"Old Knives"

[Augie]

Nice find Dan, the grain structure in the material makes me think checkered horn also.

 

[danno50]

Thanks Augie.
Dan

 

[herder]

There are an incredible number of beautiful old knives posted on this thread! Found this one at a local gun shop a couple of days ago. A T. Ellin with the Vulcan mark mostly worn off on both blades, but can still be made out. Not sure what the handle material is? Posted a couple of close ups.
Dan

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That's a fine old horseman model danno50, and I believe it dates to the early 1900s. Enclosed is a 1909 catalog illustration showing a two blade T. Ellin model with the same blade tang stamp and tang profile with a similar kick as yours. While the handle could certainly be checkered horn, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of hard rubber or some other synthetic composite. Many English and American companies were using synthetic handle materials in the 19th and 20th centuries which mimicked stag and jigged bone quite well. I have one old Sheffield catalog which uses the term "Black Checkered" along side of other handle materials including stag, bone, horn, ivory, pearl, and ebony. Your pictures are good, but it is still difficult to properly critique a knife when not in hand.

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[herder]

Seeing the neat blade locking mechanisms on the New York Knife models from V.P. and ea42 prompted me to show another interesting locking blade type. While this is in fact a liner-lock mechanism, it's about the most attractive one that I am aware of. Enclosed is an old Robeson fishing model with jigged bone handles and a locking blade. Most liner-lock knives have a flat tab which sticks up above the liners, but this Robeson model incorporates the tab into the back bolster in a great curved shape. Also love the built in bottle opener.

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[waynorth]

Vary interesting mechanism, herder. That knife is in great condition also!!
Would you mind taking pictures closed, of each side?

 

[herder]

Vary interesting mechanism, herder. That knife is in great condition also!!
Would you mind taking pictures closed, of each side?

Thanks, waynorth, and here's a few more pictures.

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[supratentorial]

Nice examples of some cool locking mechanisms!

I haven't seen many Robeson's with that lock and none that were as well preserved... and none that had a lifter!

Someone... AG Russell maybe?... made some relatively modern knives with a bolster lock... in the 90's maybe.

 

[Goetztalon]

Very cool! Loving the education you guys are giving!!!

 

[waynorth]

Thanks, herder! That is such a great knife!!
I was wondering if you could open a beer with the knife closed! Looks like not quite!
Fishing knives from that era tried to make things convenient for the Fisherman!!

 

[Ramrodmb]

Thanks, waynorth, and here's a few more pictures.

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Incredible wavy jigging! That is beautiful.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Picked up a very nice pre WW2 Camillus E/O Teardrop a while back, I like these Bigger Camillus Knives- always had a massive soft spot for this Company!
The beautiful Broad blade- with those amazing big Swedge work just ticks all the boxes for me, Nice Bow-tie Shield,Long Pull on the Big Main Blade and typical Camillus Beautiful Bone!
Most typical of this great cutlery company the Walk and Talk of the Knife is superb!
I apologise for the terrible indoor shots - its raining horribly right now!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Another Beauty that is welcomed to the Shores of New Zealand is this gorgeous Schrade Walden N.Y Peach-seed 294 Trapper.
The condition of this Knife is extremely good, the knife has not been cleaned, it has a few Carbon spots- not many- and I apologise for the reflections on the Blade - terribly bad Weather right now- and the Factory High Polished Blades reflect the Camera if you hover over them- so not the best photo's today sorry.
Peach- seed Bone is simply beautiful as we know, Both blades are untouched- carry the Factory edge, Unpolished- it's just a great Knife is superb Condition

 

[Luger1952]

Wonderful Robeson lock blade fisherman’s folder Herder!! Great condition with wonderful wavy jigging asMark calls it.

Those are real beauties Duncan!!!

Here is a Robeson Jack I have with worm groove jigging or what I would call gouged or chiseled or gashed or clawed inflicted jigging

 

[Campbellclanman]

Thank you Lloyd- Great Robeson, I agree with your comments on that stunning bone, Beautiful!

 

[supratentorial]

I was anxious to see that Schrade and it didn't disappoint! Some real beauties, Lloyd and Duncan.

 

[Augie]

Lloyd, Duncan, Herder, really top notch knives! Duncan, love the Schrade trapper, real beauty.

Picked up this Ulster Knife Co NY this week, large ebony dogleg, just over 3 3/4", blade s are close to full and still has a faint Ulster Brand blade etch. last pic shows it next to the latest GEC 56 just to give an idea on size.

 

[waynorth]

The EO is a great one to add to your Camillus collection, Duncan, And that Schrade Serpentine Jack is as wonderful as it gets!!!!

Lloyd, out of the hundreds, maybe thousands of Jacks Robeson produced that week, I am sure that Jack with the "inflicted" Jigging is the pinnacle of their art!! Cool!!

Augie, that Ulster you snuck in here while I was posting is one hunka, hunka burnin' knife! Way big, and way amazing!!

 

[Augie]

Thanks Charlie, I got a thing for big ebony jacks.

 

[herder]

Thanks waynorth, supratentorial, Goetztalon, Ramrodmb, Campbellclanman, Luger, and Augie.
Waynorth, I agree, what a flawed design to not be able to open a bottled beverage with the blade closed.
supratentorial, there are so many interesting knife mechanisms as you certainly know, enough for a book alone.
Campbellclanman, Beautiful pair of knives!!! Teardrop models are among my favorites, and that Schrade knocks my socks off.
Luger, great old Robeson with fantastic bone handles.
Augie, Nice old Ulster with a great handle shape.

 

[Duckdog]

A Craftsman Sta Sharp stockman made by Camillus for Sears & Roebuck sometime between 1927-1940, and a W.H. Morley & Sons sleeve board pen from 1913-1927. They are content to keep me company.

A prior owner preferred shiney blades to etching and "polished off" all but a faint memory of the CRAFTSMAN STA SHARP etch on the main. The HIGHCARBON STEEL U.S.A. tang stamp (indicating Camillus production) was left alone. The Morley wasn't denuded that way.

The Craftsman does have some file work on the back of the center liner.

- Stuart