Miller Bros. Quality UPDATE

B

BenHarris

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Apr 30, 2014
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I've been looking at a vintage Miller Bros. Lobster knife, and I was wanting to hear the quality of these old knives before pouncing on it. What experience do y'all have with these?

It arrived today! The bail was in such bad shape, I ended up taking it off. This is a TINY knife! Still, the quality is excellent, and I am very surprised at how nice this knife is to be as old as it probably is, and for how small it is.

Here's what it looks like with an old ivory IXL. I think it makes a nice pair!
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Here it is compared to a Case Peanut for some scale.

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I am not familiar with that maker, but here is some information that might be useful:
 
Awesome knives as a rule, very well made. Of course, dealing with vintage knives is never without risk. A solid Miller is about as good as it gets and well worth seeking out.
 
blademan 13 said:
Awesome knives as a rule, very well made. Of course, dealing with vintage knives is never without risk. A solid Miller is about as good as it gets and well worth seeking out.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Quality maker, but condition is everything.
 
I recently used Miller Bros as an example of a company well known for making high quality knives. I don't remember the OP's forum name... maybe it was you... or maybe a coincidence. As with anything, generalizations can be misleading. Many companies make a range of knives at difference prices. Also every company makes a dud every now and then. Also, even high quality knives can become junkers after 100 years.

Miller Bros made knives with their own brand as well as stamped for companies like Maher & Grosh. Both brands were known for quality. One of my favorites is the surveyor pattern. Some of the knives were made with exposed springs like normal knives. Some had hidden springs. In my experience the knives with the exposed springs are better. At one time I knew the history but I've forgotten it and would need to look it up. The hidden spring knives may have been a more economical version but I don't remember for sure. Anyway... this is just an example of how generalizations can be misleading. The same applies to pretty much anything.

I may have been watching that lobster auction if it is the one that closed recently. I would have liked to have seen better photos but it looked like a nice knife. Although lobsters were originally very expensive patterns, they don't typically go for very high values today. Big knives seem to be more popular. Did you buy that knife? Would love to see more photos when you get it.


Here's a photo showing some surveyors and one has a hidden spring...

 
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Just be sure it is a vintage Miller Bros. I think (?) Taylor is using that name now of some of his knives.
Rich
 
I have two bone and one dark wood, all with the screws. The wood one had more lint in it than any other knife I've ever raked out, and one pair of screws was pocket-worn till the slots are visible only under magnification. So it was somebody's edc for a very long time, and it still has most of its blade.
 
Well, it looks like I won the auction on the e-(offshoot-of-the-ocean)! I'll get up pictures when it gets to me...
 
Hadn't seen that one. Maybe I missed it since it's only 2" closed. ;) I had been watching the auction for the 4-blade with pearl covers.

The blade looks full and doesn't look like it had been sharpened.
 
That is a small knife! As mentioned above the blade looks full, could be a nice pick up:thumbup:
 
Nice knife, and Miller Bros. did produce fine knives. Be careful with it, the Lobster patterns of the day are hard to find without a broken spring...
 
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