Fruits From Jack’s Table

[Jack Black]

With very little to-do, I tackled this lot a week or so ago, but due to some problems with my internet connection, I’ve only been able to upload the photos over the past couple of days.



Girl Guides are what Girl Scouts are called outside the US, and what they were originally called there (quite an interesting story in itself). From the look of it, Harry Kilvington was determined to hang onto this Girl Guides Knife, quite an unusual 3-blade pattern, and it’s certainly seen plenty of good, honest use. Harry, I think, was almost certainly Harriet, and while she etched the year 1947 alongside her name, the knife itself, is older still, since the Yorkshire Steel Company, who made it, folded in 1932.













This old Taylor’s Eye Witness Sleeveboard has also been someone’s long-term companion.







The Yorkshire Evening Post is my local newspaper, a pretty rotten one to be honest, but with a grander past. As is common on Sheffield-made advertising knives, this Firth Stainless pre-WW2 penknife, with sunken joints, doesn’t have a maker’s mark on the tang-stamp, though I suspect it may have been made by Ibberson’s. It’s a nicely-made knife, which has seen some poor sharpening unfortunately.



This Sheffield-made penknife is from a later period, and these knives were given to the buyers of new Land Rovers. As a consequence, they’re very collectible here. Made by Joseph Rodgers, and it appears to have seen little or no use.





ADEE found this 1943 dated British Army Clasp Knife made by Richards of Sheffield, and cleaned it up for me. A shame someone has taken the end off the Sheepsfoot blade, as it’s in pretty good shape otherwise.





This Italian Navy Clasp Knife, of much the same design, is of more recent manufacture. No manufacturer’s markings unfortunately.



This CK Electrician’s Knife appears to have seen little or no use. A nicely-made knife, but with brutal spring tension.



Also by CK, this Italian-made Congress appears to have seen plenty of use.



A couple of cheapies.

 

[Jack Black]

Going back to Blighty, and back in time – this small Joseph Rodgers Sheepsfoot is something I can see myself carrying at some point.









Considerably older is this nicely-made two-blade Quill Knife, probably no later than the middle of the 19th century. It’s such a shame that the Quill blade is broken, though as with many old knives I find like this, the broken blade has nonetheless been re-sharpened. As you can see, the tang-stamps of both blades have different names, and I think these are for the cutler and factor. I can find no listing for Bowdler & Barnett as Sheffield cutlers, but Bowdler seems to have been a name found in the English town of Shrewsbury in the county of Shropshire, and Edward Baker was once a well-known maker/factor of writing instruments and quill pens. Salop is an old name for both Shrewsbury and Shropshire.

















In much better condition is this Budding/Grafting Knife by James Smith of York, who was at 13 High Ousegate in the 19th century. Hoping to find out a bit more about this one. I went over to York on Saturday to take some photos of the building as it stands today.

 

[Jack Black]

This Cigar-cutter Knife has no maker’s mark unfortunately. I imagine it was made for a high class tobacconist.









This small MOP Quill Knife is also ‘anonymous’. I come across quite a few of these which originally came from Lady’s Reticules.



I’ve already posted pics of this knife in the Old Knives thread, and would be grateful for any informed comment about it. Here’s what I posted previously:

I'd be grateful for any thoughts on this old knife I picked up in an antique shop recently. It was in a small rented cabinet, along with several other folders, all of which were incorrectly labelled. This one was labelled as an 'Old British Army Knife', which it obviously isn't. I assume the reason for this claim is the small arrow on the mark side scale, which is similar in appearance to the 'Broad Arrow'/'Crow's Foot' found on British army and navy clasp knives. I commonly see this mark forged on old tools, and sometimes knives, but there are of course, other reasons an arrow mark might have been stamped or carved here, other than an attempt at forgery. However, the letters, could be a crude attempt to imitate a 'WD' (War Department) stamp. Or they might be the initials 'd M'! The marks don't appear to have been made recently, quite the opposite. Here it is exactly as I bought it. It's 4 5/16" long, with a 3 1/8" blade (measured from the front of the tang).

Moving on, here’s a very pocketable William Rodgers Penknife with sunken joints.



A couple of William Rodgers Lambsfoot knives, the nicest of which is certainly the one with the Buffalo Horn covers.





I still come across lots of old Sheffield-made cutlery. Many people put it away ‘for best’ and it never got used, or was only used rarely.





Since coming across a similar knife to this on The Wizard’s Quest (which longer term posters may remember), I have taken a bit more notice of the re-purposed table knives I occasionally come across. Like the ‘Nut Brown’ knife I sent to Meako, this knife has been made, very simply, into a Sheepsfoot, and I think the stag handle may not be original to the blade. I wonder if these knives might actually be Churi knives, also known as Gypsy Peg-Knives.



In 1928, William Grant of William Grant & Sons came up with the idea of the scalloped ‘Granton Edge’. I have various Granton knives, including a small ring-opening fruit knife. This is certainly the largest. They are still manufactured in Sheffield today.

