"Old Knives"

[Campbellclanman]

That terrier is a great find!! Not too many of those around! Nice knives!

 

[252chevyboyz]

I appreciate the info on helping ID the possible Boker any idea on a possible date of production for it?

@scrteenedporch they both do have solid bolsters. Any idea on the date of production for them?

T2 Tappin'

 

[Luger1952]

John,

That Terrier Cutlery folder is an absolute prize! Some have said it was a company that had their knives made by Robeson. However, others have said it is a Robeson brand and was only made for a short number of years before WWI. They are like Duncan said uncommon and are highly sought after by collectors "in the know". Congratulations on a rare find. Lloyd

 

[paulhilborn]

Both beautiful John but that Terrier is quite a find. If I come across them there are only toothpicks for blades, never in the condition you found...STUNNING:thumbup:

 

[screened porch]

I appreciate the info on helping ID the possible Boker any idea on a possible date of production for it?

@scrteenedporch they both do have solid bolsters. Any idea on the date of production for them?

T2 Tappin'

I think I'm seeing brass pins in nickel-silver bolsters on the Barlows, which I think makes them Pakistani or possibly Indian. I don't think they're very old, which is good, if they're stainless. Subcontinental stainless used to be ridiculous, but people have brought in German steel and machinery and Pakistan makes perfectly good knives now. [Pakistan always did make perfectly good hand-forged knives, just for the record.]

Is there a tang stamp?

 

[paulhilborn]

This is by far the oldest knife I own. With help from Duncan and his knowledge of Sheffield knives I acquired this wonderful Nowill Sheffield Pruner. Stamped deep on the nearly full blade is "Sutton & Sons".

It has integral bolsters that are rat tailed and threaded. The thread is so thin it gives the appearance that the wonderful Stag covers come up a bit short but is not the case. It also sports a beautiful silver butt cap.

The tang stamp reads "NOWILL" with "SHEFFIELD" below and on the backside "*" above a capital "D" with two crossed keys. The covers are wonderfully aged Stag with over a 135 years of character. There are five pins in the chip and crack free Stag covers:thumbup:

Nowill c. 1836-1880. With that in mind on the shy side she comes in at a spry 136 years young. I know very little of Sheffield cutlery so I welcome any and all additional info:thumbup:

Next is a great VOOS USA Jack knife with chip and crack free Jigged bone covers. It measures the same as GEC's #15 at 3 1/2 closed. It was described with a center pin crack but I can't find it even with a loop? This is a very well built knife, steel liners, solid and centered blades and really nice Jigged bone covers. The word VOOS has an arrow through it and USA below.

All I know about VOOS is a company timeline of 1919-1981, a trademark used by New Haven Specialty Company. Beyond that please chime in with additional info. This is such a great knife and I'm really pleased with how well built it is.

I had seen VOOS knives many times before and finally had to pick one up, very glad I did.

 

[black mamba]

Great stuff, Paul, congrats on both of those beauties!

 

[Half/Stop]

Paul, the only additional info I can offer is WOW!!! What beautiful old knives. Congratulations on those two my friend! :thumbup:

 

[huelsdonk]

Duncan, Lloyd, and Paul -

Thanks very much for the kind words. When I got the Terrier, I was really surprised at what great shape it's in. The blades are centered, and it operates a lot like a GEC Beagle. Pretty good for a 100+ year old knife.

Speaking of old knives, another couple beauties, Paul. That Voos looks REALLY solid. I'm constantly amazed at how many knives were made in Connecticut years ago. Apparently one couldn't swing a cat without hitting a knife factory.

I don't know the first thing about Sheffield knives, but that pruner is phenomenal. The character of that stag... Wow.

 

[paulhilborn]

Great stuff, Paul, congrats on both of those beauties!

Paul, the only additional info I can offer is WOW!!! What beautiful old knives. Congratulations on those two my friend! :thumbup:

Duncan, Lloyd, and Paul -

Thanks very much for the kind words. When I got the Terrier, I was really surprised at what great shape it's in. The blades are centered, and it operates a lot like a GEC Beagle. Pretty good for a 100+ year old knife.

Speaking of old knives, another couple beauties, Paul. That Voos looks REALLY solid. I'm constantly amazed at how many knives were made in Connecticut years ago. Apparently one couldn't swing a cat without hitting a knife factory.

I don't know the first thing about Sheffield knives, but that pruner is phenomenal. The character of that stag... Wow.

Thank you Jeff, Ron and John. I'm fortunate to own them. It's so impressive to see such craftsmanship from years ago. The pruner amazes me in so many ways.

