What is the shield for?

myright · Mar 12, 2009

I see many, many different types of shields on slip joint knives ranging in design. I see some with a design in the shield and some with no design in the shield. Others with no shield and just test like the Long C Case I have pictured below. Maybe a long thin sheild like on the AG Russell of mine shown below, or a red,white, and blue shield, etc.

What is the significance of these shields? Where did it begin? Do the different designs mean anything or is it purely cosmetic?

joe-bob · Mar 12, 2009

They may have started out as makers' trademark logos, and they are still used for that. Some are very attractive indeed, which doesn't hurt anything.

myright · Mar 13, 2009

Yep - I'd imagine that is the most common use for them and quite possibly the original use for them. The ones that stump me are the ones like on the AG Russell pocket carver of mine shown above. I think it is very attractive with the shield, I was just wondering if there was any historical significance that I did not know about.

myright · Mar 14, 2009

I found a couple of crappy explanations on some other websites.

Thanks for the input joe-bob.

A. G. Russell · Mar 14, 2009

joe-bob said:
They may have started out as makers' trademark logos, and they are still used for that. Some are very attractive indeed, which doesn't hurt anything.

Joe, IMHO they began as a place for the initials of the owner and as a way of dressing up the knife.

Case probably began the move to use that space for advertizing. Shields, however, are much older than Case.

joe-bob · Mar 14, 2009

A. G. Russell said:
Joe, IMHO they began as a place for the initials of the owner and as a way of dressing up the knife.

Thanks, A.G. I hadn't thought of that. I don't think I've ever seen one with someone's initials on it.

myright · Mar 14, 2009

joe-bob said:
Thanks, A.G. I hadn't thought of that. I don't think I've ever seen one with someone's initials on it.

My A.G. above would look great with my name engraved in th shield.

Thanks for chiming in AG!!!:thumbup:

A. G. Russell · Mar 14, 2009

joe-bob said:
Thanks, A.G. I hadn't thought of that. I don't think I've ever seen one with someone's initials on it.

From the mid 1800s until about the late 1920s it was very common to engrave silverware, hair brushes and other things of daily use, including pocket knives.

myright · Mar 14, 2009

A. G. Russell said:
From the mid 1800s until about the late 1920s it was very common to engrave silverware, hair brushes and other things of daily use, including pocket knives.

:thumbup::thumbup:
Great info - Thanks