"Old Knives"

I got four nice vintage ( and an Erickson :D ) today. I'll post one for now, and save a couple for a slow day.

Hey Charlie, Where do 'ya get the discount franks and beans ?

This one is 5 3/8" closed. Short in the blade, but cool pattern. The etch reads " SOMETHING FAVORITE ", and is surrounded by scrollwork, but I can't quite make it out.

Fran
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Sauconian, Man that's a dandy. I really like vintage lockbacks. That one looks to be in great shape..
 
Fran:eek::eek: You spent your Schrade money:eek::eek:!

Nice way to do it; 'tis a true beauty!!:D:D

(Tabasco sauce does wonders for Franks and Beans!:D)
 
This is a very old knife with the makers mark Harrison Bros & Howsen Cutlers to her Majesty, 45 Norfolk St., Sheffield.

It has a "flush and clean" joint. The tang is flush with the spring, end, and bottom of the knife in all positions. This knife appears to have been made around the antler and the spring was made to match it exactly. Normally handle material is made to fit the frame of the knife, not vice versa. Maybe this was a custom knife out of that shop or possibly this was standard practice at the time for this style of knife

This mark was used between 1847 and 1901. Tony believes this knife was an early one because of its construction and use of the flush and clean joint. F and C joints were used extensively on early slip joints.

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How about that, knife built around the handle, never heard of that before.
No kidding, great knife and thanks for sharing.
Jim
 
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d.parker said:
Nice old knife. I quess the butt cap is part of the spring?
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The butt cap is made very much like the seal cap on a doctors knife. On this knife there is a hidden pin that the spring is resting near the seal cap. The seal cap appears to be made from a solid piece of steel and is hammered to fit the shape of the butt of the handle.
 
KnifeHead said:
The butt cap is made very much like the seal cap on a doctors knife. On this knife there is a hidden pin that the spring is resting near the seal cap. The seal cap appears to be made from a solid piece of steel and is hammered to fit the shape of the butt of the handle.
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Thanks Kerry for the explanation. Would have been great to have seen the work new.
 
That's an incredible knife, Kerry! At first thought, it looks like a custom, fitted to the stag.
Then, when I thought of those pictures I've seen of rooms full of antlers, it made me think that a good stag cutter with a pattern in hand, could cut quite a pile of near-tips, that would fit with a little trimming. There were a lot more Sambar stags back then. Who knows?
BTW, can you see pins where the butt cap is pinned to the end of the spring??
 
Nice knife, Johnnie. And good to see you posting over here. :thumbup::cool:
 
Nice Chris Wolf Johnnie! If I remember, those are hefty knives; and pretty rare!
 
So, I believe I've got 5 more knives to revisit from the sixteen I originally posted. It gets interesting.
Here are the two stockmen. There are lots of stockman fans here, and what's not to like? Three useful blades, in a slim carryable package; darn good knife to own.
The designers of these two had somewhat different users in mind. Or the same user at different times!
The Robeson is a carefully designed treasure. Sunk joints make it pleasant in the hand and pocket. Killer bone, and "coined" liners, along with a graceful execution make it a pleasure to hold and look at! At first I thought the shield looked too large, but looking at it on my desk for the last couple of weeks, I find it attractive.
Everything on the Utica is much heavier. Thicker blades and liners. If it had bone handles it would weigh twice as much as the Robeson. They are, however both sturdily made. Cell always worries me a little, but these handles are pretty, nicely "pocket polished", and show no sign of decay.
Both nice; one for jeans, and one for more genteel activities! And of course they both have a PUNCH blade;-) !
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I don't think I've seen that one before Johnnie, a real prize.

Are you teasing Waynorth ?

Fran
 
I think Johnnie's got a bit of a mean streak. ;)

Great old knives, Johnnie. Bring 'em on! :thumbup:
 
Sauconian said:
Are you teasing Waynorth ?

Fran
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Yes!! Can't slip one by you old buddy!
You caught my statement that "it gets interesting". So here it is; A cautionary tale. I have often theorized that anyone who loves these old knives, and is in any part a human being, will have some "incorrect" knives in their collection.
We see these beautiful objects, and like a Magpie who has a lust for shiny things it can't use, we make impulsive buys.
Then we find (or don't find) the knives have been altered or "messed with" in some way. Blade change-outs are the most common alteration. Sometimes they just make a knife useful again, and sometimes they are meant to defraud. I won't try and judge that here, but I'll just point out that I STRONGLY suspect these last three knives have been altered.
They all have a reason to exist; witness the nice bone handles, shields, blades, and the great style of the one stamped Union. They just aren't authentic representations of a cutlery's production. They are examples of revisionist history. I don't think any of the main blades are original, nor are the Union or Miller secondaries. I'm not sure about the Walkill punch.
Interesting knives, but should not be sold as originals.
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So this little collection is interesting in general. There are some truly beautiful knives in it. It's been a pleasure to pore over it, and show it to you.
Thanks to the owner!
 
An awsome display of old knives guys. Fran that lock-back is fantastic. What type of wood are the scales?

edited: Charlie... I realise the examples you posted most recently are not quite right. I do like the long nail nicks, especially when they appear on 'original' old jacks.

Kerry, that is a most interesting prunner... a semi custom perhaps? It likely had the trade name of Alpha on the blade at one time... maybe worn away now and the other trademark was the coronette, a five pt crown. Does this appear on the back of the tang? From what I can see of the font on the stamp, it looks similar to this one which I believe dates from circa 1880ish. This knife has a hand-forged spring that tapers to very thin and wide at the butt end and is curved around to fit the shape of the handle. Don't make them like this anymore.

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