Sold as-is. See photos and ask away. $30. I am new to this but will accept Checks, or Money order Sent to my address. Shipping Included to CONUS
This is a fairly scarce and very old split back whittler made in the USA. This was made by a company started by former Civil War vet Augustus Vignos... Novelty Cutlerly Company of Canton OH. This was the first company to offer good quality personalized or advertising knives before the turn of the century. The knife is dated one side "from Mother May 11, 1902" and was given to Anton Eng. I was able to find out much about the owner of this knife as follows (from a friend on this forum):
Anton B. Eng was born in Norway in May 1874(according to 1900 census) and with the knife inscription it must have been May 11th. His mother gave him the knife near Cameron, Wisconsin. His wife was named Lena and she was from Wisconsin. Prior to 1910 they went to Washington state where he had a career working in the logging industry and passed in Aberdeen, Washington State Sept 23, 1944. An interesting piece of 112 year old history. Did you find it in Washington or in you state of Oregon. Anyway, if found on West coast, that is how it got there. Anton's middle name was Bernhard( from his WWI draft registration) his wife was Lena with perhaps a maiden name of Evenson as in one census a nephew to Anton named Evenson was living with them. Anton and Lena had two children, Thelma in 1905 and Wallace in 1908. According to SSI death info Wallace died Sept 1961 in Portland and was buried in Aberdeen, Washington. So, perhaps, Wallace's first or second wife left the knife to a child or an estate in Portland.
So, the knife is very interesting and carries a few tales. The condition is as shown in the photos. and is very sharp actually. I hope this goes to a good home.
This is a fairly scarce and very old split back whittler made in the USA. This was made by a company started by former Civil War vet Augustus Vignos... Novelty Cutlerly Company of Canton OH. This was the first company to offer good quality personalized or advertising knives before the turn of the century. The knife is dated one side "from Mother May 11, 1902" and was given to Anton Eng. I was able to find out much about the owner of this knife as follows (from a friend on this forum):
Anton B. Eng was born in Norway in May 1874(according to 1900 census) and with the knife inscription it must have been May 11th. His mother gave him the knife near Cameron, Wisconsin. His wife was named Lena and she was from Wisconsin. Prior to 1910 they went to Washington state where he had a career working in the logging industry and passed in Aberdeen, Washington State Sept 23, 1944. An interesting piece of 112 year old history. Did you find it in Washington or in you state of Oregon. Anyway, if found on West coast, that is how it got there. Anton's middle name was Bernhard( from his WWI draft registration) his wife was Lena with perhaps a maiden name of Evenson as in one census a nephew to Anton named Evenson was living with them. Anton and Lena had two children, Thelma in 1905 and Wallace in 1908. According to SSI death info Wallace died Sept 1961 in Portland and was buried in Aberdeen, Washington. So, perhaps, Wallace's first or second wife left the knife to a child or an estate in Portland.
So, the knife is very interesting and carries a few tales. The condition is as shown in the photos. and is very sharp actually. I hope this goes to a good home.
yes, more history than most... great little knife