"Old Knives"

Charles, You have a wonderful collection and some extremely rare examples (like Trout Hdw!! ...etc etc) but for me it's enigmas like that knife which are the most fun. I wonder if the blade was originally destined for a gunstock lobster or if the name was used for other patterns as well.
 
I have a NYK catalog with a model No 3037(pearl) which is the serpentine lobster with the Orange Blossom blade etch. The gunstock whittler in the same catalog is No. 3642(stag) and 3044 (pearl) and no blade etch.

Charles
 
Absolutely beautiful knives gents :thumbup:

I've been trying to clear my kitchen table again :o - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1339518-Tabula-Rasa?p=15391934#post15391934

Few examples:

Wigfall%20Penknife%201-5_zpsa4lmyakk.jpg


Moore%20Tiny%201_zpsuqccpwsz.jpg


Joseph%20Rodgers%20Ivory%201-1_zpscyyi2865.jpg


Joseph%20Allen%20Toddler%20Knife%201_zpsbu7xy4tt.jpg


EMU%20Sheffield%20Lobster%201_zpsoa9w5k44.jpg
 
chuko said:
I have a NYK catalog with a model No 3037(pearl) which is the serpentine lobster with the Orange Blossom blade etch. The gunstock whittler in the same catalog is No. 3642(stag) and 3044 (pearl) and no blade etch.

Charles
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It's neat that you have the catalog examples. You've solved the "mystery" but it's still an interesting subject for a collection.
 
Gentleman - SPLENDID KNIVES!!!!!! Wow...absolutely top notch!
Jack - Oh man you have some beaties there my friend -love the Ivory AND THOSE SHIELDS!!!

OK ..our friend "In Texas" came in the other day and asked about his I*XL Bowie knife, so I asked him to send the photo's as he wasnt quite sure how to do it - Texas I am really busy right now but will reply to your e-mail IN DETAIL on how to do it...
Anyhooo...here are your photos of your knife, Its a good Bowie, G Wostenholm started up "Washington works" after he bought an older existing Business - this was in 1850 - and this is not to say that you have a 1850 Bowie - but it would be close? Wostenholm really aimed for the American Market big time, your knife ( please correct me if I am wrong here folks ) from what I have learnt looking at my friends Civil War period ( and pre ) is that you have a American Civil War era's - or one soon after so around 1860's to 1880's.
NOT the original Sheath and the Sheath is miles away from its period - please make sure you dont store that knife in that Sheath as that will probably be a Tanned Leather and will rust your knife...
What do you say guys as I have much to learn here and in honesty always refer back to my Sheffield books for dates....





 
supratentorial said:
Thank you, Mike.

...btw...I haven't seen photos of the VF with blades closed but I suspect the joint may be sunk. That may be one of the reasons for this design. I'm looking forward to getting a closer look at the knife.
Click to expand...

i saw that challenge myself....it's still in my watch folder....i thought about it
a couple times,but just don't know enough about these old beauties to keep
from getting burnt....i love it though,for sure....
i bet that thing will clean up really well with just a little semi-chrome(or flitz)as i think
everyone except me use....
I guess I at least have a good eye for the good ones,jd
 
jdracing said:
i saw that challenge myself....it's still in my watch folder....i thought about it
a couple times,but just don't know enough about these old beauties to keep
from getting burnt....i love it though,for sure....
i bet that thing will clean up really well with just a little semi-chrome(or flitz)as i think
everyone except me use....
I guess I at least have a good eye for the good ones,jd
Click to expand...

I haven't received it yet but I'm hoping that it still has some of the original finish on the blades. That's becoming more and more difficult to find these days. If some original finish survived 100 years, I would not want to polish or buff it off. (see quote below)

bernard_levine said:
...There is NO SUCH THING as restoring an heirloom knife.
Any effort to restore it will destroy its value as an heirloom or collector item.

If you want a shiny new knife to use, BUY ONE.

*


To preserve it:

- Store the knife OUTSIDE of the sheath, not touching the sheath.

- Store both in a climate controlled part of the house, NOT in an attic, basement, or garage.
It is temperature change that does the most damage, especially precipitation as temperature falls.

- Obtain a bottle of USP mineral oil from a pharmacy. And a soft rag such as an old tee shirt.
Put a few drops of oil on the RAG.
Wipe down the metal parts of the knife, NOT the leather.
Repeat with a clean part of the rag. Keep repeating until the rag stays clean.

* * *

Other people will post other advice here.

They are wrong.

Ignore them.

BRL...
Click to expand...
 
supratentorial said:
The fancy bolster on the Challenge jack reminds me a bit of Schrade's "Washington Bolster" which Charlie used on his "Washington Jacks". I think "Washington" was just used by Schrade. Anyone know the general name for this type of fancy bolster?

1913


1922
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Where do you find these catalog photos??

I have a small collection of about a dozen Challenge knives and I'd love to have images of each!
 
There is a thread for old catalogs that is pinned to the top of the forum. There are also other collector websites with catalogs posted. You can also buy catalogs and catalog reprints the same way that you buy old knives. I have a Google account just for downloaded catalogs so that I can access them anywhere for ID purposes.
 
Campbellclanman said:
Gentleman - SPLENDID KNIVES!!!!!! Wow...absolutely top notch!
Jack - Oh man you have some beaties there my friend -love the Ivory AND THOSE SHIELDS!!!

OK ..our friend "In Texas" came in the other day and asked about his I*XL Bowie knife, so I asked him to send the photo's as he wasnt quite sure how to do it - Texas I am really busy right now but will reply to your e-mail IN DETAIL on how to do it...
Anyhooo...here are your photos of your knife, Its a good Bowie, G Wostenholm started up "Washington works" after he bought an older existing Business - this was in 1850 - and this is not to say that you have a 1850 Bowie - but it would be close? Wostenholm really aimed for the American Market big time, your knife ( please correct me if I am wrong here folks ) from what I have learnt looking at my friends Civil War period ( and pre ) is that you have a American Civil War era's - or one soon after so around 1860's to 1880's.
NOT the original Sheath and the Sheath is miles away from its period - please make sure you dont store that knife in that Sheath as that will probably be a Tanned Leather and will rust your knife...
What do you say guys as I have much to learn here and in honesty always refer back to my Sheffield books for dates....





Click to expand...

Duncan - The handle shape makes me think it is what Bernard calls a Bowie-style hunter. As such, it would date from the 1870-1900 time frame, give or take.
 
A Joseph Rodgers I have just got. In bad shape and no snap at all. I think that there is notch on the back spring where the blade engage it. Also the horn scales are broken in few places, but I like the overall shape and it so comfortable in hand. I have thoughts of trying to fix it (with professional assistance of course), anyway here it is

pCaxEgCDE6Z5GZIbsh8ddOYXWFbjle5JEwqVI-RsTMR5QIVEhPcs=w442-h206-p-no



IMG_20151105_145110007.jpg


Mike
 
InTexas, I'm not sure what you are asking about... do you mean "harness jack" (a jack knife with a punch secondary)?

Mike, The photos aren't showing up for me.
 
Mike,knife looks to be worth repairing, I really like the old English pocket knives.

I just picked up a Joseph Rodgers & Sons stag 2 blade. Pretty nice shape considering I think it is 1930 or earlier. Pretty full blades, Alligator snap and no play. Interesting construction with no center scale and the outer scales have been bent with the stag covers fitted precisely to the bends. I originally thought they were bent later but I think if they were the stag would have cracked.

IMG_4506_zpspyzegmh0.jpg


IMG_4507_zpsufjxedfk.jpg


IMG_4508_zpsspvfawqj.jpg


IMG_4509_zpscyzrsi00.jpg


IMG_4499_zpsdi8ptujx.jpg


IMG_4500_zpsqwplsg56.jpg
 
Augie - thats a beautiful knife, These examples of the Early English and also the early German Knives had some of the nicest Stag one could EVER hope to see, and yours is no exception!that and JR's great stampings - just Wow factor!

Lambertiana - Thank you kind Sir - I agree with the styling of the Bowie styled Hunter Handle, the Washington Works stamping is the one that sways me to not only agree with you Sir-but also the earlier use of that stamping" Washington Works"

Intexas - heres a HJ THread sir.....

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1092542-LETS-SEE-THOSE-MAGNIFICENT-HJ-s
 
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