 

[Luger1952]

Paul, What an absolute wonderfully preserved Pruner! Gongratulations it is a beautiful specimen:thumbup: :thumbup:
Lloyd

 

[Old Engineer]

Well Paul , Youv'e done it again my friend .
That pruner made me just sit and look for a while . The color of the Stag so nicely colored and it it looks to me like it has what I call witness marks from somebody along the way doing a little scratting . The stories that knife might tell . It looks carried , but barely used.
Just outstanding IMO
The VOOS is another story . Looks rarely used with pretty good jigging . A very nice find . I like the VOOS tang stamp a lot.

Congrats my friend !!!

Harry

 

[Campbellclanman]

Oh man I can't wait for Jack to see Pauls Early Nowill.

That's a nice early stamp- which I have never had the pleasure of owning- I have owned Nowills in the past - but all 20th Century pieces - Paul matey- I just LOVE that Knife.

THAT is what Sheffield is all about- hard working beautifully made knives from a time when Sheffield was at the top of the World!!

John - it's very easy to let kind words be free when looking at a knife like that Terrior.
I hope Charlie Noyes comes on in and comments on your knife John- that's the man who will know all about it.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Off you go flicka.

 

[paulhilborn]

Paul, What an absolute wonderfully preserved Pruner! Gongratulations it is a beautiful specimen:thumbup: :thumbup:
Lloyd

Thank you Lloyd, I appreciate that so much coming from you. I can't put it down, it's just amazing the extreme level of craftsmanship it possesses:thumbup:

Well Paul , Youv'e done it again my friend .
That pruner made me just sit and look for a while . The color of the Stag so nicely colored and it it looks to me like it has what I call witness marks from somebody along the way doing a little scratting . The stories that knife might tell . It looks carried , but barely used.
Just outstanding IMO
The VOOS is another story . Looks rarely used with pretty good jigging . A very nice find . I like the VOOS tang stamp a lot.

Congrats my friend !!!

Harry

Thank you as well Harry and I thought the very same thing in regards to a bit of scratting on the pile side. The STAG is worn smooth with years of aging and the color is wonderful. Mind boggling when you imagine where it's been and what it's done all these years. Augie/John showed his work in progress 1876 Gardner Barlow and just thinking about how it started out to where it ended up really stretches one's imagination

Oh man I can't wait for Jack to see Pauls Early Nowill.

That's a nice early stamp- which I have never had the pleasure of owning- I have owned Nowills in the past - but all 20th Century pieces - Paul matey- I just LOVE that Knife.

THAT is what Sheffield is all about- hard working beautifully made knives from a time when Sheffield was at the top of the World!!

John - it's very easy to let kind words be free when looking at a knife like that Terrior.
I hope Charlie Noyes comes on in and comments on your knife John- that's the man who will know all about it.

Thanks so much Duncan, I knew it was special but not how special until visiting with you, so thanks Buddy, I appreciate your valuable insight. With knowing what you shared with me being an early Nowill stamp only hardened my desire to own this wonderful knife:thumbup:

OK, off to bed as I witnessed one of, if not possibly the greatest world series ever. Two fantastic teams battled to the end with the Cubs breaking a very very long drought, 108 YEARS. Two class organizations. Congrats to both teams as they only enhanced America's game

 

[Jack Black]

Paul, you have been posting some stellar knives lately my friend, but that really is a peach in fine condition Congratulations :thumbup:

The Nowill mark goes back to 1700 when the 'D*' was granted to Thomas Nowill. The 'KROSSKEYS' mark was acquired in 1842. The firm (and family) have a very convoluted history, and their marks are still in use in Sheffield today. Sutton & Sons are the well-known English agricultural supply firm founded in Reading, Berkshire in 1806, for whom Nowill's made Pruners.

Edit - Adding a link RE Sutton & Sons - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suttons_Seeds

More info: http://www.berkshirehistory.com/businesses/sutton_seeds.html

The company started trading as Sutton & Sons in 1836, and as Sutton & Sons Ltd (which is stamped on the blades of later Nowill Pruners) in 1930.

 

[Augie]

Paul, absolutely beautiful old pruner, those stag English pruners are some of the most impressive pocket knives ever made and that one is a top tier example, congratulations.

 

[Augie]

One of my finds for the week is this C X Lockwood Brothers Sheffield. This is a very large single blade with beautiful stag handles, hammered pins, nice spear.
I'm not sure of a date, it is not marked England but I doubt it is pre 1890, it is just in too good shape to be that old. I found some information that Lockwood Brothers closed in the 1930's. Jack, can you help me out here? Thanks.

Here is a picture showing it next to an old T. Hague pruner to give you an idea on size,

 

[Jack Black]

Very nice Augie, Joseph Elliot & Sons acquired the Lockwood Brothers marks and remaining assets in 1927. Elliot's were in turn bought by Slater's (1972).

 

[paulhilborn]

John, Thank you for the nice comments and yet another great knife you've found, what a lockback and what great covers it has.

Jack, what a wealth of information you are, thank you for that. I enjoy the history of both cutlery owners and the companies themselves:thumbup: