"Old Knives"

Unusual knife David.

Neal, can you date that Boker and these farmers jacks? By the stamps I see'20s-'30s .The first was on the Boker board at SWKW. The second seems a few years different ,only because of the jigging??H Boker from showcase411.jpg H Boker from showcase410.jpg H Boker from showcase409.jpg H Boker from showcase412.jpg H Boker from showcase421.jpg
 

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wlfryjr said:
Unusual knife David.

Neal, can you date that Boker and these farmers jacks? By the stamps I see'20s-'30s .The first was on the Boker board at SWKW. The second seems a few years different ,only because of the jigging??View attachment 744443 View attachment 744444 View attachment 744445 View attachment 744446 View attachment 744447
Click to expand...


Nice examples, but the factory board model is fantastic!!!

Many knives are hard to date because manufacturers often produced the same model and often with the same stamp for years or decades on end, and Boker is no different. :)
When Mark Zalesky wrote an article and timeline for Boker knives in "Knife World" magazine back in 2009, he said it was one of the most difficult articles he had ever tried to put together. This was mostly due to the intertwining of the various Boker families and connections from Germany, the U.S. and Mexico, and also that family members from different countries and companies shared some of the same blade stamps.
While many Boker models had long runs, I believe that the "Farmer's Jack" models were relatively short lived. The Boker Wharncliffe body style which is the basis for the Farmer's Jack dates back to at least 1898 and runs up until WWII. But interestingly, the Wharncliffe models with Wharncliffe straight blades are a bit shorter than the Farmer's Jack models with curved pruning blades. The Wharncliffe models have handles which are 3-3/4 inches long, where the farmer's Jack handles should be 4 inches long. I had thought that the Farmer's Jacks were built off the Wharcliffe frames, but evidently not. There is no listing for a Farmer's Jack model in the 1906 factory Boker catalog, but there is in the 1928 catalog. I do not see a Farmer's Jack model in any other Boker paperwork before or after 1928 and would assume that it was only available right around the 1928 era. Those blade stamps were used from 1891 to about 1939, so we can at least say that those models were only possibly offered between 1907 and 1939, but more likely right around 1928.

Enclosed are two catalog cuts showing a Wharncliffe model from circa 1898 to 1939, and a Farmer's Jack model from 1928.

View attachment 744643

View attachment 744644
 
There have been some outstanding Boys Knife photos posted lately in this thread stimulated by the superb article in the August edition of Knife Magazine by two of our own! I thought I would change course in this post and show a Manly Man's Knife. It is a two blade clasp type folding hunter produced by Schrade Cut Co. This is a large jack knife 5 1/4 inches closed and the clip blade is saber ground. This example is in near new condition with no evidence of ever having been sharpened post production. The peach seed jigged bone handles are in perfect condition and are a thing of true beauty! I have also posted a photo of a new modern produced traditional Boy's Knife the much revered Charlie Campagna SFO GEC no. 15 TC Barlow for size comparison. LloydIMG_1319.jpg IMG_1317.jpg IMG_1320.jpg
 
Nice one Lloyd.

Thanks Neal,
I was curious also if the same frame was used as your whittler,but I measured my Boker whittler , and it is apx. 103.4mm. A little larger than both farmers jacks.

I was looking at the measurements on the micrometer wrong.

Here it is:

H Boker red comp whittler w punch836.jpg H Boker red comp whittler w punch837.jpg Red comp Boker whittler w punch638.jpg
 
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Lloyd,

Absolute beauty there. While I know others covet the smaller, more practical jacks, my eye has always been attracted by the larger versions, 5 1/4" being the sweet spot. Whether folding hunter or Coke Bottle, these are the epitome of the traditional American folder to me. You don' t see many pristine examples and when I see them, I gasp. All I can say is "whew", nicely done:thumbsup:
 
herder said:
Nice examples, but the factory board model is fantastic!!!

