Thomas Jefferson's knife.

kamagong

kamagong

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I came upon this on another site and I thought you guys would get a kick out of it.



Artist/Maker: England, probably Sheffield[1]
Created: 1800-1825
Origin/Purchase: England
Materials: steel, wood
Dimensions: 8.9 x 1.9 (3 1/2 x 3/4 in.)
Location: Monticello's Visitor Center
Provenance: Thomas Jefferson; by descent to Ellen and Joseph Coolidge; by descent to Harold Jefferson Coolidge; by acquisition to the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution; by loan to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in 1986
Accession Number: 1986-15
Historical Notes: Jefferson recorded purchases of several knives in his Memorandum Books between 1767 and 1819, but it is not clear when this particular pocketknife with wooden sides and multiple blades was acquired. The handy device has twelve tools, including saw, file, drill, corkscrew, and knife blades. It is very similar to pocketknives illustrated in a patternbook of the predominant Sheffield cutlery manufacturers in 1816.[2]

This pocketknife and the others that Jefferson owned were no doubt often carried in his coat pocket. He recorded in his Memorandum Book in 1810, "Pd. Clasby [for] finding knife 1. [dollar]."
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Did a quick search and I found this picture, interesting knife to say the least.



Edit: Just seen your edited post with the same picture.
 
Very interesting Christian, thanks for posting :thumbup:
 
That is interesting. I immediately thought the scales were horn until I read the description. Thanks for posting.
 
What's the closest equivalent SAK available today? (Good ideas are always older than you think!)
 
ms3902 said:
What is the the piece sticking straight up by the bolster used for?
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It looks like a 'fish hook disgorger' to me... Just a guess. Any other opinions? On closer inspection, it might just be a rolled metal hole punch.
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Thanks for sharing, I have a 6.9 degree to the umpteenth power of separation to this knife my wife is a descendent of the Coolidge family, she is named after one of the later Coolidge family members and my first daughters middle name is Coolidge to honor the families name and hopefully give my daughter a sense of her heritage.


The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Center at Coolidge Point (TJMC), established in 2011, provides an environment conducive to the study of political thinkers of the Early American Republic. A yearly lecture relates to Thomas Jefferson’s life and philosophy.

TJMC comprises a Conference Center and Georgian style residence, situated on 15 coastal acres of woodlands, lawns and garden. The Center encourages organizations and institutions to submit proposals for programs. Among those who have made use of the facilities are The Harvard Art Museums, The Massachusetts Historical Society, The Cape Ann Museum and the Massachusetts Society, Children of the American Revolution.

The Jefferson legacy is the result of the marriage at Monticello in 1825 of Jefferson’s granddaughter Ellen Wayles Randolph to Joseph Coolidge, Jr., of Boston. Their youngest son, Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, bought what is now Coolidge Point in 1871

http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/northeast-ma/coolidge-reservation.html

http://jeffersonmemorialcenter.org/about/
Pete
 
smiling-knife said:
That is interesting. I immediately thought the scales were horn until I read the description. Thanks for posting.
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The scales ARE horn, notice the insect chews.

"What is the the piece sticking straight up by the bolster used for? "

I believe it's a hole punch, but could be a hollow key of some sort.

Best regards

Robin
 
Pipeman said:
Naaaa:D,it's likely a hole punch. Could be a key of some sort.

Regards

Robin
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I

If you take a close look at it their is a split in the end . like the end of a dermal . as if something sits inside it . it's either that or for screwdriver bits :D
 
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