"Old Knives"

[jc-sweden]

Thank you Jake! I have seen some information and some of those pictures. Much appreciated! I hope to see some more Barnsley knives soon....

 

[screened porch]

One of my grandfathers was a Barnsley. Great pics Jake, interesting to see the two spellings of the name. Thanks for the link Jer :thumbup:

You're welcome. And it works! I'll be darned.
My most disappointing ancestral surname is probably Farthing. Hard to put a positive spin on that.

 

[Planterz]

Beautiful Gunstocks, Charlie N!! We are fortunate to see knives from your great collection!

Duncan here is an interesting knife I found in the London Knife Book (Flook).

Looks a lot like your metal-handled knife above!

What exactly is a paper knife?

EDIT: Wikipedia says it's a letter opener. Makes sense. I don't know why I didn't search before asking.

 

[screened porch]

Some say a paper knife is a knife for cutting leaves of a book apart. When the edges are connected by a fold.

 

[Planterz]

I could see that. The round tip wouldn't stab through the other pages or the spine.

 

[kniveswords]

Nice! <3

 

[Jack Black]

You're welcome. And it works! I'll be darned.
My most disappointing ancestral surname is probably Farthing. Hard to put a positive spin on that.

I quite like Farthing Barnsley is a pretty unattractive little town, so I'm quite glad the name is on the other side of my family! My grandfather was actually called George Barnsley, and it always amused him to see the once-grand works of George Barnsley & Sons, who produced files and cobbler's tools. I generally buy anything I come across with the name on, which I do quite regularly :thumbup:

 

[screened porch]

I finally looked up Farthing in my Penguin Dictionary of surnames, and it doesn't mean "worth as much as the tiniest coin", but could mean traveller (thane who fares) or a fourth of something which amounts to about 30 acres. So my snoot is a little more elevated.

Here's a James Barber with something illegible in the top line, perhaps ERA, which makes it a Thomas El(l)in, which existed from 1794 or so to ca 1970. "Cutler to her Majesty" on such a grubby knife makes me think Victoria.

 

[Jack Black]

I finally looked up Farthing in my Penguin Dictionary of surnames, and it doesn't mean "worth as much as the tiniest coin", but could mean traveller (thane who fares) or a fourth of something which amounts to about 30 acres. So my snoot is a little more elevated.

Here's a James Barber with something illegible in the top line, perhaps ERA, which makes it a Thomas El(l)in, which existed from 1794 or so to ca 1970. "Cutler to her Majesty" on such a grubby knife makes me think Victoria.

I don't think many of my ancestors had two farthings to rub together! Interesting Barber Tweedale dates them to 1802, with the ERA mark possibly going back to 1834, Elin acquiring it "before 1914". Here's a more recent Barber. I think part of the ruins of the old works still stands, and is included in my factories thread :thumbup:

 

[Augie]

You all have been posting some very nice old knives in the last month or so, great finds everyone. I've been a little busy so will try to catch up, have managed to add some nice knives to the collection.

Here is a very nice Challenge bare head jack with a sheepsfoot main, don't think the sheepsfoot is all that common. I really do think Challenge knives are some of the highest quality of the vintage knives out there.

 

[mike Berkovitch]

Wonderful knife Augie, Blades combination is very appealing and the bone, above all, is stunning.

Mike

 

[Augie]

Thank you Mike, there is something just right with that blade combo, I love the hammered pins also.

 

[mike Berkovitch]

Thank you Mike, there is something just right with that blade combo, I love the hammered pins also.

... and the rat tail pinched bolsters.
Everything in this knife is just right.

Mike

 

[black mamba]

Beautiful, Augie, exceptional in all respects, but . . . . especially that bone!

 

[screened porch]

I don't think many of my ancestors had two farthings to rub together! Interesting Barber Tweedale dates them to 1802, with the ERA mark possibly going back to 1834, Elin acquiring it "before 1914". Here's a more recent Barber. I think part of the ruins of the old works still stands, and is included in my factories thread :thumbup:

Thank you, Jack. That's a lot more helpful than "James Barber (ERA), see Thomas Elin". So 1834 onward. Do you think I'm right that Her Madge was the Vic? Because let's face it, 1953 is a long time ago now. It could be EiiR. Except in 1976 it wasn't "[such and such] to her Majesty", it was "[such and such], by appointment to her Majesty the Queen".

 

[Old Engineer]

You all have been posting some very nice old knives in the last month or so, great finds everyone. I've been a little busy so will try to catch up, have managed to add some nice knives to the collection.

Here is a very nice Challenge bare head jack with a sheepsfoot main, don't think the sheepsfoot is all that common. I really do think Challenge knives are some of the highest quality of the vintage knives out there.

Beautiful old Challenge Augie . Blade Combo , Great Jigged Bone , Rat Tailed Bolsters , and Hammered Pins . What is not to like on that one .

Harry

 

[Augie]

Thank you Harry.

 

[paulhilborn]

Beautiful old Challenge Augie . Blade Combo , Great Jigged Bone , Rat Tailed Bolsters , and Hammered Pins . What is not to like on that one .

Harry

Boy, John, Harry said it perfectly:thumbup: I have a similar sway back with different shield. My Challenge tang stamp is straight not arched, I assume your stamp/knife to be older?

 

[supratentorial]

Nice find, Augie :thumbup:

 

[lambertiana]

Augie - I agree with your assessment of Challenge knives. I have knives from many makers from that time period, and Challenge is definitely at the top of the heap. I have that same knife: