"Old Knives"

Great Knife Jason! I love the profile of the spear master. Here are two Harness Jacks, Schrade Cut Co 3-3/8" and a Challenge 3 5/8" with the Alvord punch.
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"Here's one you don't see every day. 4 3/4" closed, all ivory, G crown R... George the 4th 1820 - 1830.
This wasn't made after about this time. No room on the tang for Sheffield, so they stamped it lengthwise on the blade itself, it's hard to see in the scan. Still has good snap and a half stop. Someone used it a lot, you can tell because the ivory has that glass smooth surface that's not from polishing, but from handling. I use it to open mail all the time. That tiny blade is hollow ground and just like a little scalpel."







 
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flatblackcapo said:
VCM3,that is very nice knife.What was the original use for this type of knife?
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" It was used for the cutting and shaping of the tip of a large bird's ( usually goose or swan ) primary flight feather for writing with ink prior to the invention of dip pens and all the more modern types of writing instruments that have followed hence. The large, flat, tapered, fixed ivory blade on the opposite end was, and still is an effective letter opener. Some used the letter opener end as a bookmark as well, as the knife is extremely light. "
 
In the printing industry’s early days, and well into the 20th century, books were created in the following way: a number of pages (generally in multiples of four or eight) were printed on the front and back (recto and verso) of a large sheet of paper, which was then folded once, twice, three times, or more, depending on the number of pages to be printed (this also determined the eventual size of the book). The folded and gathered pages created from a single initial sheet are collectively a signature.

After printing, the edges of a book’s signatures would either be cut at the bindery before the signatures were bound together, or the book would be bound and sold with “unopened” pages, so that readers would slice each page open with a paper knife as they read.
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That is some good info. that goes with that piece Thanks
 
dma1965 said:
I was on "the bay" and found a nice Robeson jack with a ridiculously low "buy it now" price, and took the plunge. When I got it my mouth just dropped open. Here it is after some cleaning up:

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Some research shows me that it was made between 1910 and 1920. The blades are nearly full. The pen blade had a bit of an issue near the tip, but I re-shaped it with a diamond stone. The walk and talk on this knife is simply astonishing. It has LOUD snaps at the half and full open positions, and snaps shut like a bear trap. The blades do not have even the slightest hint of wobble. I am quite certain I could pry open a car door with this knife. I have never seen anything that comes close to this level of quality and robustness. I have been carrying it and using it with impunity. It is around 100 years old and is likely to be around another 100 years.
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I'm new here and have years of reading to catch up on :) but I just had to say, this knife of yours is beautiful! I've never had a teardrop jack, just became interested/aware of the pattern a few weeks ago. I ordered one of the new Colt models so I could have the pattern in hand and see how it feels for only $10. If I like it, that knife of yours right there is what I imagine I'll be saving up for and hunting down. Thanks for sharing that.
 
Wow, so much reading to do in this thread alone for a new guy, never mind the rest of the site! You people sure know how to enable a habit. I thought I'd share what is in my pocket today, hopefully it is old enough to count in this thread. Ulster scout pattern, I picked it up a year ago. It was cleaned up quite shiny then:

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After spending the last year in my pocket, it has earned it's patina:

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I have a lot of knives but don't really consider myself a collector, since I buy them all to use. But I found this old ad from 1951 showing my knife, so I'm guessing it's from the 50's or 60's.

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Thanks for a great thread. I didn't just want to be a lurker.
 
OOOHHH! WornBone, Shield, Longpull and a very long decent Sheepfoot. Yes, it has it all, masterclass!

Thanks, Will
 
willgoy said:
OOOHHH! WornBone, Shield, Longpull and a very long decent Sheepfoot. Yes, it has it all, masterclass!

Thanks, Will
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Your comment made me smile, Will. Thanks :D

mike Berkovitch said:
Very nice Gev. My kind of knife, what's the closed length? can you post photo with the second blade open?
Thanks, Mike
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I thought you would like that one, Mike. The closed length is 3 & 5/16ths. The walk and talk is very strong and smooth. Half stops too.

Note the "demarcations" {?} toward the tang, on the small blade. They are much more visible under higher magnification.

It was about to rain, so just two quick pictures for you, Mike



 
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