Historical, Pre Leatherman Era tools?

[Grant Lamontagne]

For the guys here that have knowledge of pre- Leatherman tools, which models and manufacturers would you suggest to others?

I like old tools, and I wouldn't mind getting my hands on an old Barnett Plier Tool, but I really don;t know enough about the subject to have any kind of direction in that area.

Def

[M.TEX]

 I think there is also the Cattaraugus " wrench knife" not sure how is caled....
 But it hard to find and cost $$$ I had a VG condition Barnett tool ( sold for 150 )
 and I know was worth more , but when you ned the $$$ ...well....

 Now I have another one but has a broken blade...I wil get a G or VG some day...
 They are nice....

 

[supratentorial]

A good starter would be this Canadian multi-tool: 



and J-sews wrote an e-book on old multi-tools:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=379737
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380463
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=381465
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=383175
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=384469
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=385623
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=387095
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=388470
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=389858
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=391182
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,1403.0.html

There's also a bit about multi-tools in some books and magazines about knives.  In the May 2001 Knife World, there's an article about the Al Mar 4x4 and it also mentions the OSS escape tool.  The article references pages 158-159 of the book, U.S. Military Knives Book III.

[J-sews]

Finding info about old multitools is very difficult. Many were not around long enough to catch anyone's attention. The Barnett pliers and the Cattaraugus wrench were two of the more well-known.

Here are a couple of pages I scanned from a book on military knives. (Not the same book supratentorial is referring to, but the same tool)

[J-sews]

another

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Those last two are really beautiful looking tools, is there any further information available on them?

Btw I'm not a member of blade forum's so are there any other link's

cheers

[supratentorial]

Those last two are really beautiful looking tools, is there any further information available on them?

U.S. Military Knives Book III (my post) and Pocket Knives of the US Military (J-sews post) are pretty good references.  I'm still gathering additional references though.

[Grant Lamontagne]

The various multitool articles that Bob wrote will soon be posted here.

Def

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Those last two are really beautiful looking tools, is there any further information available on them?

U.S. Military Knives Book III (my post) and Pocket Knives of the US Military (J-sews post) are pretty good references.  I'm still gathering additional references though.

Thanks mate

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

The various multitool articles that Bob wrote will soon be posted here.

Def

Cool, I'll look forward to reading them soon then

[M.TEX]

 Ohhh nice looking tools....boy he knows about 

 Lot's of info for a book.....

[J-sews]

The various multitool articles that Bob wrote will soon be posted here.

Def

Cool, I'll look forward to reading them soon then

The article about old wrench-knives is already posted on Multitool.org right HERE. It makes mention of the Cattaraugus tool that M.TEX referred to earlier.

[J-sews]

Here's an advertisement for the Barnett plier-knife, also commonly called the HHH Knife. This ad is an actual scan from a 100-year old magazine. Can you believe that $1.25 asking price! 

[Grant Lamontagne]

At that price, I'd buy a few hundred off them, then live off the eBay proceeds!

Def

[supratentorial]

Those last two are really beautiful looking tools, is there any further information available on them?

U.S. Military Knives Book III (my post) and Pocket Knives of the US Military (J-sews post) are pretty good references.  I'm still gathering additional references though.

Thanks mate

Many of you are probably already familiar with this book but another good reference is Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values.  There are sections on Swiss knives, Horseman knives, scout knives, hobo knives, folding medical instruments, plier and wrench knives, gadget multi-blades, tool kit knives.  I'd say its required reading for students of Multi-Tool 101. 

[J-sews]

Many of you are probably already familiar with this book but another good reference is Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values.....

Below is a scan from page 295 of Levine's book:




Check out that .22 caliber knife down in the left corner. It makes me nervous just thinking about it. Can you imagine carrying one of those around in your pants pocket loaded? Yikes! 

[NeitherExtreme]

No wonder it was illegal

[J-sews]

That one on the right looks like an antique version of the Spyderco Byrd Harp tool. Funny how the old designs keep coming around again. 

[J-sews]

Here's a pic of the Byrd Harp.



Look closely and you can see a faint hint of resemblence....

[NeitherExtreme]

Sorry to take us backwards, but I think I'm still not understanding the .22 tool... I'm confused.

[NeitherExtreme]

OOHHHH, Okay Thanks for the help there! Very cool... Just how illegal are they?

[NeitherExtreme]

Now here is a fun one for you to go do some homework on , try the subject of balistic knives .

That was some interesting homework. I wish my college homework was more like that...
Kinda reminds me of a angry Gerber Recoil:
http://www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2300/2375.htm

[J-sews]

OOHHHH, Okay Thanks for the help there! Very cool... Just how illegal are they?

Probably 5 to 10 in Levanworth .

A.T.F. is positively ape on the subject . They seem to think that guns should look like guns and knives should look like knives .

Now here is a fun one for you to go do some homework on , try the subject of balistic knives . There is I believe actually congressional law on that subject .

We best be careful, else the Department of Homeland Security will swoop down upon for simply discussing it!! 

[J-sews]

Here's a close-up of page 295

[NeitherExtreme]

Thanks for the close-up. It sure must have been fun to live back in the days when things weren't quite so uptight...

[NeitherExtreme]

Yeah, but now everything has disclamers, even toys. My sister just bought a hair straightener that warned her not to use it on her eyelashes or while she was sleeping!! And to think I've been straightening my hair in my sleep all these years...

[zackhugh]

Yeah, and that I've been inappropriately straightening my eyelashes too! 

[I'm Still Bison]

Yeah, and that I've been inappropriately straightening my eyelashes too! 

   Does that mean you've negated the warranty? ;D