Country of Origin 30 Day Challenge - September 2023

[pfrsantos]

       I plan on carrying one knife the whole 30 days.  The one in the photo.  I got it as a gift, and never carried it at all.  It has been in a drawer for years.  I left it in its original packaging.  More details to follow.  When you carry just one thing, you have to stretch it out a bit.  Best wishes.  Gary

Looks like something I'd like to carry, too.

 

[pfrsantos]

Day 1

I've been using this Caneças for food prep lately. Managed to get it quite sharp, still going to keep working on it until it gets razor sharp.

Since I won't be using many different knives, I'll be showing parts of them throughout the month.

 

[comis]

Thanks. I'm recovering slowly but steadily. I saw my surgeon on Wednesday. Everything is going as it should, but I'm still on a lot of medication and cannot walk. I'll get there, though.

TwoSun seems like a good brand, I've seen many reviews on their knives on YouTube. They have so many models, too!

Good to hear, sounds like you are already on the good path to recovery!

Day 1
USA

I wanted to start out my first day of this Country of Origin challenge with a knife that holds a very special place with me.

Circa 1983. I was in metals shop class looking for a fun project when I spotted a discarded large (15" or so) and very heavy metal-saw blade. The idea occurred to me it would make a perfect knife.

After getting the OK from my shop teacher (Thank you Mr. T.), I sketched out a design and began cutting and grinding...and grinding and cutting. Wow, this was some seriously hardened steel!

The style evolved over the course of a few weeks until I finally settled on the 6.75" boot knife you see.

I hadn't planned on the "Made in the USA" logo to be up-front and prominent, but I couldn't have said it better myself.

Cannot imagine how special this knife must be to you, definitely a heirloom material.

Gourgeous design!

 

and  on the pizza!  Now I am hungry!

[Humayd A R Mahomedy]

Of course that qualifies and we'd love to have you!

Thank you Sir

Day 1
I decided to go with the ubiquitous Okapi "3 star".
These were produced in great numbers until a few years ago,the company downsized and relocated not far from where I live (I've never visited,but I'm thinking I should soon).
These knives used to be made in Germany at some point,I'm trying to acquire 1  but have been unsuccessful thus far.
These knives are the most common folding knife and weapon in South Africa,and many a drunken brawl (amongst a host of others) has ended with at least 1 of the participants being on the receiving end of an Okapi. 
There is even a local knife-fighting system (called the piper system) where the Okapi is the edged weapon on choice.
There are a few sizes and 1 or 2 blade styles,I'm thinking of buying a few over the course of this challenge.
I received this particular specimen in a trade.


Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

[DIAMOND]

comis said...

Cannot imagine how special this knife must be to you, definitely a heirloom material.

Very special and one to hang on to as well as the memory of making it in school! Lol!

[MrToolJunkie]

Day 1

I am representing USA. I plan to show some different "tools" that I use in addition to knives and multitools.

First up is a titanium Lynch NW prybar. Prybars are a key part of my kit and so useful for a variety of things. I prefer versions like this one that allow it to pry nails and staples, etc... vs a flat blade.

[DIAMOND]

I like the idea of a titanium prybar since prybars can be so heavy. Nice tool!

Go team USA!

[BPRoberts]

Already some seriously cool stuff posted everyone! This is shaping up to be one of the most interesting challenges I've seen.

I signed up for Ireland for several reasons:

1. My dad's family is from there.
2. Irish knives are available in a variety of patterns at a reasonable cost in good condition.
3. To evaluate the myths about Imperial Ireland knives and their low quality.

A little background that most of you probably know already: Imperial and Schrade were two of the larger US knife companies in the first half of the 20th century. Imperial was arguably the more conventional of the two, while Schrade was better known for switchblades. Both had a wide variety of licenses, manufacturing deals, and sublines, and bought up their fair share of smaller cutlers over the years. They merged (with Imperial buying Schrade) in 1946. Over the next 30 years, the combined company became the dominant US knife manufacturer, hitting across all patterns, styles, price points, etc. However, things start to get a little hazy once we hit the 70s.

Production began at the Listowel, Ireland factory in (I think) the late 70s (as far as I can tell, the factory was built by Stag knives in the early 60s, but acquired by I/S in the 70s. There's some scattered evidence/rumors that they used it beforehand though). The Ireland plant is best known for producing the Jackmaster line, which was a on the lower-mid end of the quality ladder. I have found some examples of Imperial Irelands from the higher lines (mostly Frontier) that were also made in Ireland. As near as I can tell, more and more production was shifted to the Ireland plant(s?) starting in the 80s. In 2004, the whole enchilda was sold to Taylor. They kept several of the lines (with a limited selection even still being made in the US) but it's mostly cliche Made in China junk now (SMKW's house brands like Rough Ryder and Marbles offer the same patterns at a better quality and price point if you're going MiC in my experience.)

