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incredibly scarce, highly prized piece of early 20th-century American cutlery history: an original antique Challenge Cutlery Corporation 2-blade Equal End Pen pocket knife, manufactured in Bridgeport, Connecticut between 1905 and 1928. The master spear blade features a beautifully clear, deep block strike of the legendary four-line factory tang stamp. This turn-of-the-century Connecticut estate find is being offered in an open sale format.
The knife is built on a 3-1/4 inch symmetrical equal-end frame featuring traditional solid brass liners, flush handle pins, and integrated steel bolster caps. The toolkit carries its original dual carbon steel blades consisting of a main spear-point blade configured with a classic long pull nail groove alongside a secondary small pen blade. The handles are original cracked ice celluloid composition scales that have aged over the last century to a gorgeous translucent golden-yellow pearl color field. Finding a pre-1928 Challenge pocket folder that has retained its full structural integrity is an exceptional opportunity for any advanced slipjoint collection.
Condition Notes
This antique pocket knife is in solid, original vintage condition exactly as pictured. A major highlight is the exceptional internal mechanics; both carbon steel backsprings remain remarkably strong and rigid, providing an excellent, loud walk-and-talk action with crisp opening and closing snap and zero side-to-side blade wobble. The carbon steel blades exhibit an authentic dark aged patina, heavy storage tarnish, and scattered light pitting appropriate for an century-old tool, while retaining excellent full profiles. The decorative golden pearl celluloid handle scales are structurally complete and tight to the brass liners with no large chips or active off-gassing degradation. Please closely inspect all high-resolution macro photos to verify exact dimensions, blade profiles, and stamp conditions before purchasing. Thank you for looking.
