Bet You Can't Name These Knives - New Photos added

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I found these and lots of neat stuff in cleaning out my friend's grandpa's place before the bulldozer comes. I found a small post drill with a twist chuck that I have never seen one like before. Several really old kitchen knives, all sorts of tools and neat stuff, and these in his junk drawer. They are from days before most of us on this forum. Before Scotch tape, before shrink wrap, before mailer boxes that seal themselves ... there was heavy wrapping paper and twine. Everything from your groceries to things from the store was wrapped and tied with twine. There were all sorts of small blade knives for cutting the twine. Every stationary company and most hardware/lumber stores gave away (or sold very cheap) tiny "office knives". These usually had the name and address of the company on it. Most stores and offices had the twine knife hanging on a string by the huge cone of twine.
The company that made the twine ring knife was the Handy Safety Knife company, and they started making these in 1897. It was a safe way to cut twine, open packages and boxes, and such tasks done all day in post offices, mail rooms, factories, etc. They came in assorted sizes for all size fingers. While they could be re-sharpened, it was considered a disposable twine/box knife. You put it on your index finger and tied the knot with both hands. Instead of reaching for the knife to cut the twine you simply turned your hand and cut the twine.

I'll post more cool photos later.

 

[navman]

ring knives for cutting twine safely. Cool little blades.

 

[Ken H>]

Good post Stacy - When I saw the photos it tickled a long ago memory, but I couldn't pull it out. Thanks for posting those types of threads.

 

[Horsewright]

Edward Scissor Hands in reverse!

 

[Danke42]

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I found these and lots of neat stuff in cleaning out my friend's grandpa's place before the bulldozer comes. I found a small post drill with a twist chuck that I have never seen one like before. Several really old kitchen knives, all sorts of tools and neat stuff, and these in his junk drawer. They are from days before most of us on this forum. Before Scotch tape, before shrink wrap, before mailer boxes that seal themselves ... there was heavy wrapping paper and twine. Everything from your groceries to things from the store was wrapped and tied with twine. There were all sorts of small blade knives for cutting the twine. Every stationary company and most hardware/lumber stores gave away (or sold very cheap) tiny "office knives". These usually had the name and address of the company on it. Most stores and offices had the twine knife hanging on a string by the huge cone of twine.
The company that made the twine ring knife was the Handy Safety Knife company, and they started making these in 1897. It was a safe way to cut twine, open packages and boxes, and such tasks done all day in post offices, mail rooms, factories, etc. They came in assorted sizes for all size fingers. While they could be re-sharpened, it was considered a disposable twine/box knife. You put it on your index finger and tied the knot with both hands. Instead of reaching for the knife to cut the twine you simply turned your hand and cut the twine.

I'll post more cool photos later.

I had one of those given to me for my paper route. Don't ask when as the answer is lost in the mists of time.

 

[Alex Topfer]

My immediate thought was cutting baling twine when pulling apart hay bales

 

[godogs57]

And my wife uses them to cut okra in the garden as well.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Good to know that folks still know about these things.

 

[ea42]

They used them in bakeries around here when they tied the cake boxes with twine.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Here are the photos of the small post drill and the old gasoline fueled lead pot.
My Night Blooming Cereus has been having lots of blooms this summer. There are ten buds right now. These are from last week.

 

[Danke42]

Reminds me of these videos.

Old Things Never Die

You will see here restoration videos, because old things never die ! Enjoy Nicolas

www.youtube.com

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Yup, I have a pre-WW2 Japanese wooden Pachinko machine in the shop that was taken home as a "War Souvenir". No plug, no lights, just levers and bells and balls. Kids will ask, "How do you play it?" I tell them, "Load a ball and flip the lever!" After they play a while I tell them it was a form of low-level skilled game gambling. There is no actual skill to making the ball go where you want ... gravity takes over once you flip the lever. It is closer to a slot machine that anything skilled.
I'll take a shot of it later on.

 

[Stuart Davenport Knives]

My inital snap reaction was those little knives they put on roosters legs when they have cock fights. Ha Ha!