"Old Knives"

Hibbard Spencer & Bartlett OVB with Patina ;)

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Campbellclanman said:
Ken, that Sheffield is a stunner, A beautiful and typical mid to late 1800's knife ( imo) I had a look through Goins, and the 1st Edition of Tweedales and of course Wragg is very well known, but I found nothing on Hornby and Wragg, I do believe that 2nd edition of Tweedales Sheffield Knife Book is much improved with lots more Cutlers listed, so hopefully someone has this edition to help.
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Wow , do you think it's that old .
I have struggled to find out anything about Hornby & Wragg in any searches I've tried .
If anyone has a clue or knowledge of this company or my particular knife I'd love to hear from you .
This knife has grabbed my attention more than any other and will be my constant companion . My knives have to work to earn their keep , so it is going to get sharpened today and will start its new life of " Work hard , Play hard " :)


Ken
 
just sharing BUT Can we please play "guess the handle material"? i think you all have seen enough to know more than i... it looks like wood, it looks liker bone, it looks like petrified wood.... any thoughts? i think this is the best thread because if no one knows then let's just say i'm sharing my new find with mystery scales ;)
UPDATE: looks like it's Snakeskin Stag. I'm glad I know because if I see it again I'll remember why I found it different and attractive
 

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AccuJohn said:
just sharing BUT Can we please play "guess the handle material"? i think you all have seen enough to know more than i... it looks like wood, it looks liker bone, it looks like petrified wood.... any thoughts? i think this is the best thread because if no one knows then let's just say i'm sharing my new find with mystery scales ;)
UPDATE: looks like it's Snakeskin Stag. I'm glad I know because if I see it again I'll remember why I found it different and attractive
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Nice knife John! :thumbup:

Looks like Stag from the color consistency on both handles IMO.
 
I've seen many names for roughly the same thing. I think i'll call it snakeskin popcorn european pressed stag.
 
I believe it is pressed stag,sometimes called popcorn stag.

Here's Wostenholm's version
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Although a little pocket worn,JA Henckels
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I found a Kutmaster Muskrat in an antique shop last weekend. I thought the handles were bone and might be worth cleaning up, so I paid the $8.50 for it.:)





Lots of little cracks and rust and some nasty stuff caked in the jigging. :barf: Blades sharpened up to the thick stock.

The more I cleaned it up, the more I was sure it was Delrin.




I kept changing my mind on it, so I did a little test (scrape off a tiny sliver, burn it, and it smells like hair) So it is bone. Not that I recommend such destructive testing, but the nice thing about old wrecks is I just don't worry too much about messing them up. I know whatever I do, it'll look better when I'm done with it than when I got it.
I did a bit of reading about Kutmasters, and assuming I'm right, it dates from 1937 to 1959. I just love carrying knives that are older than I am.
 
Lyle... just absolute stunners - beautiful!!!


I thought that Popcorn Stag was natural Stag that was quite a "knarly" Stag, not pressed?

That Bone on the Kutmaster is gorgeous! R8shell a beauty thats been well loved and used!
 
Campbellclanman said:
Lyle... just absolute stunners - beautiful!!!
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I am with Mr. Campbellclanman on his evaluation Mr. Lyle! :thumbup::)

r8shell said:
so I did a little test (scrape off a tiny sliver, burn it, and it smells like hair) So it is bone. I just love carrying knives that are older than I am.
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Rachel,
Nice nice find! You left me wondering what it would smell like if it was Delrin? I have yet to try such tests. :confused::rolleyes::cool:

The center pin crack made me think it was more likely bone - what say you? I also love to carry knives older than me - it just seems harder to do every passing year. :D

That is an awfully handsome knife for $8.50 - lot of character in those old blades. :thumbup::)
 
Thanks, Primble & Duncan. Looking for salvageable old knives like this is a part of the collecting/tinkering hobby I really enjoy.

I assume Delrin would smell like burning plastic, or some kind of chemical smell. And I hear celluloid burns in a flash :eek: That crack at the center pin made me think it was bone when I bought it, though I believe some plastics can get brittle and crack, too. I hope that chunk doesn't come off. I don't know if it's better to leave it alone, or try to stabilize it with a little epoxy.
 
Campbellclanman said:
Lyle... just absolute stunners - beautiful!!!


I thought that Popcorn Stag was natural Stag that was quite a "knarly" Stag, not pressed?

That Bone on the Kutmaster is gorgeous! R8shell a beauty thats been well loved and used!
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I have heard both interpretations Duncan,but misused often for pressed stag.The distinction is very often not made.

Thanks fellows for looking and the nice comments.
 
r8shell said:
Thanks, Primble & Duncan. Looking for salvageable old knives like this is a part of the collecting/tinkering hobby I really enjoy.

I assume Delrin would smell like burning plastic, or some kind of chemical smell. And I hear celluloid burns in a flash :eek: That crack at the center pin made me think it was bone when I bought it, though I believe some plastics can get brittle and crack, too. I hope that chunk doesn't come off. I don't know if it's better to leave it alone, or try to stabilize it with a little epoxy.
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Yes, it is a nice bone and the knife looks very interesting with these blades, or what left of them. It a great feeling carrying a vintage knife in your pocket. Personally I would have stabilize the crack so I will not have to worry about loosing a piece of the bone.
Mike
 
I like that worn bone on your knife, Rachel. Good, honest age.


Here is a Renown, Sheffield that i picked up in trade from a member for some work I did. The bone is crazy nice, and the spring is a real knuckle breaker, but awesome!



 
glennbad said:
Here is a Renown, Sheffield that i picked up in trade from a member for some work I did. The bone is crazy nice, and the spring is a real knuckle breaker, but awesome!
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Sweet old knife Glenn - that bone color is wonderful! :thumbup::)
 
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