Unusual Ibberson Knife

meako said:
UUUURRGH then it would get all grunked up with that foul smelling crud:D[video]http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=video&cd=3&ved=0CCQQtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Do6-8k4vfKbw&ei=Kn1iVNTVOuXEmwXilIKoBQ&usg=AFQjCNFCUIfJE4cy9db0oZmU1nC74aOwOg&bvm=bv.79400599,d.dGY&cad=rja[/video]
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LOL! :D

Maybe the match-strike is just a nail file?! :confused:

Why didn't they just make the extension into a folding blade?! :confused:
 
I would have said a doctor's knife, with the round blade used to break down/split pills. But, because it is so small, it was probably a part of a larger grooming set.

n2s
 
Jack Black said:
I picked this wee Ibberson up today in a local market. Despite it's diminutive size, it's nicely made, and the 'spud' is also an extension of the back-spring rather than a separate piece. At first I took it to be a budding/grafting knife, but now I'm not so sure. For a start, there's what appears to be a match-strike along one side of the extension, most unusual, and while the edge opposite this isn't sharpened, there is a pronounced taper to a letter-opener type edge (something first noticed by ADEE). Then there's the end of the 'spud', which has a definite shape, it's pretty handy as a blade-opener. I'm beginning to think this might have been a special of some kind, perhaps for Ibberson reps to gift to dealers, or a souvenir at the annual Sheffield Cutler's Feast, or even something for the lads in the shop (the factory). Perhaps I'm just thinking too hard. Has anyone else seen anything like this before? I'd be grateful for your thoughts folks :thumbup:

Jack









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Was thinking - which can be dangerous.....:rolleyes:

Maybe this knife "was" a letter opener that broke?
And someone re-profiled the tip?
 
I wonder if it was for fixing a common problem with some archaic office machine, or for some office task that's been forgotten and was hard on the fingernails.
Or maybe some rotter made it up to irritate his betters.
For not much reason it reminds me of those whalebone spatulas they used to use to turn the pages of newspapers without getting inky paws.
I hope Stan can tell us.
Know any good psychometrists? (The guys who get vibes from handling objects)
 
Wait a minute- it also reminds me of the built-in prybar on my fancy cigar cutter, for opening cigar boxes.
 
It looks great, whatever it is. I really like that match-strike long-pull. Thanks for sharing.
 
scrteened porch said:
Wait a minute- it also reminds me of the built-in prybar on my fancy cigar cutter, for opening cigar boxes.
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Hmmm that's an interesting one. I do think prying must have been a part of it, otherwise why not just have a folding blade.

Thanks for all your ideas and suggestions folks, which are very much appreciated :thumbup:
 
Another thing that interests me about this knife, and makes me think it might be a special, are the tang-stamps - the Ibberson & Co violin and 'Firth Stainless'. There is no 'Sheffield, England', and I would have guessed this knife was made after the 'Firth Stainless' stamp was current.
 
Interesting Jack -as always my friend - by the way I just love my Pipe Cleaner knife by Ibberson Jack, I actually bought a couple of second hand pipes the other day so I could perhaps stage a few shots with it and the pipes!

I think that the "snub" shape has been added at a much later date - rather from manufacture-yes the match-trike was there- as I believe it was a desk knife, and the letter opener has been shortened, the person who did the shortening also took the time to file down a Ricasso type recess - although not totally even (shown in your 3rd photo) and has adapted the newly cut end into a "snub "end to make use of a "one use" tool that was sufficient to do a particular job - I have many home-made tools like that in my garage
 
Thanks Duncan. Hey, your pics are always good :) :thumbup:

I know this looks a bit like a desk knife, but it's much smaller than any desk knife I've ever seen (the blade is smaller than a Vic Classic), and there are other structural differences. If it was home-made, I'd say it could only have been modified by someone with reasonable skills, but personally I don't think it's a mod.
 
I think I now have reasonable evidence to suggest that the knife I posted yesterday was not a home-made modification! :eek:



What's this I hear you say, am I suffering from double vision?! :eek: ;) :D

No, my friends...

But first, I have to explain how I came to find yesterday's knife...

Since I started regularly visiting Yorkshire markets, I've obviously got to know some of the traders, a few of them quite well. Yesterday, I bumped into one feller in Huddersfield, who I know from Leeds. I looked after his stall for 15 minutes while he went to answer a call of nature and buy himself some cigarettes. When he came back, he told me that the guy on the next stall had a few penknives, and since they were covered up by something, showed me where they were. There were only two or three, including the unusual Ibberson.

I bumped into the same trader again today, and he told me that after I'd gone, he spotted another penknife, and got it for me, not realising it was identical to one that I'd got yesterday. Obviously I'm very happy to have it though, particularly as it shows that the one I got yesterday isn't unique.

Though of course I still don't know what it is! :D
 
My guess, a lifting style book binding knife, lifting knives are useful for lifting turnins and covering material when rebacking, and are useful for paper conservation tasks such as paring and mechanical removal of backing materials.

Pete
 
That's a good idea Pete :thumbup:

Would the 'match strike' fit in with that at all ?
 
Jack Black said:
That's a good idea Pete :thumbup:

Would the 'match strike' fit in with that at all ?
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Ok Jack.... New theory, the book binding bloke, has a second job, shucking oysters at night, (anyone who has spent any time doing knows how boring it can be), where he tokes on his pipe, lit proper with the match on his match strike, after second job he heads down to the pub orders up some bangers and mash, and uses the blade to level off the head on his oyster stout, and once again uses the match strike to enjoy a relaxing smoke, and trying to forget that he has to start the process all over again. :rolleyes:

So it's a book binding, oyster shucking, match striking, beer head leveling blade, that is also used for marmalade spreading and stirring tea, quite ingenious :D
Pete
 
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Excellent Pete! :D Who needs a Leatherman eh?! ;) :thumbup:
 
Wow!.... Excellent stuff going on Jack!- What a find two strange identical knives!
Got me beat - mind you most knives have :o
 
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