- Joined
- May 26, 2010
- Messages
- 2,872
Went to a gun show today and as usual many tables have boxes of $1, $2 knives etc. I usually do not go through them but today for some reason I did. Five minutes of pawing, careful with the fingers, and $2 later netted these:
3 3/8"
Hofritz Gents Knife, for lack of a better term, it has a definite carpenters motif. Embossing is nice a clean and on both sides, wonderful snap, and quite solid in all regards. I do not think it very old but it certainly is nicely constructed. It appears to have iron pins which is a shame. Blades do not appear to have ever been sharpened but it is extra sharp. Anybody have any idea what these might have sold for or how old?
3 1/2"
Pipe Knife
Again, I do not think it very old but extremely well constructed. I guess the maker knew pipe smoking requires constant fiddling and a good knife was in order. I know that the tang stamp IRCO indicates it was made for Iwan Ries & Co., the oldest tobacconist in Chicago, and oldest family owned in the US. Five continuous generations since 1857. Completely recommend a stop there if ever in Chicago with some time to kill. It is on Wabash in the Loop. I believe our British friends would call it 'Bespoke'. I have frequented this establishment many times and was quite happy to acquire this one. I missed taking a pic of the other tang stamp indicating Sheffield England. I really got a kick out of the "Oil The Joints" tang stamp on a Pipe knife!
3 3/8"
Hofritz Gents Knife, for lack of a better term, it has a definite carpenters motif. Embossing is nice a clean and on both sides, wonderful snap, and quite solid in all regards. I do not think it very old but it certainly is nicely constructed. It appears to have iron pins which is a shame. Blades do not appear to have ever been sharpened but it is extra sharp. Anybody have any idea what these might have sold for or how old?
3 1/2"
Pipe Knife
Again, I do not think it very old but extremely well constructed. I guess the maker knew pipe smoking requires constant fiddling and a good knife was in order. I know that the tang stamp IRCO indicates it was made for Iwan Ries & Co., the oldest tobacconist in Chicago, and oldest family owned in the US. Five continuous generations since 1857. Completely recommend a stop there if ever in Chicago with some time to kill. It is on Wabash in the Loop. I believe our British friends would call it 'Bespoke'. I have frequented this establishment many times and was quite happy to acquire this one. I missed taking a pic of the other tang stamp indicating Sheffield England. I really got a kick out of the "Oil The Joints" tang stamp on a Pipe knife!
