"Old Knives"

[JB in SC]

That little swayback whittler is a very attractive pattern.

 

[VCM3]

"Gunstock lobster" - now that's a pattern I was never aware of.

Vince - what about the Ulster stamp makes it post-Devine/'41?

Mike

P.s. 3 Ulster quicky pics...

Mike,a little stamp info....

"The old knife is stamped Ulster Knife Co. in "old " typeface.
The newer knife is blade etched "Ulster ", and the stamp simply reads " Made in U.S.A. ".
Some of the old ones were also stamped Ulster Knife Co. over N.Y. in the same " old " typeface. Some of the newer ones were also stamped ULSTER over U.S.A. where the ULSTER is a more modern block type letter like the USA you see on the newer knife"

-Vince

Mike,here is another "old stamp style" This is the farmers jack,posted in this thread

There is a lockback whittler,we posted,too,with an older stamp..this one

The newer "post Divine" stamp(knife in post 2132),is about 65 years old

 

[lambertiana]

fartsmella - love those Ulsters! Especially the pearl gunstock lobster.

 

[malextwo]

Vince - that's great. I think I may actually have an old stamp Ulster. If and when we get some sun out here in Vegas (believe it or not) I'll post a pic.

Thanx again,
Mike

 

[george65]

Nice Ulsters! :thumbup:

here's a Miller Bros. small jack (3 1/8") that looks like it's been put up for a while

 

[waynorth]

Just a beautiful specimen of Jack Knife, George!

 

[navihawk]

Incredible George.

 

[VCM3]

George,Thanks for adding that one,fantastic.
Mike,thanks for adding the Winchester Dog Leg (post#2129),another incredible find.
Beautiful "Old Knives"
-Vince

 

[VCM3]

Enjoy this one....

"3 3/4" closed Anglo Saxon pattern pen knife or half whittler to some. Nickel silver bolsters, barshield and rivets, brass lined, ivory hafted, fully sunk joints.The spear has a round tang while the pen's is square. Carried, sharpened, pitted and used. The Ibberson Co. was in business from around 1700 up into the 1980's in some form or another. The Ibberson firm was among the first to produce blades from stainless steel around 1915. This ( carbon steel ) example dates from approximately 1890 - 1920. The main spear is deeply swedged along almost it's full length both front and rear. They were well known for high quality pocket knives mostly hafted in pearl, tortoise, and ivory. The voilin stamp was first acquired and used in the 1880's. In later years, they used other markings. The Valentine Perth blade stamp remains unidentified to me. I have seen a few fixed blade knives so marked, but no one seems to know anything about the firm. Along with North America, Australia was a large market for Sheffield knives in the late 1800's and early 1900's. As with most vintage Sheffield knives with a long master blade, the extended brass catch bit serves as a blade stop to limit overtravel when snapping closed. A knife often carried and enjoyed."

 

[VCM3]

Here is the rest of them....

 

[Will Power]

Does Valentine Perth refer to a previous owner perhaps?

Very fine knife indeed, once again we are indebted to you for showing us a gem.

 

[Berkley]

Probably derived from The Fair Maid of Perth; or St. Valentine's Day by Sir Walter Scott. People actually used to read books, and understand references to them, in the long-ago time when Sheffield made fine pocket knives for the world.

 

[waynorth]

In a sea of elegant knives, let me introduce you to a plain old American Jack! Well, not completely plain; it does have a nickel shield as a sop to pride. But this was built for a working hand, to stand up to stuff more rigorous than opening the post, or trimming a fine cigar, although I'm sure it would achieve those tasks with alacrity.
At 4 5/16" it is no shrinking violet, and with dense blackwood handles, it has some serious heft to it.
It came to me with a few flakes of rust on it, easily shaved off with my handy-dandy 1/8" dental chisel. The chisel's steel is not hardened, and so it minimizes the risk of scratching the knife's tool steel.

It has many years of just wonderful patina, I suspect occasionally wiped with oil, because given its senior status, it is in remarkable shape. Maybe one of you knowledgeable viewers can age it closer, but Goins indicates 1915-1916.
I confess, I made a couple of passes on my diamond Ezelap, to hone the edge. It just seemed to demand it, as it looks so ready to work, even at its advanced age!!
Placing this knife next to a fine Sheffield penknife, I am sure a sociologist would have a comment or two. I kind of like the contrast. Both knives show good sides of the human condition.

Thought I'd add the knifemaker's view. Nearly straight distal tapers, especially the main blade!!

 

[Tony Bose]

Great old knife Charlie, I like them like that. Some one on another thread was questioning Ebony, looks like that one survived OK.

 

[sunnyd]

Great old knife Charlie, I like them like that. Some one on another thread was questioning Ebony, looks like that one survived OK.

I know for a fact from more than just a few old knives that have been passed my way with true Ebony wood scales that they can last several lifetimes if they are given even the most marginal care.. And will prevail much longer if they are actually taken care of.


Anthony

 

[ken erickson]

Thought I'd add the knifemaker's view. Nearly straight distal tapers, especially the main blade!!

I like when this view is added as it helps give the extra dimension that is missing from just a profile shot, Thanks!

This really is a nice old, tank

I can not really tell, are the bolsters and liners integral on this one? If so, would that help date the knife or?

Ken

 

[navihawk]

That ones incredible Waynorth. How do you do it?

 

[malextwo]

Great ol' timer, Charlie.

I found this split-back whittler at the Vegas show last Friday. We've finally been blessed with a little sun today so I grabbed a few pics. Not to be confused with Simmons, this Simonds Mfg. Co. knife dates between 1920-40 (Goins'98/pg.255).
Blade Length: Primary: Mdf. Clip 2.125”/Secondary: Pen: 1.375” /Tert: File: 1.375” (All stamped: “Simonds Mfg. Co.”)
Closed length: 3.25
Weight: 1.42 oz.
Scales: Bone
Blade Steel: Carbon
Half Stops: Blades #2&3

Don't see many shields like that 'eh? And, she's near mint.

Mike

 

[waynorth]

I like when this view is added as it helps give the extra dimension that is missing from just a profile shot, Thanks!

This really is a nice old, tank

I can not really tell, are the bolsters and liners integral on this one? If so, would that help date the knife or?

Ken

The bolsters are added on, Ken. And it IS a tank!!
I've been going through old threads and books, and I think the ca.1915-1916 era can't be far off.

Nice whittler malextwo.:thumbup:

 

[waynorth]

That ones incredible Waynorth. How do you do it?

It came from ebay! Someone (not bidding) pointed it out on another forum.
I couldn't NOT bid on it!! It cost half a day's wages.