"Old Knives"

blademan 13 said:
Wonderful knives. #1 is a real treat seeing as I am partial to vintage pearls. #3 is a sweet knife as well with a couple observations. The 4th pin is obviously where the shield should've/would've/could've been and the real answer might never be known? I also find the blade selection on this one curious with a spear master and dual pens? I don't remember ever seeing one like that?
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Its actually tough to tell if the extra pin was a fix to a loose handle or if the handle has been completely replaced. The wood is quite similar so we may never know if it had a shield or not. Your suggestion that the pin was put into where the shield was secured seems like a good one, though!
 
Enjoyed seeing the Challenge knives, David. Some really nice knives in here of late. I don't always post my appreciation for each but thanks to all.
 
Jack Black said:
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A similar knife and an illustration from Dominique Pascale’s book Couteaux de Poche.
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Neat knife!

I have the same book but my French is poor so I've only skimmed it. It has some nice photos.
 
Well Done Jack - and to find a pic of the knife is just awesome!!

Fantastic knives being shown, and like Mike says, I dont get on here much during the week - but I am extremely grateful to you guys who share these lovely knives for us to take pleasure in viewing!
 
Great score Jack Black. (For some reason I thought your other thread was on kitchen knives so I never checked it out. Some other nice one there as well.) I really like the shield and tiny matchstrike teeth.
 
Campbellclanman said:
Well Done Jack - and to find a pic of the knife is just awesome!!
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Thanks Duncan, I know little about French knives, but the internet can be a useful research tool :)

Mike Robuck said:
Great score Jack Black. (For some reason I thought your other thread was on kitchen knives so I never checked it out. Some other nice one there as well.) I really like the shield and tiny matchstrike teeth.
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Thanks Mike, I have to clear my kitchen table quite regularly, a rather unimaginitive title I'm afraid :o The shield is not inlaid, but sits on the horn, it's silver I believe :)
 
smiling-knife said:
Great knife Jack. I think French knives are often overlooked. Congrats for finding and thanks for showing this one. :-)
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Many thanks my friend. It would certainly be nice to come across more old French knives :)
 
Great knives posted all, I like the French knives too wish I had a few. Here is a little Sheffield set I picked up not long ago. In the picture with the blades open the instrument on the bottom and the 2 knives on the top are marked Wells Strand, At one time I had a 5 blade beauty marked BB Wells Strand and this might be the same maker. Not sure what the set was made for so if anyone has a clue let me know. I believe they are all handled in bone. No markings on the other 2 knives or the needle, awl and corkscrew.






 
Benjamin Blake Wells was a London cutler in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The company had premises 138 and 431 Strand London. The little pointy piece is one part of the peg and worm corkscrew. It appears a little shortened. It would fit through the hole at the top of the corkscrew to form a T. It is for opening small bottles such as those containing perfume or medicine. The top knife may be a sewing knife. I think this mix of various items is very interesting. Thanks for posting it.
 
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Fantastic set Galvanic. Is the set Ivory? Whatever it may be it is so interesting and each individual tool/knife is just great to look at. Nice score.
 
galvanic1882 said:
Great knives posted all, I like the French knives too wish I had a few. Here is a little Sheffield set I picked up not long ago. In the picture with the blades open the instrument on the bottom and the 2 knives on the top are marked Wells Strand, At one time I had a 5 blade beauty marked BB Wells Strand and this might be the same maker. Not sure what the set was made for so if anyone has a clue let me know. I believe they are all handled in bone. No markings on the other 2 knives or the needle, awl and corkscrew.
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Might I suggest that you post these pics in the Bernard Levine Knife Collecting and Identification Forum? There are many extremely knowledgeable folks there who do not often visit the Traditional Forum. They might recognize the purpose. You might even entice Bernard to post. I note that he logs in sometimes but seldom posts these days.
 
Campbellclanman said:
Fantastic set Galvanic. Is the set Ivory? Whatever it may be it is so interesting and each individual tool/knife is just great to look at. Nice score.
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I thought the scales were Ivory too Duncan.

Having another look, the top knife appears to have a flatten ended like a grafting knife. Could be a trick of the light or my eyes.
 
supratentorial said:
Neat knife!
I have the same book but my French is poor so I've only skimmed it. It has some nice photos.
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I may help to clarify if you need.

@Jack : I asked about the multi-purpose, but it seems it was not made in Thiers, so until now, no answer...

Already posted in the Sunday thread, but her place is here :

Aurillac plat , the original version. Created by Vigier, cutler in Aurillac (the coldest town in France!) still existing un der the name of Destannes in the same place.
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It reads Vigier Ainé / A Aurillac
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The Coutellerie Destannes, 7 rue des frères, Aurillac, in 1908
The man with the béret is Jean Destannes, Madame Vigier (the former owner) is at the right, in the arms the Destannes twins, Georges and René. The little girl with the flag is Simonne Destannes.
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The cutllery in recent days with great-grandson Gerard Destannes standing
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The Aurillac is still produced, but with the years his belly has rounded (reminds me someone...:rolleyes:)
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Beautiful knives and interesting info, Jolipapa. Are those round things above the knife a string of awards?
 
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