“How Girls Can Help Their Country” (Handbook title for The Girl Scouts 1913)

An American [pocketknife] story through the eyes of the official Girl Scout Knife. Recipe: From the Suffrage Era. by Kelly kozak

Kelly’s GSA Knife collection over the cover of Knife World 1995 featuring James Rine’s article on the History of the GSA Knife**

I was a Girl Scout for a few days, maybe a few weeks, and when I asked my mom, she swore it was the Brownies, not the Girl Scouts. I remember feeling way too dusty and tomboyish for the particular troop in my neighborhood but it was probably because the troop leader, Ursula, who was an adult bully who fixated on me and my mom. She made it uncomfortable for me to stick around. Today, in my knifey world and travels, I have found myself with a small curio-style collection of Girl Scout knives. It is a magpie collection that I put together while contemplating the idea of a knife for girls. The collection has happened steadily over a decade, more as a fascination rather than an obsession. Through this collection, I’ve been trying to distill a story about girls and knives. Some of the knives are good finds and pinpoint periods of American history worth noting and also made by really great American knife companies, Ulster, Remington, Marbles, Utica-Kutmaster and more. Still, the collection is a curiosity collection, all kept in a Robert Burns edition cigar box. 

The first one I came across was in a grip of vintage pocket knives from one of Josh's Alemany Flea Market hauls. It was a classic official Girl Scout knife, post-war Utica Kutmaster’s 1950’s green multi-blade with a saddle-back can opener, super common. It stood out in the box of old pocket knives, almost like a gemstone with its green translucent scales. Was it 2016, or was it 2018?. Having young children at the time, I taught knife skills to kids, and I observed parents’ attitudes and fears about kids with knives spanned the map. On one end of the spectrum, there were Waldorf or Waldorf adjacent parents or teachers who would bring their kids or classes of kids into the shop as young as 4 and 5 to get whittling knives or advice on teaching young kids knife skills for cooking. And, then, of course, on the other end of the spectrum the parents who had such deep fear of knives but knew on some level that they needed to give their kids a class and everyone else in between. But what stood out in my experiences, in particular, was how gendered knives and kids were. Knives as tools were always bent towards boys, even today.

In any case, what came to me directly with these thoughts was a quiet realization that for me knives were always a way for me to protect myself. Most girls I knew had some sort of self-defense protection, whether it was pepper spray, keys held a certain way,  a pocket knife, or in my case, when I was in my 20’s for example, a boot knife and a Benchmade pocket knife in my back pocket. I would walk home at night from the Lexington bar to my house on Sycamore St. with my knife open where the blade would line up outward on my arm under my sleeve so if anyone grabbed my wrist they would cut themselves. When I was a kid, I remember people trying to break into the house my mom and I lived in and grabbing a kitchen knife to protect us. It’s a primal reflex and just a social reality for girls and women. 

Our friend’s daughter Coco, 7 years old, on a family trip with a 710 McHenry and Williams Benchmade

In contrast, the Girl Scout knives in my collection represent a world where there are knives made for girls as gear.  After sitting with this collection for all these years, this is what continues to bubble up to me and what strikes me: a world where girls build things and contribute to their communities. The GSA also covers self-defense with and achievable badge and troop leaders are also incentivized. It sounds like a magical, idealistic place. In the years since I was a kid attending that first troop meeting, I’ll be honest; I never thought much about the Girls Scouts as an organization.

Researching the knives brought alive a history I’m ashamed I knew nothing about. Just as we all carry a little misogyny in our pockets, I must admit, I always rolled my eyes at the GSA. Maybe some of my bias was learned from troop leader Ursula Hutchinson or others like her that popped up from time to time.

My life experience tells me so. Sometimes, the worst enemies to me in my life were those of women carrying misogyny in their pockets.  It doesn’t escape me that I was born to a bright and talented teen mother in 1973, the year of Roe v. Wade. My mother tried doing all the right things as a teen mother; she married my dad, and when that didn’t work, she left my dad. We moved into a small apartment across from my new school where I would start the 1st grade. I remember feeling so much pride in my mother for doing this. She applied to one of the top colleges in Pittsburgh, got in, and started classes. This must have intimidated Ursula, and looking back, I think my mom and I both endured quite a bit of social disapproval from others. Ursula was the mom of my classmate Robby, and she was also in the PTA and a lunch mother. She was around my school life quite a bit. It seemed like she was in every corner. She tore my mom’s character down in front of me at school and made my life generally difficult. Uresala learned to tear down women just like most women learn to do so, whether explicitly or through subtle bias. So, by the time I made it to my first GSA troop meeting, I saw Urslela there. It tainted my view of the GSA by association, which led to me being a little snobby or disregarding through the years, missing out on what GSA could have meant for me as a girl and appreciating it as an adult. But if I’m honest, I see a little bit of Ursala in myself, and after all these years, I wish her well and hope she found some peace in her life. Ultimately, what is done to women to make them ugly characters in chapters of their lives and having moments to life-times of terrible moral compasses is nothing but a causality of a world that most often mistreats women.

