F. HERDER and SON (a translation)

[waynorth]

A beautiful and interesting knife, clad in Mother of Pearl. It's small - ~2 7/8", but hefty in the hand. The corkscrew is too small for wine bottles, so is probably intended for medicine or perfume bottles. It has a sturdy butt plate, like a doctor's knife, with Spear and Pen blades.
There are remnants of ink on the main blade, confirming it is unlikely to have ever been used.
The bolster has a neat coffin shape. It is fun thinking about who would use this knife, and for what purposes!!

 

[waverave]

That is very cool do you have an idea of how old it is?

 

[Campbellclanman]

F. Herder made some very nice knives Charlie- that Giant Deers Foot I put up once in the forums is Huge as well, and very well made!
I

 

[Jack Black]

Absolutely gorgeous Charlie

 

[Stropping Young Lad]

Wow, Chollie! What a gorgeous knife! I love the shape of the bolster.

 

[Travman]

The bolster reminds me of a metal salt shaker my mom used to have.

 

[paulhilborn]

Wow Charlie, stunning in every way I like to imagine such things as well

 

[kai76]

What a cool and unique knife! It’s so interesting to see how old knives were made for specific purposes. Beautiful blue on the lapis? beads too!

 

[Fodderwing]

Beautiful unique piece of cutlery Charlie. What nice MOP and the bolster is so unusual. Very elegant.

 

[Gevonovich]

Odd how you can love in so many ways...

 

[Ramrodmb]

Very unique! Beautiful forged corkscrew!

 

[waynorth]

I have been looking at this little knife; It's condition makes one think it is a fairly new knife, but its details say it is older!! Hmmmmmmmmm.

 

[Nature Boy]

Very nice knife, Charlie! Thanks for sharing.
Here’s a Herder I recently picked up. It also seems to be unused, despite its age.
I really like the folding spud.

 

[waynorth]

Way cool, Mike! A nice budding knife. I have noticed older budding knives may have that "foreshortened" clip blade on them. Your tang stamp is nearly identical to mine. Have you identified the "spud" material?? Everything looks so new and unused - very like mine.
Makes me thing an old factory collection has been cut loose, and put before the collecting public!!??!!

 

[waynorth]

P.S. the beads are Lapis Lazuli on knotted string, and I don't know how old the knife is - yet!!

 

[Nature Boy]

Thanks Charlie! That’s actually what the seller said, that it was on display in the factory when it closed in 1993. Wasn’t sure how much stock to put in that, but seems like a possibility. I’m pretty sure the spud is a creamy bone. I keep looking for it to be ivory, but there’s nothing there to confirm it for me.

Way cool, Mike! A nice budding knife. I have noticed older budding knives may have that "foreshortened" clip blade on them. Your tang stamp is nearly identical to mine. Have you identified the "spud" material?? Everything looks so new and unused - very like mine.
Makes me thing an old factory collection has been cut loose, and put before the collecting public!!??!!

 

[Nature Boy]

...double post...

 

[Nature Boy]

He also had it dated c. 1870-80s