 

[Old Hunter]

Wow Jack, what can be said? I'll say "nice haul" of cutlery! OH

 

[RobbW]

Jack, you have some real lovelies and rarities there!! Thanks for sharing pics. I especially enjoyed seeing the Quill knife with the flush-and-square joint. I don't know that I've seen that construction on a smaller knife before, and have usually associated that with a larger pocketknife. Seeing the stovepipe kick on the budding/grafting knife was interesting. I assume that indicates a older date of manufacture?

 

[rishma]

very interesting treasures.

Having 3 girls of my own, I had not heard of Girl Guides. I'm curious now and will read up on the history.

 

[Wurrwulf]

That's quite a pile of lovelies you picked up there, Jack! That fancy cigar knife is quite interesting. I don't think I've seen a cutter integrated that way. Gotta love those lambsfoot knives, too.

 

[screened porch]

I've got it! The putative broad arrow shows the location on a river of a chapel that houses some great treasure.

I look forward to seeing more of the SAK with the tent on the handle- it looks like my 1967 Basel knife.

 

[Peregrin]

Nice "fruit" harvest, Jack! Lots of stories on that table. If only knives could talk.

 

[r redden]

Jack I hate to be redundant and make this statement to you so much but but I love the pictures of your table. It's like stepping back in time to see the treasures you've found.

 

[knowtracks]

Great Group Jack!:thumbup:
Thank You for sharing them with us!!


Dave

 

[btb01]

As always, some fantastic stuff on that table, Jack! :thumbup:

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks a lot for all the kind words folks, very much appreciated. I'm glad the knives were of interest I haven't really been 'looking' too much recently, but seem to have unexpectedly come across some lucky finds nonetheless :thumbup:

I especially enjoyed seeing the Quill knife with the flush-and-square joint. I don't know that I've seen that construction on a smaller knife before, and have usually associated that with a larger pocketknife. Seeing the stovepipe kick on the budding/grafting knife was interesting. I assume that indicates a older date of manufacture?

I suspect that there was a time when all knives were made that way Robb. Certainly there was a time when all spring knives had square tangs, and when it was assumed that as the spring on a knife wore, and the point of the blade rose in the frame, the owner would want to take something off the kick to keep it pocketable, and useable, as long as possible, rather than throw it away :thumbup:

Having 3 girls of my own, I had not heard of Girl Guides. I'm curious now and will read up on the history.

I have 3 girls myself I found it a quite fascinating read, and was interested to read that there was a time when the US had both Girl Guides and Girl Scouts :thumbup:

I've got it! The putative broad arrow shows the location on a river of a chapel that houses some great treasure.

I look forward to seeing more of the SAK with the tent on the handle- it looks like my 1967 Basel knife.

LOL! I'll try and get round to that one soon SP :thumbup:

 

[Gevonovich]

Some smashing pieces!!! The old Bowdler & Barnett and Taylor Eye Witness sleeveboard are telling some fabulous story:thumbup::thumbup: I'll be back for more cooning

 

[Old Bowie]

This Cigar-cutter Knife has no maker’s mark unfortunately. I imagine it was made for a high class tobacconist.









This small MOP Quill Knife is also ‘anonymous’. I come across quite a few of these which originally came from Lady’s Reticules.



I’ve already posted pics of this knife in the Old Knives thread, and would be grateful for any informed comment about it. Here’s what I posted previously:



















Moving on, here’s a very pocketable William Rodgers Penknife with sunken joints.



A couple of William Rodgers Lambsfoot knives, the nicest of which is certainly the one with the Buffalo Horn covers.





I still come across lots of old Sheffield-made cutlery. Many people put it away ‘for best’ and it never got used, or was only used rarely.





Since coming across a similar knife to this on The Wizard’s Quest (which longer term posters may remember), I have taken a bit more notice of the re-purposed table knives I occasionally come across. Like the ‘Nut Brown’ knife I sent to Meako, this knife has been made, very simply, into a Sheepsfoot, and I think the stag handle may not be original to the blade. I wonder if these knives might actually be Churi knives, also known as Gypsy Peg-Knives.



In 1928, William Grant of William Grant & Sons came up with the idea of the scalloped ‘Granton Edge’. I have various Granton knives, including a small ring-opening fruit knife. This is certainly the largest. They are still manufactured in Sheffield today.

That is a British military broad arrow stamp on your knife with wood scales Mr. Black. (I'm a friend of Charlie's)

 

[scruffuk]

Some great and interesting finds there old bean.

Thanks for sharing them and a little bit of there background. :thumbup:

They don't pay you enough for all this work.

 

[screened porch]

LOL! I'll try and get round to that one soon SP :thumbup:

Here's what mine looks like. The scissors were replaced, and possibly the hawksbill, though that may have been much ground to remove a nick.

 

[fishcakes]

Very cool finds. I love these threads

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks a lot gents :thumbup:

That is a British military broad arrow stamp on your knife with wood scales Mr. Black. (I'm a friend of Charlie's)

Hi OB, good to see you here again. Do you think a British military broad arrow fits that particular knife, and if so, do you have any idea as to what it is, and its origins?

Some great and interesting finds there old bean.

Thanks for sharing them and a little bit of there background. :thumbup:

They don't pay you enough for all this work.

Thanks Thom :thumbup:

 

[screened porch]

Where on the blade is that broad arrow? Can it be dated by the presence of serifs on its toes?