Image of Juliette Gordon Low and a group of early Girl Scouts holding up the Girl Scout flag, courtesy of Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum

What I missed out on regarding the history of the GSA was huge. And I also know now that I  would have significantly benefited from a GSA membership growing up. I regret not sticking it out. The historical significance of the GSA must be considered. It’s been truly humbling to learn the magnitude of the GSA. Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts, started her first troop in Georgia with 18 members in 1912, and by the following year, they already needed a national headquarters; by 1920, the same year, women won the right to cast their votes, membership of GSA was well over 70,000 girls. To put this in perspective, it took almost 80 years for women to gain the right to vote. As an organization, the GSA was at the ready and inspired by a multi-generational and hard-won movement to educate girls and prepare them for citizenship.

The original handbook was titled What Girls Can Do For Their Country and the first iteration of their mission statement was to help girls “...grow into happy, useful women and good citizens through democratic participation in a variety of group activities, including community service, creative arts and outdoor recreation.” 

It’s perfect to know that the suffrage movement gave us the Girls Scouts. When taking in the breadth of its impact on the needs and desires of young girls and women, it was like a love letter from women to their collective future selves through girls. Quietly but profoundly, the GSA has been meeting the moment for women and girls for over 100 years.

What can girls do for their country? Over the past 100 years since the GSA was founded and women achieved the right to vote after 80 years of trying, women have shattered glass ceilings and reshaped the economic landscape. They've gone from primarily homemakers to holding positions of power in politics, business, and science while still occupying the silent labor market of caretaking the aging populations and child-rearing. This shift has profoundly impacted the U.S. economy, with women's participation in the labor force adding trillions of dollars to the GDP.

Their contributions aren't just economic; women have led movements for social justice, spearheaded groundbreaking research, and created impactful art that has transformed our culture. From the voting booth to the boardroom, women have become undeniable forces of progress, driving innovation and inspiring generations by being way ahead of the times. According to GSA’s “Facts and Figures” over 50 million girls and women are members of the GSA, proving the value of the true American treasure to women and society that it is. What have girls not done for their country in the last 100 years?

My Curio Collection of Girls Scouts Knives

Intentionally described as a personal curiosity collection, I don’t want it to be confused with a serious pocket knife collection. Still, hopefully, it inspires someone to make an earnest Girls Scouts Knife collection and take the mantle and do it justice. The trajectory of the official knife of the GSA is a sampling of some of the best American manufacturers of knives. The American pocket knife industry has a rich history, with companies like Utica, Marbles, Remington, and Ulster playing significant roles. Utica Cutlery, founded in 1910, was known for its affordable and durable knives, particularly those supplied to the military during World War II. Established in 1898, Marbles also gained fame for its outdoor and hunting knives, often featuring distinctive designs and materials like stacked leather handles. In early America, hunting was not just for the upper classes of society like it was in Europe, and by the late 19th century, the need for a new style of field knife for hunting was addressed. Marbles served that need well and became iconic to American-made knives. While primarily known for firearms, Remington also produced a range of pocket knives from the late 19th century onwards, often emphasizing practicality and affordability. Ulster Knife Company, founded in 1923, specialized in producing high-quality pocket knives, focusing on craftsmanship and innovative designs, catering to a more discerning market. These companies and others helped establish the American pocket knife as both a utilitarian tool and a collectible item, reflecting the country's changing needs and values over time. 

Here’s what in my collection and up for sale on our website. All proceeds will be matched by me and donated to the National Women’s Law Center while hoping that women are on the minds of voters. If you buy the entire collection, I’ll throw in the cool cigar box.

Marble’s Fixed Blade ( the Depression Era GSA ) Click here to Buy

A very hard-to-find scarce Marbles Sport pattern knife made for the Girl Scouts between 1930 and 1935 in Gladstone, Michigan, with a 4" carbon steel blade with the Girl Scouts shield hot stamped in the face of the blade, brass guard, vulcanized rubber and brass spacers on a stacked leather handle and an aluminum buttcap. With original sheath marked Girl Scouts on the face and Marble's Gladstone Mich. on snap. 

This knife has been used but never abused, the blade hasn't been sharpened in much at all and is very full. It has seen light rust causing shallow pits and pepperpots, but nothing is disfiguring. The handle leather is healthy and has not dried or rotted, the pommel has a little play as the leather has shrunk a bit, it is possible to tighten the brass washer. The sheath is very healthy, the keeper snap is free from cracks or drying, and some stitching has come loose on the sheath, but otherwise, it in great shape for being 90 years old. 

Marbles was the maker that first designed the stacked leather-handled knife, pioneered the creation of knives specifically for outdoor use, and created a distinctly American outdoor knife. For a knife made in the thick of the depression, it is very, very well made. All materials and workmanship were top-notch from Marble's. They set the standard for outdoor knives at the time, with lots of imitators. It's very cool to see it offered to Girl Scouts. 

During the Great Depression, Girl Scouts stepped up to support their communities. Membership increased in the 1930s. With First Lady Lou Hoover as National President, they focused on service, collecting food and clothing, and helping in hospitals. Girl Scouts learned valuable skills like sewing and cooking and adapted their cookie sales by working with bakers, which helped make cookies more available and thus began the cookie campaign we all know so well.

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Dwight Devine Ulster 4 blade (suffrage era GSA1920?) Click here to buy

This is a near-mint example of the first model Girl Scout knife made by the Dwight Devine Ulster company in Ellenville, NY, from 1918 to 1941. It has carbon steel blades, jigged bone hafts, brass liners, nickel bolsters, a GSA shield, and a bail. 

This knife still has the lightly etched Girl Scouts etch on the main blade, which has a slightly dulled factory edge. All other blades are with their original bright finish (NOT buffed). These are carbon steel, not stainless. The knife is in the original green cardboard box with a leather inset and the original foil label on the top of the box.

This is such a great find here, not only for a knife of its period in such good condition, which was during the heyday of American knife making, but also as the very first Girl Scout knife that was offered to the brand new Girl Scouts. Really Special. 

The Girl Scouts of America, founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low in Georgia, emerged during significant social and political change in the United States, including the burgeoning women's suffrage and labor movements. While the organization maintained a neutral stance on suffrage to avoid alienating members, its focus on empowering girls and fostering civic engagement indirectly supported the movement's goals. Girl Scouts participated in community service, learned about citizenship, and developed leadership skills, activities that prepared them to be active and engaged citizens once they gained the right to vote. Some individual Girl Scout leaders, like Edith Carpenter Macy and Sarah Birdsall Otis Edey, were actively involved in the suffrage movement, demonstrating the connection between the two causes. Following the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920, Girl Scouts even assisted at polling stations, caring for children so that women could exercise their newly won right to vote. Although Women of color didn't realize their right to vote the first all-Black Girl Scout troops were established as early as 1917. In 1924, three decades before U.S. public schools were desegregated, Josephine Holloway became the first Black Girl Scout troop leader. She opened the door for young Black girls to see their own Black Girl Magic as part of Girl Scouts. (from the GSA Black History Blog)

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Utica Featherweight Bone 2-blade (post WWII GSA)

This is a pair of two examples of the post-war Utica Featherweight 2-blade GSA knives from 1948 to 1956. They have carbon steel blades, jigged bone hafts, aluminum liners, bolsters, and a GSA shield with a steel bail. 

One of these has a long pull with grooves in the bolsters, and the other has a standard nail nick with smooth bolsters. Both have a nice tone to the jigged bone hafts and are mechanically good. Both have been used, but neither has been abused. Of the smaller two-bladed GSA knives, these are the nicest-looking, in our opinion. 

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Utica Featherweight Mottled Celluloid 1942-45 (WWII Era GSA) Click here to buy

A very clean example of a somewhat scarce WW2 era Girl Scout knife made by Utica from the years 1942 to 1945 with carbon steel blades, mottled green and black celluloid (!), aluminum liners, bolsters, and GSA shield with steel bail. 

This knife has a dulled factory edge with a few stray scratches from use, all other blades are with their original bright finish (NOT buffed), this one is with the spiral punch which was only made '42-45, this model 311 was made with the other regular punch from 1933-45.  