Many knives are hard to date because manufacturers often produced the same model and often with the same stamp for years or decades on end, and Boker is no different. :)
When Mark Zalesky wrote an article and timeline for Boker knives in "Knife World" magazine back in 2009, he said it was one of the most difficult articles he had ever tried to put together. This was mostly due to the intertwining of the various Boker families and connections from Germany, the U.S. and Mexico, and also that family members from different countries and companies shared some of the same blade stamps.
While many Boker models had long runs, I believe that the "Farmer's Jack" models were relatively short lived. The Boker Wharncliffe body style which is the basis for the Farmer's Jack dates back to at least 1898 and runs up until WWII. But interestingly, the Wharncliffe models with Wharncliffe straight blades are a bit shorter than the Farmer's Jack models with curved pruning blades. The Wharncliffe models have handles which are 3-3/4 inches long, where the farmer's Jack handles should be 4 inches long. I had thought that the Farmer's Jacks were built off the Wharcliffe frames, but evidently not. There is no listing for a Farmer's Jack model in the 1906 factory Boker catalog, but there is in the 1928 catalog. I do not see a Farmer's Jack model in any other Boker paperwork before or after 1928 and would assume that it was only available right around the 1928 era. Those blade stamps were used from 1891 to about 1939, so we can at least say that those models were only possibly offered between 1907 and 1939, but more likely right around 1928.

Enclosed are two catalog cuts showing a Wharncliffe model from circa 1898 to 1939, and a Farmer's Jack model from 1928.

View attachment 744643

View attachment 744644
Click to expand...

Excellent post my friend :thumbsup:
 
Luger1952 said:
There have been some outstanding Boys Knife photos posted lately in this thread stimulated by the superb article in the August edition of Knife Magazine by two of our own! I thought I would change course in this post and show a Manly Man's Knife. It is a two blade clasp type folding hunter produced by Schrade Cut Co. This is a large jack knife 5 1/4 inches closed and the clip blade is saber ground. This example is in near new condition with no evidence of ever having been sharpened post production. The peach seed jigged bone handles are in perfect condition and are a thing of true beauty! I have also posted a photo of a new modern produced traditional Boy's Knife the much revered Charlie Campagna SFO GEC no. 15 TC Barlow for size comparison. LloydView attachment 744739 View attachment 744738 View attachment 744737
Click to expand...


Wonderful Schrade Trapper!!!
Trapper models from various companies did tend to run on the large size, and here is a big old boy from Schlieper which cracks nearly a foot long when open.

View attachment 745592
 
herder said:
Great old Boker whittler. Does your Boker Farmer's Jack measure out at 4 inches closed?
Click to expand...

It's hard to get a precise measurement because of the rounded bolsters. As close as I could with a micrometer is about 102.7mm or 4 1/16".

I measured the 2nd Boker farmers jack and it is different too. It measures a little under 4" at 101.2mm. The bolster on this one is squared off instead of rounded

I had looked at the micrometer wrong.
 
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Anyone ever been to the Steamboat Arabia museum in Kansas city? I love to visit there and see the growing display of axes, knives, hatchets, and wood working tools.

This ship sunk in 1856. Headed upriver with 200 tons of supplies for the western frontier hardware stores. Incredibly recovered and preserved in 1988.

A vast collection of pocket knives, axes of every description, and knives for trade and skinning / butchering.

I learn something new every time. The folders and fixed blades fascinate me, as do the axes and saws.

The designs of the 1850's show that little has changed from how the Case style pocket knives are made today. 165 years later. Have any of you been there?

I lot of these knives were made in England and New England. They have a list of the makers. Imagine if some of these would be available for purchase. It's some real history.

20170127_115257-1.jpg
That is just a fraction of the folders. The museum is large. Curious if anyone has been there.
 
Yes, we are. Those pictures enter into a thread discussion every now and then.
 
Brian77 said:
A lot of these knives were made in England and New England. They have a list of the makers. Imagine if some of these would be available for purchase. It's some real history.
Click to expand...

Do you have a copy of the list of makers by any chance?
 
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