Question for smiling-knife.

J

jackknife

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Oct 2, 2004
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We all know that the even the early sak's had a corkscrew, and that victorinox was founded in 1890. But the Victorian age of Sheffield had many gentlemans knives with "multiplex blades" as Arthur Conan Doyle would put it. But looking at my copy of Doyle's works, most seem to have a publishing date of 1891 to 1893 in The Strand magazine. That's pretty soon for the sak to gain enough popularity to be noticed by Doyle. I figure he must have been reffering to the Sheffield knives.

What is your guess as to the earlier dates of the apearance of things like corkscrews and pipe stem reamers in the gentlemans knives from Sheffield? 1880's or 70's? Or even earlier?

Oh, by the way, if you want to show some of those wonderful examples of Sheffield cutlery, I have my bib standing by.:D
 
I am sure that the 'mulitiplex' knives go back at least to the early part of the 19th century. Corkscrews, for the purpose of opening wine bottles, emerge in the 1700s. I imagine shortly thereafter someone thought it a great idea to include one on a knife. I will do a little research and provide a more informed answer to your question in the near future.
 
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In Sweden many old pocketknifes had corksrews. Not for wine though. In the old days pilsner (beer) came with corks. Wine wasnt a big beverage in the old days but pilsner was. Nowadays the corks of beer is of the type that needs a caplifter.

Bosse
 
Good point Bosse. Also, many of the small Chatelaine knives had corkscrews for opening medicine and perfume bottles.
 
Thank you so very much, gentlemen. I had no idea corkscrews on knives went back that far. I guess Karl Elsner was not breaking virgin ground then.
 
You're welcome Jackknife. Just to add for now... the Swiss Officer knife with a corkscrew was patented by Elsener in 1897. Some preliminary investigation reveals evidence of corkscrews on knives back to the 1820-30s or so in Sheffield. Will add more later in the week.
 
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