"Old Knives"

Thanks. That one was done under the label of Federal Knife Co. Syracuse, NY. Here's another shot of it for your viewing pleasure. :D

FederalKnifeCojack.jpg
 
There was only one knife in the market today, but I scooped it up. Hoping it's a sign spring is on the way ;)









 
Ah, the first knife of spring......


I don't know why the lambs foot is such a rare bird in North America, but you've got me looking for them :)
 
r8shell said:
I don't know why the lambs foot is such a rare bird in North America, but you've got me looking for them :)
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It's very strange, one of the most popular English patterns of all-time, which for some reason doesn't appear to have crossed the Atlantic.
 
Jack Black said:
It's very strange, one of the most popular English patterns of all-time, which for some reason doesn't appear to have crossed the Atlantic.
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Us colonials were always fighting over something and a lambsfoot is a poor "sticker".... :D
 
Jack Black said:
There was only one knife in the market today, but I scooped it up. Hoping it's a sign spring is on the way ;)

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Jack, I know Saynor made a lot of horticultural knives so was this knife likely just for their better customers possibly or were they into making advertising knives as well. I don't recall ever seeing any. I don't see England anywhere. Is it hiding on the lower part of the tang? If not that may make it quite old and in very high condition for its age.
 
SAK Guy said:
Us colonials were always fighting over something and a lambsfoot is a poor "sticker".... :D
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:D :thumbup:

Carl posted a good thread on the subject a while back: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...foot-and-the-spear-American-and-English-taste

ptradeco said:
Jack, I know Saynor made a lot of horticultural knives so was this knife likely just for their better customers possibly or were they into making advertising knives as well. I don't recall ever seeing any. I don't see England anywhere. Is it hiding on the lower part of the tang? If not that may make it quite old and in very high condition for its age.
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I've only conducted a rudimentary search Brad, but I haven't turned up another like this yet. My guess would be the knife was stamped in Sheffield, but I guess it could have been done in Birmingham. Perhaps for Simpson's better customers or for their reps. No, there's no 'England' on the blade, and it still snaps open like a bank-vault :)
 
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I've only conducted a rudimentary search Brad, but I haven't turned up another like this yet. My guess would be the knife was stamped in Sheffield, but I guess it could have been done in Birmingham. Perhaps for Simpson's better customers or for their reps. No, there's no 'England' on the blade, and it still snaps open like a bank-vault :)
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As I understand such things, which means little, that lack of England means one of two things. Made before 1890 or made with the intention that these would never head for the US. What I have read indicates virtually all Sheffield makers went ahead and put England on everything whether they intended to export or not. As I said earlier though I have never seen a Saynor advertising knife so maybe they were intended to stay in England.

Short answer, nice knife!
 
Jack Black said:
There was only one knife in the market today, but I scooped it up. Hoping it's a sign spring is on the way ;)









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Nice knife Jack- and what I would deem as a great score!
Interesting discussion between Brad and yourself about this very nice knife.

Looking at the typeface of the stamping- this would most probably indicate pre 1890?
Man I like that knife- well done my friend!
 
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ptradeco said:
As I understand such things, which means little, that lack of England means one of two things. Made before 1890 or made with the intention that these would never head for the US. What I have read indicates virtually all Sheffield makers went ahead and put England on everything whether they intended to export or not. As I said earlier though I have never seen a Saynor advertising knife so maybe they were intended to stay in England.

Short answer, nice knife!
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Thanks, what do you make of the steel used for the scales? I might see what I can find out about W H Simpson & Sons

Campbellclanman said:
Nice knife Jack- and what I would deem as a great score!
Interesting discussion between Brad and yourself about this very nice knife.

Looking at the typeface of the stamping- this would most probably indicate pre 1890?
Man I like that knife- well done my friend!
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Thanks Duncan :)

Gevonovich said:
Oh no!! Does this mean the end of the Quest! I believe it does as this is a budding treasure!!!!
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It's a nice knife, but I don't believe our Aussie fireman friend is an avid gardener. Not the right kind of knife IMO, I'm looking for something altogether more robust, and hopefully historic :)

scrteened porch said:
It's at least as good as a sheepsfoot for sticking.
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Indeed :D
 
Jack Black said:
Thanks, what do you make of the steel used for the scales? I might see what I can find out about W H Simpson & Sons



Thanks Duncan :)



It's a nice knife, but I don't believe our Aussie fireman friend is an avid gardener. Not the right kind of knife IMO, I'm looking for something altogether more robust, and hopefully historic :)



Indeed :D
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Jack the scales are an issue from their appearance as far as being 1890 or older. Stainless was not yet around and aluminum was still almost a precious metal and not widely available. Could it be silver? Unlikely, but from the pictures it is hard to tell other than oxidation does not seem to have been an issue except for what appears to be a bit of electrolysis around the pins. Nickel silver maybe?
 
I'd say nickel silver for the scales too. The appear very similar to many other advertising knives from the late 1800s-early 1900s

P1030915x.jpg

P1030918x.jpg
 
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