"Old Knives"

[Itsmebsh]

Thanks just a very tiny peek out of my Olsen ok collection

Just throwing this out there. If anyone has any questions about Olsen OK knives from Howard City mi I will do my best to answer them. I have been collecting Olsen's for about 20+ years and have a nice collection of knives plus paperwork and research. I will answer to the best of my ability, if i don't know i will say so. I don't blow smoke

 

[Itsmebsh]

I'm trying but no luck yet. Not to computer literate.

 

[Duckdog]

A 3 1/2" Balloon Jack imported from Solingen by J.S. Holler & Co. (NYC, NY) and sold through Adolph Baich (San Francisco), both firms' names stamped on the tangs. Although Baich was in business from 1883 to 1934, Holler was in business only from 1867 to 1906.

- Stuart

 

[Itsmebsh]

A 3 1/2" Balloon Jack imported from Solingen by J.S. Holler & Co. (NYC, NY) and sold through Adolph Baich (San Francisco), both firms' names stamped on the tangs. Although Baich was in business from 1883 to 1934, Holler was in business only from 1867 to 1906.

- Stuart

Interesting Stuart, it has the same shape as the early ones made for Olsen. But Olsen didn't purchase the factory until 1950. I will have to do some paperwork diving .

 

[Campbellclanman]

That’s a neat old Knife Stuart and a fantastic example of Pressed Stag ( easily mistaken for pocket worn natural Stag).

As we know Sheffield and German Cutlers used to heat and press Bone/ Stag for Handles- what intrigues me is when the early USA Cutler firms hired both Sheffield and German cutlers for their long know skill sets - American Cutler firms did not use this process.

We did see and have discussed the differences that we saw in the early US Cutler firms of small differences of bone finishing etc.
I wonder ...........if there is any actual documentation on the Americans side as to why this practice wasn’t adopted - perhaps spoilt for choice with availability of good Natural Stag etc.

 

[lambertiana]

A 3 1/2" Balloon Jack imported from Solingen by J.S. Holler & Co. (NYC, NY) and sold through Adolph Baich (San Francisco), both firms' names stamped on the tangs. Although Baich was in business from 1883 to 1934, Holler was in business only from 1867 to 1906.

- Stuart

I wonder if that knife was anywhere near San Francisco on April 18, 1906. It could have been a witness to a historic event.

 

[Duckdog]

Interesting Stuart, it has the same shape as the early ones made for Olsen. But Olsen didn't purchase the factory until 1950. I will have to do some paperwork diving .

No worries, Itsmebsh. I was not suggesting the Balloon was an Olsen piece. I was just adding another old knife. If Olsen was involved in a pre-1906 knife, that would be worth knowing.
- Stuart

 

[veitsi_poika]

I wonder if that knife was anywhere near San Francisco on April 18, 1906. It could have been a witness to a historic event.

A survivor

 

[Itsmebsh]

No worries, Itsmebsh. I was not suggesting the Balloon was an Olsen piece. I was just adding another old knife. If Olsen was involved in a pre-1906 knife, that would be worth knowing.
- Stuart

Yes it would

 

[black mamba]

That's a beautiful old centenarian, Stuart, congrats!

 

[Duckdog]

That’s a neat old Knife Stuart and a fantastic example of Pressed Stag ( easily mistaken for pocket worn natural Stag).

Thanks, Jack, and I was not aware of pressed stag (I was unsure of those covers, though). More things that I need to learn.

That's a beautiful old centenarian, Stuart, congrats!

Thanks, Jeff.
- Stuart

 

[Duckdog]

A Miller Brothers (1863-1926) swell end (teardrop) jack, 3 7/8".

Apologies for finger print on the shield.

Apologies for my reflection in the shield (above).
Cool bevel on pile side top edge of secondary blade:

- Stuart

 

[joeradza]

A Miller Brothers (1863-1926) swell end (teardrop) jack, 3 7/8".

Apologies for finger print on the shield.

Apologies for my reflection in the shield (above).
Cool bevel on pile side top edge of secondary blade:

- Stuart

Beautiful survivor. Like new. Make that pattern today and it would fly off the shelves.

 

[Ramrodmb]

A Miller Brothers (1863-1926) swell end (teardrop) jack, 3 7/8".

Apologies for finger print on the shield.

Apologies for my reflection in the shield (above).
Cool bevel on pile side top edge of secondary blade:

- Stuart

That's a beauty, Stuart.
It looks like its a little bit curved in the pictures. Does it have a slight curve to it in real life?

 

[Luger1952]

Stuart, wonderful MB folder Those are hard to find now days let alone in that condition!! I agree with joeradza, if that pattern were made say by GEC today it would be very popular! Thanks for posting photographs of a beautiful timeless teardrop example.

 

[Duckdog]

Beautiful survivor. Like new. Make that pattern today and it would fly off the shelves.

That's a beauty, Stuart.
It looks like its a little bit curved in the pictures. Does it have a slight curve to it in real life?

Luger1952

Thanks, guys. Mark, I'm not sure which curve you meant. The handle is all curves and the center liner has a very slight curve to it in the well.
- Stuart

 

[r8shell]

Thanks, guys. Mark, I'm not sure which curve you meant. The handle is all curves and the center liner has a very slight curve to it in the well.
- Stuart

It could just be the angle of the photo, but in this picture, it almost looks swaybacked.

 

[Campbellclanman]

That’s one hang of s Miller Bros Stuart! Wow! Thank you for sharing that beauty.

 

[Duckdog]

It could just be the angle of the photo, but in this picture, it almost looks swaybacked.

That’s one hang of s Miller Bros Stuart! Wow! Thank you for sharing that beauty.

Thank you both. Yes, the knife swells (curves) on all sides (mark, pile, front, and back) as you get closer to the teardrop at the bottom, as r8shell mentioned (sway back and sway front):

And here, you can see the covers thicken as they get closer to the bottom tip.

It is a true Swell End, in the fullest sense, so to speak. Fits nicely in the pocket.

Edited to add: I looked at it in hand and there is an optical illusion caused by the blades being on one side - they throw off the visual balance and make it look more swaybacked. The curve of the back is actually slightly less than the curve of the blade side.

- Stuart

 

[Ramrodmb]

Luger1952

Thanks, guys. Mark, I'm not sure which curve you meant. The handle is all curves and the center liner has a very slight curve to it in the well.
- Stuart

Thanks for the reply, Stuart.
r8shell said it better by saying it looks almost swayback

It could just be the angle of the photo, but in this picture, it almost looks swaybacked.

That's a better way to say it. I thought the same thing that it looked almost swayback.