What folding knife did Sherlock Holmes have?

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Bruce Bump

Bruce Bump

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I want to make one. I made a very small basket weave patterned damacus bar that just reminds me of Sherlock Holmes. Maybe I'm losing my mind but if anybody knows or at least has an idea about his knife you guys here will.
 
I can see him with a Doctors pattern. Sharp blade and a spatula to poke and prod with. I don't have any clue what knife he carries though. Just me thinking out loud.
 
if i am not mistaken, didnt one of them use a straight razer for their cutting needs?

then again, Watson was a military doctor and a veteran of the afghan war, so i would suspect he used whatever was common for english soldiers of the 1870s-80s
 
The only knife I recall from the stories was a "horn handled clasp knife" It was found next to the murdered mafia assassin in the Tale of the Six Napoleans.
May have to look through the books again.

I think Watson carried a folding lancet. Do not remember specific references.
 
Watson was a doctor but Sherlock was a detective and a well dressed with at that. Thats why I think this mini-basket weave reminds me of his weaved clothing and time period.
 
The only references to personal knives that he carried were "pocket-knife" and "jack knife". I don't recall ever seeing a description but he carried one.

What is the epitome of a jacknife from the 1890's? That would be it
 
tomcrx said:
The only references to personal knives that he carried were "pocket-knife" and "jack knife". I don't recall ever seeing a description but he carried one.

What is the epitome of a jacknife from the 1890's? That would be it
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Make a big 'ol English Jack ! It oughtta be a winner
 
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I envisaged he'd have something like this in his coat, being a pipe smoker in the late 19th century :) but a decent sized english jackknife would have been common for all classes in england during that period.
 
I just read that he wasnt organized with paperwork but knew where everything was. He used a Jack Knife to hold documents to the mantel.

Anybody have an 1890's English Jackknife to look at?
 
I've read all of the SH stories and I can't recall any description of a knife that he might have used. If you have a look at some of these though, it is entirely possible that whatever he might have carried could conceivably have been one of them.


http://www.knivesaustralia.com.au/wrights.html#willing-workers


This knife of mine, pictured below, is a traditional "Australian" knife made by and English knifemaker and would have existed during the right period.

AKC-clubknife-20th.jpg




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Ah a Barlow, how about an ivory handled Barlow with a pipe cleaner blade? That pocket tool is abit overwelming.
 
stag and black (or really dark) jigged bone are what I've seen on a lot of older sheffield knives from the period...I'm sure ivory was used, but cant say i've seen one.
 
Either would be great. Incorporate the houndstooth basket weave into the ivory. Here is the original thread at BB for your perusal.

I see Holmes more into Ivory myself after thinking about it. Don't know why, just seems more appropriate.

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I picture him with a small double edge dirk and that smokers knife. Both hafted in pearl or Ivory.
 
It's too bad that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did not go to any lengths to describe the pocket knife Holmes carried, but being the 1890's, and Sheffield still at the hight of their glory, I'd imagine it must have been a very nice one.

On screen at least, in the Jeremy Brett series produced by Granada Television, holmes was shown to be using a wharncliffe bladed knife with an outline very much like a humpback, with pearl or ivory scales. Hard to tell, just got a glimpse of Brett using it to scrape some lamp soot off an oil lamp shade in "The Devils Foot"episode.

Oh to be in a 1890's knife shop in England. :D

Carl.
 
Robert.B said:
If a time machine were ever made this would be the reason for it. :D
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And I think I'd volunteer for the test run. Come back with pockets bulging with knives like smiling-knife is showing off, and an arm full of nice blackthorns. A few Webley's may come back with me. I always thought those top break revolvers were a class act.

As far as Holmes, I imagine being a bit of a discriminating character, he'd have the best available. With Sheffield in his backyard, and all the London shops, he have a pick of the best there was. In that heyday, Sheffield was in a class by themselves. I don't think Solingen or Sekei ever came up to that standard. I don't think the world will ever see the like of Sheffield again. With the British empire covering the globe, they had the choice materials from all over the world, and the master cutlers putting it all together.

Of course to consider, Holmes was fond of disguises. The nice wharcliffe himpback may do for normal use, but in the guise of a loafer hanging around the stables, a simple ebony or horn jack may be the ticket. With attention to fine detail, he'd have another knife for carry while in disguise than not.

Carl.
 
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