Rustic Repair or ?

[r8shell]

Many of you know that I like to collect old knives. Ones that are well worn, or have had rough repairs done by former owners don't discourage me. In fact, sometimes I enjoy seeing what someone has done to keep a knife useful. Like dropping the kick on a knife that's been sharpened until the tip sits proud, putting in an easy open notch when the nail nick is no longer accessible, patching broken covers with various kinds of filler, etc. These repairs tell a story, and there is a logic to them.

Which brings me to this knife. It's a Miller Bros pen knife that the seller described as, "Handle broken and re pinned years ago by former owner years ago." That's fine, I think, but I'm staring at the picture and just can't figure out what's going on there. I was so fascinated that I decided if I can get it for under $10, I'll buy it, just to see. It might be worth it for the parts. Well, I've got it in hand, and I still can't quite figure out the logic.




Did the covers come off, and the fellow wanted to pin them back on without disassembling the knife? One of the cover pins on the pile side is missing, so it's possible that the cover was loose. If so, I don't know why he used three nails. I think two would have worked. The blade doesn't seem to hit the center nail, but I don't think there's enough distance for me to try to file the kick and lower the blade.
Did the bone break before or after the repair? Is it a repair at all, or was the knife possessed by an evil spirit that could only be killed by driving three silver stakes through it?

 

[Fodderwing]

Very cool Rachel. What the repairman lacked in finesse he made up for with enthusiasm. And still a beautiful knife.

 

[JTB_5]

Maybe it was a gift to a boy who decided to fix it himself when it broke?

 

[Icky Thump]

That is a cool knife. I too love the look of an old, worn knife..where every chip, ding, crack and patina elude to its history.

This one looks to tell of a loong story, indeed...War and Peace, perhaps?...more war than peace, maybe..

Repaired by a carpenter..or farrier?

But yea, I would go w/ the Nosferatu story, as well..

Great knife

 

[singin50]

Ah, back in the day nothing was thrown away. People couldn't afford it! They had to make things last and last they did! This is why we see so many blades worn down to the nub. My father used to tell stories of not having enough food or clothing, and he and his younger brother sleeping on the back screened porch of their house. He always said they had to make their own fun, and work never ceased. There was much bartering going on then too. A dozen eggs for a quart of milk and such. While I don't have my grandfather's old pocketknife, I remember my dad telling me that he used it for everything, including prying things, slotting, or ax and hammer handle repairs and the like. There was no getting a new anything, no matter what it was. With no money in the country, most folks would simply barter or borrow. Beautiful knife, Rachel!

 

[315]

Regardless of the reasons they fixed it, imagine the stories.....

 

[Hickory n steel]

Wow that's a new one, but hey the knife is back together and able to have been used.
I can't imagine it going in pocket, but maybe it became a tool or tacklebox knife.

 

[glennbad]

Is it possible that the pins are meant to elevate the blades up and out of the well?

 

[WhittlinAway]

Two nails good; three nails better!

 

[flatblackcapo]

Well worth the ten bucks just to be able to pull it out of your pocket and hand it to a knife knut friend and watch their facial expressions as they try to puzzle it out.

 

[Modoc ED]

Nice knife and interesting. That knife would be a real challenge for glennbad

 

[kvaughn]

Field expediency at it's finest. Fix it with what ya got!--KV

 

[r8shell]

Is it possible that the pins are meant to elevate the blades up and out of the well?

That's an interesting theory. Kind of like a stop pin, I guess. I think I'll try painting the blade and pin with something and see if I can tell if they're hitting.

 

[afishhunter]

Was the knife possessed by an evil spirit that could only be killed by driving three silver stakes through it?

Yes.

 

[Ernie1980]

I have come across several home repaired knives, but have never seen anything quite like that!

 

[WinchesteRalox]

Hhhmm... very interesting.

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

Cool knife, be great to talk to the original owner. If your ever in eastern North Carolina I know an antique store with a great big bowl of knives you'd love! Most marked under 20 bucks some into the single didgets. Most exspensive one I seen was a Russell barlow with a worn main for 50. I might go back for that one myself. Those nails though, that's something else. Thanks for sharing!

 

[colubrid]

Love this story. Makes me want to buy some old knives like this for myself.

Nothing like a piece of history in your pocket.

 

[Amir Fleschwund]

Nails!
I don’t see why they would use crude nails. All they had to do was google “knife making supplies” on their smartphone, pick a supplier, and place an order for the correct size brass or ns pin stock.

 

[r8shell]

Cool knife, be great to talk to the original owner. If your ever in eastern North Carolina I know an antique store with a great big bowl of knives you'd love! Most marked under 20 bucks some into the single didgets. Most exspensive one I seen was a Russell barlow with a worn main for 50. I might go back for that one myself. Those nails though, that's something else. Thanks for sharing!

Oh, I'd love to fish through a big bowl of old knives.

Nails!
I don’t see why they would use crude nails. All they had to do was google “knife making supplies” on their smartphone, pick a supplier, and place an order for the correct size brass or ns pin stock.

Ha! I did catch myself thinking, "Why didn't they just use superglue or epoxy?"