Vintage E. C. Simmons Keen Kutter Pruner Hawkbill Knife with Brass Seal-Cap

Description

E. C. Simmons Keen Kutter pruner, aka hawkbill with seal-cap, aka butt-cap.  Knife is 4-3/8 inches closed and 7-3/4 inches with single hawkbill blade open.  Blade tang is stamped:  E. C. SIMMONS  KEEN KUTTER  inside a keystone logo (faint, but readable).  Handles are ebony, liners are brass, bolsters are double rat-tailed nickel silver and the butt-cap is brass.
Condition is used - NKCA - Very Good.  Ebony handles have no chips or cracks, but numerous shallow dings.  Blade has pits, scratches and patina.  Again, the tang stamp is faint, but readable.  Blade is 98% length and 85% width with "bill" mostly intact (not rounded over).  Blade has weak snap opening, no snap closing and moderate wobble.  Photos are explicitly part of this description.
Simmons Hardware Co. was in business from 1868 to 1940.  They were a large hardware business located in St. Louis, MO.  Simmons was not a knife manufacturer, they imported and had knives made for them domestically.  However, they were so large that in 1911 they bought controlling interest in Walden Knife Co.  In 1922, they merged with Winchester Arms Co., but dissolved the merger in 1929. In 1940, Simmons was acquired by Shapleigh Hardware.  Simmons used the Keen Kutter trademark from 1870 to 1940.  I believe this knife dates from 1900 to 1920.
Pruners were a working man’s knife that was primarily used in agriculture, horticulture and general farm work.  As a result, it is rare to find one of these knives is Excellent or better condition; more typically, they are found in “well worn” condition.  This is especially true of the hawkbills with a butt-cap.  Contrary to some ebay descriptions, the butt-cap was not to allow the knife to stand on end (don’t know why that would be useful); it was a built in hammer and it took a pounding.  Hawkbills are an ancient pattern; they might be homely, but they have character and strength and purpose.  They are from an era when a knife was a tool, designed for a specific trade, and was essential for daily work.
Ships with USPS First Class.
Thanks for looking and please check my other listings.  I collected knives from 1992 until about 2000 and have decided to sell my collection.  I usually list about 10 knives a week.  Hope you see something you like.