Pearl diver snipes ebay rattail lambsfoot congress pen

J

jon_slider

Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Messages
1,447
well, I won something today
have not received it yet, but I enjoyed the fishing
and wanted to share my anticipation
I can't read any of the marks yet, but it was a cheap thrill
and I was born in Cleveland
share my joy

"This listing is for a two blade mother of pearl pocket knife sold by Bingham's Hardware in Cleveland Ohio. It measures ~3" long, it is ~5" long with the longest blade extended."

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Hey, is that the long lost US Lambsfoot?! Nice snatch Jon, look forward to seeing more of it :thumbup:
 
jon_slider said:
well, I won something today
have not received it yet, but I enjoyed the fishing
and wanted to share my anticipation
I can't read any of the marks yet, but it was a cheap thrill
and I was born in Cleveland
share my joy

"This listing is for a two blade mother of pearl pocket knife sold by Bingham's Hardware in Cleveland Ohio. It measures ~3" long, it is ~5" long with the longest blade extended."
Click to expand...

AHA!! So it was you!!

:D:thumbup:
 
thank for the kind words gentlemen

Jack Black said:
Hey, is that the long lost US Lambsfoot?!
Click to expand...

Yes and no, thats what I wondered too. Its stamped Germany (anyone else see that?), but was sold in Cleveland. Will be looking into the era once I have it in hand.

Here is a similar blade, not my knife. Closest non Sheffield Lambsfoot Ive seen (actually dont know where this one is from, but so far, I dont think any Lambsfeet were made in USA.. everything here is bigger, you know.. ;-)

what say ye, is it a lamb? (blade spine and edge are parallel, not tapered to the tip):
722159B.jpg


gr8dismal said:
AHA!! So it was you!!
Click to expand...

LOL! no it was my brother Mr. Snipes, though I did ask Wesley to stop by, he did not have time. I love his movies..

[clarifying obscure tangents.. Wesley Snipes the actor does not work for esnipe the bidding service. And Pearl Bailey, is the correct spelling for the USA singer in Hello Dolly]

Now back to fantasizing about cutlery.. Nobody yet knows when Bingham's was importing German pearls, will share what I learn.
 
jon_slider said:
Here is a similar blade, not my knife. Closest non Sheffield Lambsfoot Ive seen (actually dont know where this one is from, but so far, I dont think any Lambsfeet were made in USA.. everything here is bigger, you know.. ;-)
Click to expand...

LOL! I'll look forward to seeing a US Ramsfoot Jon! ;)

jon_slider said:
what say ye, is it a lamb? (blade spine and edge are parallel, not tapered to the tip):
722159B.jpg
Click to expand...

Close, but not quite, is it? With all the Sheffield cutlers who emigrated to the States, there must have been a few produced surely? But we shall see! :)

Having said that, they don't always get the Lambsfoot right in Sheffield!

Jack
 
I now have the knife in hand and measured the blade to check for taper and there is. The tip is cut straight, with no curve, that is I believe a lambsfoot trait. And the blade is 1/16 wider at the tang than at the tip, also a lambsfoot trait. So I would say yes, we have a German lambsfoot imported to USA and sold through a warehouse in Cleveland, where my Jewish family immigrated. Which begs the question, would German knives be imported to Cleveland, before or after WW2. In particular a knife made in Germany, under contract to a USA company. My guess is that its post war, but I look forward to a more educated response on date.

Also, the tangs are stamped with a Sea Anchor with two pins crossed, Im wondering if anyone recognizes the makers mark?

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One thing I discovered in hand, that was not disclosed, blade wobble of 1/8" at the tip of the main blade, no snap on opening... Im ok with the poor blade condition and wobble, I bought it cheap, and only because I wanted the pretty pearl, so Im happy.

So far the only Ramsfoot Ive found is from GEC, although they call it a Sheepfoot for some reason ;-). And though I feel pretty confident this half congress does indeed have a Lambsfoot, it was not born in USA :-)

If anyone recognizes the Anchor stamp, Im all feet, I mean, ears.
 
Jon my guess is two swords crossed over the anchor and the maker Schmactenberg Brothers
Nice little gem my friend

Pete
 
Some lambsfoots are rounded at the point like a sheepsfoot, rather than cropped straight like a coping, and you see it in the old Sheffield catalogues.
I think the best way to distinguish them is that the sheepsfoot flares, the lambsfoot tapers, and the coping has back and edge parallel. At least that's my best shot.
 
Thanks for the lead Pete!

Here is a Schmachtenberg half congress with the same Anchor mark.. Winner!

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Now to try and narrow down the year of manufacture.. :-)

> the sheepsfoot flares, the lambsfoot tapers, and the coping has back and edge parallel.

thanks, this one tapers like a lamb, but given the size, coping might be a better description.. not sure
 
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:-)

Schmachtenberg Brothers(Gebrüder Schmachtenberg), 1887-1939, had an import agency at 143 Chambers Street, N.Y.
Their manufacturing plant was in Solingen, and William Schmachtenberg had charge of that plant.
About 1894, the offices in New York were moved to 98 Chambers Street.
By 1913, they were at 66-68 Reade Street, with Frederick W. Schmachtenberg as a member of the firm.

Pete
 
I love it when people find historical info!
Whence, Pete??
 
something I learned on the BRL forum http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1124433 :
Codger_64 said:
The knife illustrated in the upper right corner has many of the features of your knife, the pocket blade being different - a sheepfoot instead of a sloyd.

http://collectors-of-schrades-r.us/ULSTER/pages/pl35.htm
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thanks for your generosity Codger!
that Ulster link definitely has a lot of similarity in the pattern to my knife. Thanks for introducing me to the term Sloyd as well, it seems to mean Craft, or what some might call a coping blade, due to the flat cut from spine to edge at the tip, instead of rounded like the sheepfoot in the picture from the catalog you linked to:

IMG_7540.JPG
 
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