Old English Jack knife

smiling-knife

smiling-knife

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Nov 11, 2006
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This traditional English Jack knife is 4.5 inches closed. Taylor's Eye Witness and the Eye were tademarks of the maker Needham, Veall and Tyzack. This knife has the same flush tang-bolster construction as shown in a previous thread. I believe this one dates from the late 1800s or very early 1900s.
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I'll wager that in a hundred years or more, smiling-knife's great-grandson (smiling-knife III) will be posting pictures of current Boses and Chamblins and Ruples and everyone will oohing and ahing over those fine "old" knives.:D
 
That's a cool old knife. Does anyone besides me think the logo is probably Masonic "all seeing eye" connected?
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Kerry Hampton said:
That's a cool old knife. Does anyone besides me think the logo is probably Masonic "all seeing eye" connected?
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Agreed. It also looks like a simplified (without all the secretive mathematical stuff) eye of horus to me. IMO, the line above the eye indicates this. But then, I believe that the original Egyptian design is what the Masonic symbol was originally based upon.
 
Thanks for the responses everyone. I don't know about any masonic connections. I'll see if I can find some history on the mark.

I'm not familiar with the term 'stove pipe' kick so here is a photo and I am interested in what you have to say Tony. Thanks
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This is my Loewen Messer:

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It has a similar kick. I posted this picture on the BRL forum. Bernard says this is the result of a reshaped blade. He thinks the blade was wider originally (possibly hawkbill). When it got reshaped, the point sticked out and they had to change the kick. (he also added that the handle shape didn't match with the spear blade)

This all sounds very convincing to me.

Maybe your master blade kick has been reshaped a bit too? Part of the Sheffield "S" seems to be gone.

(btw, i just went out to buy some mineral oil so i can finally give that old knife what it deserves...)
 
Thanks for the reply zeppos. Everything seems to fit well. The blade shape and flush tang/bolster construction are consistent with jack knives of this period and the kick does not appear to be reshaped at least not recently, but I can't rule out your hypothesis.
 
Thanks very much Blues.

According to Tweedale (1995) John Taylor was granted the Eye Witness trademark in 1838. The proposed origin is Shakespeare's line from King Henry IV 'no eye hath seen better' Thomas Needham acquired Taylor's name and trademarks in 1856. By the late 1870s he joined with Messrs Veall and Tyzack and this company made Taylor's Eye Witness Knives well into the 20th cent.
 
smiling-knife said:
Thanks very much Blues.

According to Tweedale (1995) John Taylor was granted the Eye Witness trademark in 1838. The proposed origin is Shakespeare's line from King Henry IV 'no eye hath seen better' Thomas Needham acquired Taylor's name and trademarks in 1856. By the late 1870s he joined with Messrs Veall and Tyzack and this company made Taylor's Eye Witness Knives well into the 20th cent.
Click to expand...

That's interesting info and a great find.
 
After a difficult and unpleasant week-just been diagnosed with glaucoma so who knows IF I can see any knives at all... Really cheers me up to be able to see some very attractive antique knives that still could be users:thumbup:

Isn't Taylor's Eye witness still in production? Bet the quality isn't there for sure.
 
Thanks for the responses guys. Harrison Fisher acquired the Taylors Eyewitness brand in 1975 and were still using it in the 1990s. I've seen recent knives with the name but do not know who makes them now. I will investigate further.
 
That kick hasn't been reshaped, thats a stove pipe kick. They were common on old English knives, I've seen a lot of them. Look at some of the old catalogs you'll see them everywhere in it especially pruners and jack knives like that one. By the way I really like that old knife. If only they could talk.
 
Thanks very much Tony. I know what you mean. I am sure there are some very interesting stories associated with this one.
 
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