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A 100 year old "multi" tool..........

Ray S · 12 · 3164

Offline Ray S

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A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
on: December 02, 2015, 12:35:32 AM
....sort of. Picked this up at one of the antique stores I have been known to frequent today. A combination hunting knife/ax made by the Keenwell Mfg. Co. of Olean New York.This brand was sold by the Union Knife Co. which eventually became KA-BAR Cutlery and is still in business to this day. As I understand it;this brand name was only offered around 1911-1912.
The leather sheath has seen better days and I am currently trying to do a restoration on it. The knife blade had a bit of a rounded point so I did a gentle re-profiling using my trusty 1" belt sander and a hard Arkansas stone. The pitting on the blades will be pretty much left as is;the active rust has been stopped at some earlier time.The celluloid scales are in amazingly good shape with virtually no shrinkage and no curling.
Several knife companies offered this particular combination in the early part of the 20th century;among them Case and Western States. The Keenwell stamp is a bit of a rare one so the condition(at least to me)isn't of huge importance.A picture of the Case version(from my accumulation)is also included.
Keenwell Mfg.Co.Olean,NY 4050 005.jpg
* Keenwell Mfg.Co.Olean,NY 4050 005.jpg (Filesize: 53.29 KB)
Keenwell Mfg.Co.Olean,NY 4050 001.jpg
* Keenwell Mfg.Co.Olean,NY 4050 001.jpg (Filesize: 56.46 KB)
Keenwell Mfg.Co.Olean,NY 4050 006.jpg
* Keenwell Mfg.Co.Olean,NY 4050 006.jpg (Filesize: 56.23 KB)
CaseKnifAx1.jpg
* CaseKnifAx1.jpg (Filesize: 81.94 KB)


us Offline Yadda

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Re: A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
Reply #1 on: December 02, 2015, 02:00:28 AM
Sweet!
"It didn't hurt, flirt, blood squirt, stuffed shirt, hang me on a tree
After I count down three rounds, in Hell I'll be in good company" -  The Dead South


us Offline NKlamerus

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Re: A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
Reply #2 on: December 02, 2015, 03:02:49 AM
Thats awesome. Have you used one at all? How does the hook swap hold up?


Offline Ray S

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Re: A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
Reply #3 on: December 02, 2015, 03:33:54 AM
Thats awesome. Have you used one at all? How does the hook swap hold up?

I've used the Case to trim small tree limbs and it seems to work just fine.I don't think I would want to use it to chop down a tree though. I think the primary use was to split a deer carcass which I am sure it would do very well.It is held into the handle by a pivoting piece of steel the smae thickness as the blade.You open it and hook the blade into position and close the lock lever. However that being said most of the ones I have seen show virtually no use of the ax blade. I think most serious hunters would carry a small hatchet for that job.
The Keenwell operates by loosening the knurled knob and sliding in the appropriate blade and tightening the knob.Seems to lock in place very well.The screw has a small taper that fits into the recess in the blade.I suppose it could loosen up if used hard.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2015, 03:36:14 AM by Ray S »


gb Offline Sparky415

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Re: A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
Reply #4 on: December 02, 2015, 06:40:51 AM

Looks great  :tu:

Everything’s adjustable


us Offline David

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Re: A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
Reply #5 on: December 04, 2015, 10:36:57 AM
Cool! Looks real handy.
What? Enablers! Are you serrrrious? Where? I dont see any.
Hold Fast


us Offline bdAmmo

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Re: A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
Reply #6 on: December 05, 2015, 09:12:51 AM
Nice find :tu:. And thanks for the history lesson, quite interesting.


Offline Ray S

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Re: A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
Reply #7 on: December 06, 2015, 12:41:21 AM
Thanks for the kind words. I have given up on restoring the sheath as the leather has become too brittle and shrunk to the point that the ax no longer fits inside. As luck would have it I was researching the history of the company and came across an e-Bay listing for one minus the handle and knife blade but with a sheath in good(not great)condition and a good condition ax blade. Just won the auction and am looking forward to receiving it.
KeenwellSheath1.jpg
* KeenwellSheath1.jpg (Filesize: 19.43 KB)
KeenwellSheath2.jpg
* KeenwellSheath2.jpg (Filesize: 19.65 KB)
KeenwellSheath6.jpg
* KeenwellSheath6.jpg (Filesize: 29.6 KB)


us Offline Accujohn

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Re: A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
Reply #8 on: December 10, 2015, 03:08:13 AM
Great find! Love the antique stuff.

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Offline Didi Turmudi

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Re: A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
Reply #9 on: January 24, 2016, 04:02:53 PM
nice one


us Offline J-sews

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Re: A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
Reply #10 on: January 24, 2016, 09:14:30 PM
Congrats on another oldie but goodie Ray! :tu:
In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


bavaria Offline Tomcat_81

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Re: A 100 year old "multi" tool..........
Reply #11 on: January 24, 2016, 10:32:04 PM
Great old tool!
And I'm glad that it has found a good new owner!
Tomcat
« Last Edit: January 24, 2016, 10:33:06 PM by Tomcat_81 »
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