This is a nice find here. Wartime knife production was small, with very little going to the civilian market. For a knife of its period, it's in great shape. 

Keep celluloid out of the sun and high temperatures, it is not as stable as other composite materials and can degrade quickly if poorly treated. 

The Girl Scouts of the USA rallied to the call of duty during World War II, significantly expanding their traditional activities to encompass war-related service. With membership swelling to over one million, they were a force to be reckoned with. Beyond collecting scrap metal and rubber for the war effort, they engaged in numerous other activities. They planted "Victory Gardens" to supplement food supplies, participated in national defense programs by learning first aid and air raid precautions, and even served as messengers on bicycles. Recognizing the importance of morale, they also took on the task of making cookies and sending care packages to soldiers overseas. Their contributions weren't limited to the war front. The Girl Scouts also extended a helping hand to those impacted by the war, assisting with childcare for working mothers and supporting families displaced from their homes. This wartime mobilization showcased the adaptability and resilience of the organization, proving that even young girls could contribute meaningfully to their nation in times of crisis.

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Assorted Utica Featherweight 2 Blade Black Composite

Assorted Utica Featherweight 2-blade GSA knives from the years 1956 to 1971 with carbon steel blades, jigged black plastic hafts, aluminum liners, bolsters, and 'GS' GSA shield with steel bail. 

These will be selected from a small batch of nearly identical knives, all showing use but in good workable condition. 

Please request sharpening if desired; sold as is unless requested.  

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Utica Kutmaster 3 5/8" Girl Scouts Knife M310 Near Mint in Box 1947-80 (Voting Right Era GSA)-click here to buy

A near-mint example of the most iconic Girl Scouts folding knife made by Utica Kutmaster from 1947 to 1980 with carbon steel blades, clear acetate handle scales over green plastic with a gold plastic GSA shield, brass liners and nickel bolsters and steel bail. 

This knife still has a very slightly dulled factory edge but no signs of use. All other blades are with their original bright finish (NOT buffed). These are carbon steel, not stainless. The knife is in its original gold cardboard box. 

There are many of these around in very used condition, not so much in near-mint condition as this one. 

During the Civil Rights era, the Girl Scouts of America underwent significant changes, reflecting the broader societal shifts towards racial integration. While initially segregated, the organization began a national effort to desegregate all troops by the 1950s. This move was recognized by Martin Luther King Jr., who in 1956 called the Girl Scouts "a force for desegregation." Despite progress at the national level, local councils and troops, particularly in the South, often resisted integration, leading to conflicts and lawsuits. Some troops even expelled members for promoting civil rights. Nevertheless, many Girl Scouts and leaders actively participated in the movement, advocating for equality and justice. In 1965, black women secured voting rights through the Voters Rights Act.

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Suffrage Recipes

Because I promised to include a recipe or food story in my substack, here’s a gem or two. In 2014, I scored a book from Omnivore Books called Pots and Politics, a cookbook pamphlet collection from both the suffrage and women's rights movements. The Suffrage contributions all come with recipes presented in the typical short narration style of the 19th and early 20th century and originally published in 1908 by the Washington Equal Suffrage Association. Dotted throughout are recipes like “Emergency Soup”, and “Salad Dressing That Will Keep for Six Months”. Throughout each section, there are pro-women or pro-suffrage quotes from Abraham Lincoln and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Under the Meats section, the quote, “ There is no freedom on earth, nor in any star for those who deny freedom to others,” introduces Roast Beef.

“In thinking of meats, perhaps roast beef comes to our minds. No other meat is so nutritious of properly cooked. The outside must be seared at wants to keep in the juices. To do this either put on a great of a very hot oven or by pressing every side down on a hot pan on top of the range. What is known as rib roast are the best, and one can hardly get the best results with a roast under 10 or 12 pounds.” (pg. 20).

And Fish!

“Cut a pound package of boneless codfish and two small pieces and soak and plenty of water. Poor off the water and cooking water, just letting it come to a boil, parentheses one cooking, will make it tough parentheses. Poor off the water, and cover with milk; here to boiling point; remove the back of stove and starting to be an eggs. If you want it, very nice, indeed, slice for hard, boiled eggs and start in just as you serve.” By Linda Jennings.(pg 43)

Roast Beef Recipe from 1908 Suffrage Cookbook;Rare Copy of Pots and Politics, Juliette Gordon Low (center), with two Girl Scouts; Cover story from The Saturday Evening Post on the Girl Scouts (Oct 25, 1924)