Very interesting thread with lots of valuable information. I'm very satisfied with the set that with your help I was able to source from Sue. It's exactly what I was looking for!
I'm pulling for Earl to find his #82 set and other missing items!

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Steve Naquin
TRA# 677 L2
NAR# 85518 L2
SAM# 0052

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Ah, ok. Good! They appeared to be the kind of set that would come up rarely: that old and that mint.

I just got a response from the seller about where they got these items. They say that they have operated a leather supply shop since the 1940s and these were left over and have been in storage for many years. So, these knife sets are just ONE OWNER at this point! I sent a response back asking if he could maybe remember the actual purchase date or not. Will post what they say.

But, I’d say it’s a very good guess that these are from the early 50s. Also asked if he might have any old catalogs or such for sale, too. This whittlers knife set does not appear in that 1969 catalog at all...it appears to be way older than that.

Earl

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Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

Those #6 knives have always been my favorite since I first got one in around 1982.
Can hold gouges, punches, routers, razor saws, and blades.
If I could only have one handle, it would be the smaller #6.
Gotta be careful with them though. Due to the amount of heft they can do real damage.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

Ok, here is the seller’s response on the original purchase date:


“these were purchased in the early 50's. May also have been bought in late 40's as we started the craft company as the service personnel were returning from WW2.. They needed crafts to occupy their time .”


So, either late 40s or very early 50s. Don’t guess by this point there are too many of these in NOS condition floating around!

Earl

__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

Ok, so I found the cap. Also found the pin-vise that goes with the #87 set.

Another thing: I noticed a few differences in the #5 handles in my collection.

First handle on the left has the threads on the bottom of the collet and a washer. The slot is ~1/16 inch wide

The handle in the middle has threads at the top of of the collet, no washer and the slot is ~1/8'' wide.

The handle third from the left is similar to the middle except the slot is back to ~1/16'' wide.

The aluminum handle is there just because it looks good.

The only real reason this matters is because the collet on the middle handle won't tighten around any accessory that I have (blades, saws, etc.), so I'm not really sure what it's used for. Thought at first maybe files, but no-go.
These are all from the early to mid '80's


I'm still going through boxes, so I may find something it'll work with, but thought I'd mention it in case someone has any ideas.

Attached Thumbnails

   

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SAM #0031

The #5 handle that has the threaded collet with the wide slot WILL tighten on a #33 Skiving blade which is considerably thicker than any other blades.
Good luck finding one of those blades.
I paid Sue $25 just for one of these huge blades and have never seen another.
You can see this blade further up this thread. See post #128
Looks like a Gigantic #2 blade.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

Don't think I've ever had a #33 but the handle must have come with something attached to it when I bought it, just can't remember what.
And the first handle w/the washer is a bit odd as well.

__________________
SAM #0031

Most of my #5's have the washer.
Found in the catalog there was a #5L with the large slot as a part of some leather crafting set.
Near the end of that 69/70 catalog there are some really obscure and unique tools/blades that I have never seen.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

Is it this one? I think it is the 6L actually. Top of page 21 from that catalog attached below.

Earl

Attached Files

Xact0 69-70 Catalog Page21.pdf (686.9 KB, 9 views)

__________________
Earl L. Cagle, Jr.
NAR# 29523
TRA# 962
SAM# 73
Owner/Producer
Point 39 Productions

Rocket-Brained Since 1970

The handles w/the washer I think came with 2 saw blades - the #234 and #235.

I have 2 more #5's without the washer - came with the #87 set and the 3 piece set I showed in a earlier post...


All of these were bought at about the same 1985-86 time frame.

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SAM #0031