Pen Knife Display

smiling-knife

smiling-knife

Joined
Nov 11, 2006
Messages
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Spending my extra hour with the time change here today working on a display for some of my Sheffield pen knives. It is a work in progress. At the moment it includes, Ivory, French Ivory (Ivorine), bone and mop handles on a navy background. Wondering what you think about showing knives with the blades open like this? I could change the background colour, but the pearl especially look good on the blue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Pens1002.jpg
 
wow... those are absolutely gorgeous!
I esp. like the 2 shielded guys at the bottom.
Is the last one in the 2nd row a ring opener?
 
I wouldn't store them with the blades half-open. That's where the spring is at maximum tension. I'd do either fully open or fully closed.

Even if only one knife out of hundred will develop problems, in a large collection that could be several knives. Not worth taking the chance, IMO.

Damn nice collection, by the way.
-Bob
 
Thank-you very much msiley and sunburst. Yes the middle of the 5 in the right most column is a ring-turn made by Humphreys. It has faux ivory (ivorine) handle c1930ish. Thanks for the advice bob w.
 
Nice grouping, s-k! But I absolutely agree with msiley. The single backspring knives especially, will have the backspring at maximum tension. A well tempered spring will stand it for many years, but the marginal ones will go; they'll either lose their tension, or break. A.G. Russell will tell you a tale or two, of a broken spring in a display!
Very nice knives. It is too bad about the risk, because it is a very effective way to display knives. Most historical displays, some over 100 years old, have the blades full open, where there is virtually no more tension than when closed! They seem to be o.k. that way.
 
My own experience, out of 60+ Old Timer knives one has a weak spring, and that knife was from a store display.

There was also a topic on this forum or another a couple of years ago. Someone half-opened all of the blades and tools on a SAK to take a photo. In the ten minutes the knife was like that, the spring(s) went limp.

Regarding vintage knives like your's, I'd be especially conservative. It's not like you can send them back to the factory for repair...

-Bob
 
Bob W said:
Regarding vintage knives like your's, I'd be especially conservative. It's not like you can send them back to the factory for repair...

-Bob
Click to expand...

Very sound advice Bob W and waynorth... Thank-you. I'm closing them all and will try something with the blades fully open. It won't be until next weekend though. Thanks everyone for your input. s-k
 
Nice display s-k, can you tell me the history on the ring knife middle right of the pic, Thanks.

Rusty1
 
Hi Rusty1. The Humphreys Radiant c1920-1930. 'Genuine' Ivorine scales. No sign what so ever of shrinkage so perhaps Casein rather than celluloid. Brass fittings for the ring-turn mechanism still very smooth acton.
Knives035.jpg
 
Excellent find for the collection s-k thanks for the info. and the post of the close up pic.

Rusty1
 
Thanks very much Sam. That is a little fruit knife with pearl handle and sterling silver blade hallmarked in Sheffiled 1896.

Dec11017.jpg
 
Beautifull display S-K!!

I like the one on the bottom row,second from the right. With the bolsters and shield, it looks almost, ( forgive me) American.:D
 
S-K, you know? It was some of your previous pen knife postings that made me run off and buy a few old Sheffields from the 'Bay. Now I may just have to pick up an old fruit knife, too. There's something about those old sterling blades.

Thanks! This "illness" needs to be fed!

-- Sam
 
Thank-you everyone for your very kind feedback. Sam... the fruit knives look pretty but they have notoriously poor springs. There is no snap and the blade sits a little high when closed. I like the pearl though. Jackknife, I don't have a close-up at the moment of the knife you mentioned. It has french ivory scales and was made by C (Christopher) Johnson and company. Have a great day.
 
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