Grandpa's Pen Knife

[WA Martin]

Charlie's recent give-away with the caveat about meaningful posts seems to have been the impetus needed to get off my padding and post some pictures of my grandpa's knife that I've been meaning to share for quite a while.

I know next to nothing about this knife. It was given to me after he passed because it was in the box of the 108 OT that I had given him for Christmas one year and Granny remembered I had given him the OT.

I don't know where he got it or if it was a gift. Grandpa was a logger so this certainly didn't go out in the woods with him. Much too dainty for that. Also appears to be unused and definitely unsharpened.

Appears to have mother of pearl scales, possibly brass bolsters, and two small pen blades

The tang stamps on the reverse both say STAIN LESS STEEL

Measures roughly 2 7/8" closed

The tang stamp on the blade to the left says Japan. The tang stamp on the right, I tried to get a picture through a magnifying glass, appears to be a diamond with the initials C G inside.

Two more photos for size comparison. The other knife is a Schrade 25 OT.

Thanks for looking. If anyone has anymore information about my grandpa's knife I'd love to hear it.

 

[mike Berkovitch]

This is a tuxedo knife, used for quills and pencil sharpening and very light cutting. I am not familiar with the CG company. Many of this kind of knives were made at the turn of the century and later by knife manufacturers in the US, Germany an England bearing tang stamps of merchant houses and hardware houses.
Here's a photo of one I have

Hope it gives some help.
Mike

 

[Seals]

Cool little knife and certainly a personal treasure.Most of those ive seen were German made.I bet if you polished up those bolsters they would be nickel silver.Could be brass,but all ive seen like that were N.S.Really cool Schrade Hunter too.

 

[LKJW]

A neat knife...even better history.

 

[NirreBosse]

Nice histoty. Now when Ive seen what he ddidnt use much Im curious what he used and for what?

Bosse

 

[WA Martin]

Cool little knife and certainly a personal treasure.Most of those ive seen were German made.I bet if you polished up those bolsters they would be nickel silver.Could be brass,but all ive seen like that were N.S.Really cool Schrade Hunter too.

Would really be something if they were nickle silver. I would actually prefer NS. What would you suggest to use to polish the bolsters, Don? The only things that come to mind are Brasso (not going on this knife!) or Flitz which I wonder if it is abrasive.

Tuxedo knife (thanks, Mike!) - Granny didn't remember any details about the knife but makes me wonder now if Grandpa had it when they got married or if it was something he picked up for one of their anniversaries as a dress up knife.

Mike - you said this is a tuxedo knife. Is that a particular pattern like an Eisenhower?

 

[Pipeman]

Would really be something if they were nickle silver. I would actually prefer NS. What would you suggest to use to polish the bolsters, Don? The only things that come to mind are Brasso (not going on this knife!) or Flitz which I wonder if it is abrasive.

Tuxedo knife (thanks, Mike!) - Granny didn't remember any details about the knife but makes me wonder now if Grandpa had it when they got married or if it was something he picked up for one of their anniversaries as a dress up knife.

Mike - you said this is a tuxedo knife. Is that a particular pattern like an Eisenhower?

I think the bolsters are nickle silver BUT I wouldn't use polish on them. I bit of gentle pocket carry will brighten them up without taking the character out of the knife. Pretty little pen with family history, congrats.

Regards

Robin

 

[Pipeman]

This is a tuxedo knife, used for quills and pencil sharpening and very light cutting. I am not familiar with the CG company. Many of this kind of knives were made at the turn of the century and later by knife manufacturers in the US, Germany an England bearing tang stamps of merchant houses and hardware houses.
Here's a photo of one I have

Hope it gives some help.
Mike

Hello Mike
That's a great pen you have there, is it marked? Here's one I have with pretty much the same treatment of the pearl scales. Mine is German and marked F.A. Koch and Co. I'm starting to love pens more and more. Just what I need, another field of collecting ;-)

Best regards

Robin

[/url][/IMG]

[/url][/IMG]

 

[junkfan04]

I love those little foriegn pearl handle folders. I usually polish my blades and bolsters with no harm coming to the knife. It makes the knife much more eye appealing, especially if you aren't going to carry it.

 

[Pipeman]

I love those little foriegn pearl handle folders. I usually polish my blades and bolsters with no harm coming to the knife. It makes the knife much more eye appealing, especially if you aren't going to carry it.

IMO the early German knives are of very high quality and a deal compared to similar American or British knives of similar quality.
I like to carry mst of my knives but I dropped he Morley whittler and cracked the scale ;-( So now all the pearls stay at home.

Bes regards

Robin

 

[mike Berkovitch]

Hello Mike
That's a great pen you have there, is it marked? Here's one I have with pretty much the same treatment of the pearl scales. Mine is German and marked F.A. Koch and Co. I'm starting to love pens more and more. Just what I need, another field of collecting ;-)

Robin, some great knives you have there.
My knife have tang stamp saying "Penn cutlery co. Sheffield" though due to shape and the fact that bolsters pin are visible it probably German origin and not Sheffield production.

I've got another one, tortoise shell scales with tang stamp of "Manhattan Cutlery Co." I found out that there were two knife makers acted under this brand during 19c.

I thought to start collecting those but at the moment I am holding myself

Mike

 

[Pipeman]

Robin, some great knives you have there.
My knife have tang stamp saying "Penn cutlery co. Sheffield" though due to shape and the fact that bolsters pin are visible it probably German origin and not Sheffield production.

I've got another one, tortoise shell scales with tang stamp of "Manhattan Cutlery Co." I found out that there were two knife makers acted under this brand during 19c.

I thought to start collecting those but at the moment I am holding myself

Mike

Hi Mike
Thanks for the info. Steel bolster pins petty much means German. It seems that many of the german makers did business with US importers but i always surprises me when a german knife was marked with a Sheffield mark. Love that little tortoise pen. Sooooo many patterns sooo little money ;-))
Best regards

Robin