi Scott,
I have just purchased a one blade toenail marked Union <Tidioute>. It is old and has not been cleaned. The handles are light green bone with an arrow shield. The blade is wider than most but not as wide as a Platts. The knife is wider at one end as a sleeveboard pattern and in great shape. It is a one blade knife with the easy opener as does the Platts. It has steel bolsters and steel liners, the knife has age spots but no pitting. I would say it has never been used but has light scratches on the blade as if someone may have tried to sharpen it lightly. Very minor marks with no metal from the blade. No dings or damage on the knife and no real damage on the scales. I cannot see any cracks in the bone but have not had it under a glass yet. Needless to say I felt I found a great buy at the Lexington, Kentucky Knife show. Here is a picture of it.
I took a quick one to send you. If you would like I will send better ones in proper lighting to give you a look see.
I really enjoy your website, I do collect Toenails.
Barry Stephenson
Picture of length is misleading because of angle of being in on close up photo. 3 15/16″ X 1 3/8″ X 1 1/16″
You know the other day, I shared with you about, to my knowledge, there are three known single blade toenails from the first half of the 20th Century. There is the single blade C. Platts Jumbo, the Miller Bros. metal lock back and Barry’s Union Cutlery Co. We are learning more constantly about our wonderful pattern and others may surface, but for now these are the ones we have identified.
The other unusual aspects of this knife are- it is a tear-drop style and an easy open. It is the only non- Henry Sears tear-drop I know of and only the second easy open I have seen (the first being C. Platts easy open single blade).
Thanks for sharing your wonderful toenail with us Barry. We love to see toenails our members have as favorites.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Last weekend I had the pleasure see and handle Barry`s knife at the Ohio NKCA show.It is one fine old toenail.Thanks Barry for sharing it with me,and sorry if I drooled on it.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Thanks Scott for the kind words and the interest in my knife. Finding a knife like this makes the hunt worth it. With the Miller Bros you know how it feels. Cloyd Shelley said the Millers Bros you have is the rarest Toenail he has ever saw. Thanks for the nice article.
Roger, with that bag of knives you had with you I was doing a little drooling myself. I was very happy to let you handle mine, always a pleasure to talk to a collecter with the knowledge and a sense of humor.