Old Champagne Knife

smiling-knife · Feb 15, 2009

Along with pocket knives, I like antique corkscrews and other wine related items. This is a mid to late 1800s Champagne knife. It was used for cutting the wire that held the champagne cork. The brush was for dusting-off the bottles from the cellar. R Timmins & Sons was a tool maker in Birmingham. Thanks for looking.

waynorth · Feb 15, 2009

Very interesting tool s-k. Of course, you don't normally use a corkscrew to open Champagne, so that tool provides all you need . . . . . .except a nice glass or two!
Thanks for showing it!!

Rusty1 · Feb 15, 2009

Very neat looking tool s-k, super pics of of a piece of yesteryear, thank you for posting the images.

Russell

stockman242 · Feb 15, 2009

Now that has to be one of the oddest tools ever shown here.
Very interesting to say the least. :thumbup:

Peter

jackknife · Feb 15, 2009

And another nice viewing from the secret Sheffield cave!

Very nice.:thumbup:

VCM3 · Feb 15, 2009

That is really cool,Thanks for showing it :thumbup: The bottle duster reminds me of a mushroom knife,some have a brush too.
-Vince

waynorth · Feb 15, 2009

VCM3 said:
That is really cool,Thanks for showing it :thumbup: The bottle duster reminds me of a mushroom knife,some have a brush too.
-Vince

That calls for a pic of a mushroom knife, Vince.

Makes me think; has anyone ever started a thread about traditional chef's/cooking/food-prep/eating knives??

VCM3 · Feb 15, 2009

waynorth said:
That calls for a pic of a mushroom knife, Vince.
Makes me think; has anyone ever started a thread about traditional chef's/cooking/food-prep/eating knives??

Well,I do not own one ,but I borrowed this from World Knives

Apologies if this discussion of the brush on your knife S-K ,became a hi jack
-Vince

sunnyd · Feb 15, 2009

Wow, what a cool tool S-K! I always enjoy your items and the fact I get a bit of history to boot is always such a nice bonus as well! :thumbup:

Anthony

ps(Vince, thanks for your contribution too.)

VCM3 · Feb 15, 2009

I think that Champagne knife should be added to the "Old Knives" thread.
-Vince

sunnyd · Feb 15, 2009

VCM3 said:
I think that Champagne knife should be added to the "Old Knives" thread.
-Vince

+1, Wholeheartedly agreed! :thumbup:

smiling-knife · Feb 16, 2009

Thanks very much to everyone for their positive comments. I'm glad you enjoy the Champagne knife. I added it to the old knife thread as suggested by Vince and seconded by sunnyd.

smiling-knife · Feb 17, 2009

Here are few more items along similar lines that I hope may be of interest. All originate from the 1800s and have a cutting blade of some sort.

This is a Henckels with corkscrew, fixed-blade and brush.

This Champagne tool has a short cutting edge on the handle bottom left, wire cutters for the cage, and a gripper in the middle for removing the cork.

This pocket tool has a foil/wax cutter and corkscrew. Rather than a spring, it has a toothed-hinge system that locks the attachments into the open and closed position. These come in many tool combinations including hoof picks and button hooks.

Ok... I admit that this one has no blade.

This is an early waiter friend with buffalo scales stamped patent Aug 21, 1883. The same general pattern exist to this day.

This one made by Christopher Johnson is called a 'Champagne Corkscrew' because of the wire cutting blade at the end of the lever attachement. The corkscrew for wine only.

All comments greatly appreciated. Thanks for looking.

VCM3 · Feb 17, 2009

s-k , those are really ,reall great. I'm sitting here typing,surrounded by vinyards & wineries & I can't help to think,how all those,or similar,compiled in a display,would look,in one of thier tasting rooms.
-Vince