Old Ivory

smiling-knife

smiling-knife

Joined
Nov 11, 2006
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2,697
This little ivory-handled pen knife has a button hook instead of a second blade. You don't see many button hooks these days. Unfortunately, I can't make out the name of the maker William... ?. My best guess on the middle letters is eltern, but it is difficult to tell. The hook is marked Joseph Haywood & Comp Sheffield. Goins list this company as being in business 1850-1869. It was not unusual for some smaller knife companys to buy in attachments that they did not normally make like corkscrews and hooks from other makers. If you have any additional information, as always, it will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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Boy that's a nice one. The ivory just glows; and the blades are very full! Thanks s-k.
 
They didn't have zippers or reliable elastic way back in those days -- so they used a lot of buttons instead (and it was part of the style -- so they usually used a lot more buttons than they really needed, often really small buttons). A buttonhook this small would have been used for gloves, and cuffs, and other smaller items. Possibly for shoes in a pinch, I suppose. You insert the hook thru the buttonhole, then hook the button and pull it thru - bingo. Repeat as needed.

-- Dwight
 
One of the common uses for a button hook in the 19th century was buttoning corsets. Well-to-do ladies (and some gents too) wore them to maintain a "proper shape". They had servants that helped them dress, and part of the process was securing the rows of tiny buttons that held the thing together. Doing it with the fingers was a tedious process, it went a lot quicker with a proper hook.
 
Ah, the tools of a different time. Great knife S-K. Neat layout and that ivory does indeed glow, as Charlie pointed out. You always put up some great knives from times when these different tools were a regular part of daily life.
 
One of the great things about kife shows is that there are a few dealers specializing in such knives, and most of them aren't too expensive. I usually have to spend a couple of hours fingering and handling that old stuff, and try to walk out with one or two "new" (to me) ones....

I had also wondered what the hell the buttonhook was used for. My brother had gone to the Denver knife show and gotten me a Sheffield mutiblade with a buttonhook, and curious fellow that he is, demanded a demo, which the dealer was happy to do. So now I know. It'll come inhandy when the old arth-u-ri-tis sets in.:D
 
Super vintage knife S~K! Can always count on you to show us prime examples of the great old knives of days gone by.. waynorth an Amos Iron Wolf are right on with that ivory, those scales shine like a new penny.. I just love that tea kettle stamp on the tang of that button hook tool!. Just a splendid example of an upscale 19th century pen knife..:thumbup:
 
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