"Old Knives"

Wilbert 1.jpg Wilbert 1115.jpg Camillus rooster.JPG As usual,I'm cold trailing.If I don't watch,I'll quit getting to go hunting.

Back to the Wilbert Sears' contracts conversations.I expect Sears used whomever suited the interests at the time, not only Napanoch, Empire,Utica, or Camillus( as illustrated above).

Both rooster combs have extra thick liners, and are the same knives , with little difference except jigging. Both made , I have no doubt by Camillus.
 
Last edited:
Lyle's on the road right now, but I'll try the answer:
The shape of the back of the secondary forms a spud for "teasing" the bark loose to insert a bud.
The knurled surface on the area of the tang behind the choil is a thumb rest to keep the blade from closing on you, while you work the blade backward!!
:eek:-be careful!!
 
Thanks, Charlie, I knew there had to be a reason for it. Since I have a "black" thumb, I obviously would never figure it out on my own. ;)
 
LongBlade said:
Nice Case knives Lostball, Kevin and Charlie :thumbsup: :thumbsup:… I don’t have any Case knives to show as I have not chased them at all but do appreciate their quality and history!!

Charlie – great looking rope knives from Robeson and Case with early stamps !! I’ll use that lead for another rope knife pattern which was a very generous gift from a friend who may be a member here as well (espn77) :) … My first New England Whaler - and every New Englander needs a New England Whaler knife LOL…

Humason & Beckley Mfg Co - New England Whaler – (better known as H&B existed from1852-1916 in New Britain CT)… The New England Whaler was a smaller curved jack and was developed for cutting harpoon ropes for the old whaling industry. This 2 blade NE Whaler with a horn handle is 3 & 1/2" closed.

9pzzKCx.jpg


p8XGxX3.jpg


kDvhpD6.jpg


XeCke8W.jpg


Px65uNT.jpg


While I am showing a H&B knife here is a unique piece of ephemera to go with it – This is an interesting original bank check (front and back) from the H&B Mfg Co New Britain written in 1870, and notably signed by the treasurer at the time Virgil P. Humason who became treasurer of H&B in 1866 and who later after his father's death took over the company (his father William L. Humason started the company). And yes that is V.P. Humason’s original signature on the check – pretty cool autograph to have LOLOL :D .. Anyway I spent some time a few years ago trying to figure out for what the check was written and who were the names on the check. A.P. Collins (to whom the check was written) was a lawyer in New Britain CT and was heavily involved as well in New Britain politics. Following incorporation of New Britain CT as a city in 1870 A.P. Collins was voted in as part of City Council and was Treasurer in 1871 when the first Mayor was elected - Frederick T Stanley (yes the same person that started Stanley Tools). Anyway I am speculating the check was written for insurance given I found A.P. Collins was involved in a few of those types of transactions but this is no way a definite. Note $40.56 in 1870 is worth $730 today so it was not a small amount of cash. The check was endorsed on the back by a few folks in NYC – not sure why but maybe related to how the banking system worked in the 1800s. My research came to a dead end though in terms of figuring out who GF Seaz (or Leaz – I have trouble sometimes interpreting old handwriting style) was on bottom left from Orville OH in Wayne County. Perhaps that last detail was the key to knowing more about the check as I think he was the final recipient of the money. Anyway I wanted to share this while I had H&B on the mind ;)...

FFiNNxU.jpg


p7AY7Lz.jpg


Cheers
Lee
Click to expand...

I think I solved your mystery Lee... I noticed the first letter in the name looked the same as the "J" in the date "July 1" and low & behold J F Seas was a prominent person in Orrville, OH. He was a city trustee / councilman off and on from 1865 to 1874 and became the mayor in 1876, check out the internet link below. Oh, and by the way, he happened to own a popular hardware store that I would imagine sold some pocket knives ;) Apparently the Civil War era tokens for J F Seas Hardware are a rare collectible... borrowed the pics below from an online auction site. The person who wrote out the check probably thought "Seas" was spelled with a "z" on the end :rolleyes: Little did they know that the small spelling error cost you some hours of research 145+ years later LoL.

https://www.orrville.com/excerpt-history-wayne-county-ohio

SEAS1.JPG SEAS2.JPG

- Kevin (modern day Sherlock Holmes :D)

Edited: Spelled "spelling error" wrong... DOH! :confused:
 
Last edited:
veitsi_poika said:
I think I solved your mystery Lee... I noticed the first letter in the name looked the same as the "J" in the date "July 1" and low & behold J F Seas was a prominent person in Orrville, OH. He was a city trustee / councilman off and on from 1865 to 1874 and became the mayor in 1876, check out the internet link below. Oh, and by the way, he happened to own a popular hardware store that I would imagine sold some pocket knives ;) Apparently the Civil War era tokens for J F Seas Hardware are a rare collectible... borrowed the pics below from an online auction site. The person who wrote out the check probably thought "Seas" was spelled with a "z" on the end :rolleyes: Little did they know that the small spelling era cost you some hours of research 145+ years later LoL.

https://www.orrville.com/excerpt-history-wayne-county-ohio

View attachment 838499 View attachment 838500

- Kevin (modern day Sherlock Holmes :D)
Click to expand...
Nice research sir! I tip my hat (modern day Watson style) to your investigate prowess!
 
veitsi_poika said:
I think I solved your mystery Lee... I noticed the first letter in the name looked the same as the "J" in the date "July 1" and low & behold J F Seas was a prominent person in Orrville, OH. He was a city trustee / councilman off and on from 1865 to 1874 and became the mayor in 1876, check out the internet link below. Oh, and by the way, he happened to own a popular hardware store that I would imagine sold some pocket knives ;) Apparently the Civil War era tokens for J F Seas Hardware are a rare collectible... borrowed the pics below from an online auction site. The person who wrote out the check probably thought "Seas" was spelled with a "z" on the end :rolleyes: Little did they know that the small spelling era cost you some hours of research 145+ years later LoL.

https://www.orrville.com/excerpt-history-wayne-county-ohio

View attachment 838499 View attachment 838500

- Kevin (modern day Sherlock Holmes :D)
Click to expand...

Wow - How cool Kevin and thanks so much my friend :) :thumbsup: :thumbsup: !!!... You indeed have solved the mystery & figuring out that handwriting error / slight of hand that made the "s" look like a "z" was indeed key - great eye !! That makes the story for that H&B check complete :cool: .... Now I can get some sleep tonite LOLOLOL ;)....
 
waynorth said:
Nice old Case, Txjohn!! I passed this well-loved stockman on to someone who needed and respected it!!
View attachment 839785
Click to expand...
Thanks Charlie.I wish mine was in better shape with more steel.The story on mine is quite sad . The friend that gave it to me inherited it from her husbands family. Her father-in law was a knife nut and had quite a few considering the era(20 or so ) Unfortunately some were celluloid and off gassed . They were kept all together ruining everything. The case was in the best shape. She offered one to me and obliged. Cleaned the red rust off and oiled it . Love that green bone
 
Last edited:
Yes, that old Greenbone is something else! Even cracked and worn, it's beautiful on these two!
Glad you rescued it! As I recall, the blades were ground thin and took a very good edge.
I hope it's still alive out there somewhere!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top