If you go online, the Ireland made knives have something of a mixed reputation. The most common opinion holds that they're precursors to the Chinese junk knives that'd take over so much of the market a decade or two later, up to false advertising on their steel blends. Other people put them as equal to the US made ones. My suspicion is that, on a line for line basis, they're roughly comparable to their US counterparts. I think that the good ol' rosy nostalgia goggles have built all of the US made Imperials/Schrades into collector quality juggernauts in people's minds, where most of their sales (outside of a few premium lines produced in much lower numbers) came from decent, but unexceptional, workhorses in the lower to mid tiers.

So, where does that leave us? I've got a whole pile of Imperial/Schrade knives across all 3 countries of origin sitting in a tackle box on my dining room table, including a few still in the original packaging (NIB collectors, prepare to avert your eyes). Over the next month, I'll carry and test (as EDCs, not any psycho torture tests) all of them, and see what I find out. Obviously not up to any kind of scientific rigor, but enough to hopefully at least give them all a fair shake, and come up with something resembling a real assessment instead of hearsay. Anybody with their own I/S (especially from the higher end US lines) is welcome to hop in as well and add their observations to the mix.

To that end, I'd like to introduce you to my two main knives for the month:

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Shelley

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And Shadow

I picked these for three reasons:

1. I could get both of them, unopened, for a reasonable price on eBay.
2. Aside from the (easily distinguishable) aesthetics, they're (as far as I can tell before opening them) the same knife, right down to the selling points on the packaging and the stock number.
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3. The Kamp-King is, in my mind, the Imperial knife. They made all kinds of other stuff, but like the Wave (or maybe PST) to Leatherman, the MP600 to Gerber, and the 110 for Buck, this is the knife I think of when I think of the brand.
4. I've been itching to carry a good old fashioned scout/camper pattern for a couple months. Might as well take advantage.

They'll both ride with me every day for the next month, and I'll do my best to test them as evenly as possible. The rest of the collection will pop in and out for a day or two here each (unless I find one I really love), along with one or two Irish knives made by other cutlers.

I'm out of pics for this post, so I'll open them up (and do a first test or two with them) later tonight.

[DIAMOND]

Use and testing if newer is the way to go. Nice pair!

[BPRoberts]

So...uhh... I smurfed up...

As I was opening Shelley, I noticed something that worried me. As you can see in this pic of me brutally destroying the collector's value following the directions, Shelley is dated 1987. "Wait a minute," I thought to myself, "I just typed that the Jackmaster line was made in Ireland starting in the late 70s or early 80s."

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I'm sure you can all see where this is going.

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The eBay listing (which I already left positive feedback on  ) had it listed as being from the Rhode Island factory (despite the fact that all US production had moved to the Ellenville, NY factory by then...). All my other NIB Irish I/Ses are marked Made in Ireland, but somehow Shelley slipped through.

But, all is not lost!

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Meet Shelley Sr.!

While not brand new, Shelley Sr. is (probably, I guess it could be a counterfeit) a bonafide Made in the USA Kamp-King. I'll have to figure out how to make the test fairish (I have several used Irish campers in various designs), and it won't be quite as pseudo-scientific as I hoped, but I'm still going to take a crack at it after I clean her up a bit.

[cody6268]

Day 1

I am representing USA. I plan to show some different "tools" that I use in addition to knives and multitools.

First up is a titanium Lynch NW prybar. Prybars are a key part of my kit and so useful for a variety of things. I prefer versions like this one that allow it to pry nails and staples, etc... vs a flat blade.

Nice! I keep meaning to get a Lynch prybar. I've had the 4" CountyComm Ti curved Widgy for several years, but it's a little too narrow to be comfortable, and I always have to dig for it.

[cody6268]

So...uhh... I smurfed up...

As I was opening Shelley, I noticed something that worried me. As you can see in this pic of me brutally destroying the collector's value following the directions, Shelley is dated 1987. "Wait a minute," I thought to myself, "I just typed that the Jackmaster line was made in Ireland starting in the late 70s or early 80s."

  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]  

I'm sure you can all see where this is going.

  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]  

The eBay listing (which I already left positive feedback on  ) had it listed as being from the Rhode Island factory (despite the fact that all US production had moved to the Ellenville, NY factory by then...). All my other NIB Irish I/Ses are marked Made in Ireland, but somehow Shelley slipped through.

But, all is not lost!

  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]  
Meet Shelley Sr.!

While not brand new, Shelley Sr. is (probably, I guess it could be a counterfeit) a bonafide Made in the USA Kamp-King. I'll have to figure out how to make the test fairish (I have several used Irish campers in various designs), and it won't be quite as pseudo-scientific as I hoped, but I'm still going to take a crack at it after I clean her up a bit.

Interesting oddity there. Perhaps a transitional issue when they had started production in Ireland, but still had leftover stock? It does appear to be the late pattern that's fatter and longer than the '50s and '60s Kamp Kings. 

[cody6268]

Day 1

Combo carried was the Case 61011 Hawkbill Pruner and Schrade Walden 204S




Only thing used was the scissors on my Charge TTi (which is just "Assembled in US of US and Imported components") to trim a busted fingernail.

[Echotech]

Off to a great start, some really interesting stuff from awl

Glad to hear you’re slowly on the mend RP

Neat, I always thought most of these BAK are made in Sheffield, cool to see them made oversea too.

Usually they are comis but I’ve a couple of 1940’s WW2 versions made here in Australia and of course some Sheffield made ones but have seen them made in other European countries too, Belgium from memory, @ Old Lefty may well be able to confirm

Yawners from Coco already?  She's hard enough to be an East German Olympic judge.   

Great start, although Coco looks bored.

not easily impressed that hound….this would be something like the 30th challenge she’s been expected to look interested, think the novelty wore off quite a while ago

…Poor Coco had a bad footsie.  So sad.  Best wishes.  Gary 

Thanks Gary and well spotted….it’s an ongoing hotspot she won’t stop licking, very nasty under the bandage

[Echotech]

Day 2 Japan

The BAK/AAK blade is perfect for breaking down boxes for the recycling

[Sos24]

Day 1 (Spain)
Castillo Navajo cut in half some Southwest eggrolls.


Also carried the Aitor Gran Capitan for a park outing

[Echotech]

Happy weekend awl

[Fireman]

DAY 2  A four layer Adler and a textured Rotring 600 pen. 

[IMR4198]

      Since I have decided to carry this knife, it might as well be sharp.  I started out with a medium Arkansas.  The steel seemed hard.  The blade is hollow ground, so it is easy to sharpen.  I pulled about a dozen strokes on each side, then switched to a razor hone.  A half dozen strokes on each side finished it up.  The edge was usable and would shave hair. 
      So far, so good.  The scales are held on with little screws as you can see.  The knife is French of course.  No markings for country or steel type.  There is a trademark.  More on that later.  The bolsters and liners are thick and steel.  It is a forced joint type.  Easy to open.  Hard to close.  Feels a little like the cap lifter/large screwdriver on a newer Victorinox that has the nub on that blade.  Length of the handle is 96mm.  It lies in the pocket rather well.  Best wishes.  Gary
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[comis]

So...uhh... I smurfed up...

As I was opening Shelley, I noticed something that worried me. As you can see in this pic of me brutally destroying the collector's value following the directions, Shelley is dated 1987. "Wait a minute," I thought to myself, "I just typed that the Jackmaster line was made in Ireland starting in the late 70s or early 80s."

  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]  

I'm sure you can all see where this is going.

  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]  

The eBay listing (which I already left positive feedback on  ) had it listed as being from the Rhode Island factory (despite the fact that all US production had moved to the Ellenville, NY factory by then...). All my other NIB Irish I/Ses are marked Made in Ireland, but somehow Shelley slipped through.

But, all is not lost!

  [ Quoting of attachment images from other messages is not allowed ]  
Meet Shelley Sr.!

While not brand new, Shelley Sr. is (probably, I guess it could be a counterfeit) a bonafide Made in the USA Kamp-King. I'll have to figure out how to make the test fairish (I have several used Irish campers in various designs), and it won't be quite as pseudo-scientific as I hoped, but I'm still going to take a crack at it after I clean her up a bit.

Kamp King definitely is an iconic pattern/model for the brand, nice one! 

Day 1 (Spain)
Castillo Navajo cut in half some Southwest eggrolls.
(Image removed from quote.)

Also carried the Aitor Gran Capitan for a park outing
(Image removed from quote.)

I looked up this knife, quite like the choice of steel (14c28n) and a hint of its European heritage from the handle design.

      Since I have decided to carry this knife, it might as well be sharp.  I started out with a medium Arkansas.  The steel seemed hard.  The blade is hollow ground, so it is easy to sharpen.  I pulled about a dozen strokes on each side, then switched to a razor hone.  A half dozen strokes on each side finished it up.  The edge was usable and would shave hair. 
      So far, so good.  The scales are held on with little screws as you can see.  The knife is French of course.  No markings for country or steel type.  There is a trademark.  More on that later.  The bolsters and liners are thick and steel.  It is a forced joint type.  Easy to open.  Hard to close.  Feels a little like the cap lifter/large screwdriver on a newer Victorinox that has the nub on that blade.  Length of the handle is 96mm.  It lies in the pocket rather well.  Best wishes.  Gary
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Gary, cool knife!  Maybe it's the angle of the photo or it's a really shallow hollow grind, but does the blade look a lot like a FFG?
The easy-open, hard-close definitely is a cool feature on a slip joint, does it have a fly on its bolster, like a Laguiole?

[nakken]

Sorry to see you drop out, nakken. I hope all is well.

Thanks mate

Y'awl are off to a great start

[comis]

*Day 2*



This is definitely one of the "best value" knives I have owned, I got this from the Big river site for 20 bucks, and it has all the features I found desirable for a good user knife. 

Good solid mid back lock and thumb stud placement, thick spine for integrity while having a deep hallow grind for a decent slicing capability, great textured handle with good ergo.  Though it is just an inexpensive knife, I felt Dozier definitely shows how a well design knife is not limited by budget.

[comis]

Thanks mate

Y'awl are off to a great start

Do come visit often, sorry to have missed you!

[old Lefty]

Thank you Sir

Day 1
I decided to go with the ubiquitous Okapi "3 star".
These were produced in great numbers until a few years ago,the company downsized and relocated not far from where I live (I've never visited,but I'm thinking I should soon).
These knives used to be made in Germany at some point,I'm trying to acquire 1  but have been unsuccessful thus far.
These knives are the most common folding knife and weapon in South Africa,and many a drunken brawl (amongst a host of others) has ended with at least 1 of the participants being on the receiving end of an Okapi. 
There is even a local knife-fighting system (called the piper system) where the Okapi is the edged weapon on choice.
There are a few sizes and 1 or 2 blade styles,I'm thinking of buying a few over the course of this challenge.
I received this particular specimen in a trade.


Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
(Image removed from quote.)

Cool knife and info!
I know something about the Piper template but had not realised it comes from South Afrika. Now I do

Lähetetty minun SM-T515 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[old Lefty]

Happy weekend awl

(Image removed from quote.)

An excellent choice of beer mate! Old Engine Oil and Bishops's Finger are 2 of my 3 favorite British beers

Lähetetty minun SM-T515 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[ReamerPunch]

Day 1

I've been using this Caneças for food prep lately. Managed to get it quite sharp, still going to keep working on it until it gets razor sharp.

Since I won't be using many different knives, I'll be showing parts of them throughout the month.

 

Yum!

[ReamerPunch]

Thank you Sir

Day 1
I decided to go with the ubiquitous Okapi "3 star".

Hey, I had forgotten about those! They are so cool. I'll get one for the collection. 

[ReamerPunch]

Day 1

I am representing USA. I plan to show some different "tools" that I use in addition to knives and multitools.

First up is a titanium Lynch NW prybar. Prybars are a key part of my kit and so useful for a variety of things. I prefer versions like this one that allow it to pry nails and staples, etc... vs a flat blade.

I like the curves, and the pocket clip is great. I have a few OPTs, but I like the pocket wrench 2 the most.

[old Lefty]

Day 2
Sfarziglia and James Smith Solid Stick umbrella:



Since I started with the foldable monster and it really has been raining lately I decided today’s training should include these two. Some Vigny/Bonafont and Cielo&Meraviglia Monsignore style drills performed.

The level of speed, purity and effectiviness however is strongly debatable


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ReamerPunch]

Already some seriously cool stuff posted everyone! This is shaping up to be one of the most interesting challenges I've seen.

I signed up for Ireland for several reasons:

1. My dad's family is from there.
2. Irish knives are available in a variety of patterns at a reasonable cost in good condition.
3. To evaluate the myths about Imperial Ireland knives and their low quality.

Those look nice! I appreciate the history and looking forward to your findings.