How Old Can You Go?

[sgbeskin]

I have a Camillus jack knife made in 1900. Still looks great. I carry it from time to time.

 

[smiling-knife]

I think I may win this as far as the oldest folder. This Sheffield barlow is from the late 18th to early 19th century. It was made no later than 1819. I got it at quite a steal too.

Very interesting knife rivit. Have you deciphered the marks? Thanks in advance.

 

[Arathol]

Arathol, that Sheffield Wharncliffe is one of the nicest knives I've seen.How long have you had it and was it expensive?
About time somebody made a repro of that one! (Bark River maybe...?)

Haven't had it that long, a couple months maybe. I found it on ebay. Not a lot of interest was shown, got it for under $60. Its a nice little knife, good quality construction. Case used to make somethimg similiar, a 3 blade whittler about the same size. The Case Classics line used the pattern, the one I have is marked 630053.

I have a Camillus jack knife made in 1900. Still looks great. I carry it from time to time.

Post a picture of that if you can. I'd like a look at that one. What are the markings on the knife?

 

[smiling-knife]

That G Buttler & Co wharncliffe is very sweet. Nice find.

 

[Ebbtide]

Cool stuff all!
My oldest is probably my WW1 Pioneer Bayonet.
It's the sawback model on the right.

Anything else is a couple of decades newer

 

[Nukemkb]

great thread!!

 

[Rivit]

S-K, I have no idea who made the knife. The mark doesn't seen to be in any of the registries I have checked. I am going to see the dealer I got it from this next weekend, and he says he has more old Sheffield knives for me, hopefully from the same period.

 

[T. Erdelyi]

Late 1800s for my oldest, but the majority sit between the 1940s - the 1970s with a few in the early 1920s.

To me any production knife made after the 1st WW is considered to be a modern pocket knife.

 

[Jeff Clark]

I have several US WWI knuckleduster trench knives, both the triangular blade and double-edged styles. I also have one of the early 1900's style Collins machetes. I have quite a few old slip-joint pocket knives that I haven't bothered to date. I have quite a few WWII vintage combat knives.

 

[Will Power]

Any pix of those WW1 knives?

 

[ea42]

Here's a Camillus easy open jack, the vintage on this one totally escapes me:

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And four Walden Knife Co pre-1920 examples:

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Eric

 

[waynorth]

You have some nice vintage knives, Eric! Are those magnets I see behind some of your knives??

 

[Jeff Clark]

I don't have a handy picture of my WWI trench knives off by themselves. Here is an image link to an equivalent set.

 

[ea42]

Charlie,
Thanks! Yes they're magnets, although I've since replaced them with rare earth magnets thanks to your suggestion. Nice and small so you can't see em, plus I got the little felt pads to protect the blades.

Eric

 

[surfer]

great thread!!!
I think my oldest is a WW2 german fightingknife called "Infanteriemesser 42".
and I have a totally destroyed slippie with horn scales and bladeplay of about 1", walk and talk of a chewing gum that could be even older.

I really would like to get an old spanish navaja, 2 feet long, from 19th century..

 

[waynorth]

From the middle 1880's most likely, bought in Kentucky by a friend, and sent to me. It is accompanied by an envelope, found by another friend, and sent to me from Rhode Island, this is a La Belle barlow made in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Short lived company, Goins says 1884-1891, so probably rare!

 

[ea42]

Charlie,
That is VERY nice! And in excellent condition of course . They were known as Frary and Son from 1881 to 1884- now you'll have to collect one with that tang too (does it ever end?!?)

Eric

 

[muskrat man]

a couple I-XLs from the late 1800's

a splitback whittler with real ivory

bone congress

celluloid or ivory (not sure) office knife

mid 1800's levigne

 

[smiling-knife]

Great set of old knives. MM. Thanks for showing them.

 

[waynorth]

Charlie,
That is VERY nice! And in excellent condition of course . They were known as Frary and Son from 1881 to 1884- now you'll have to collect one with that tang too (does it ever end?!?)

Eric

I'm beginning to think it never does end, but I'm enjoying the ride!!