All About Pocket Knives

I like old knives. I mostly collect knives made before 1960. I just don`t get too excited about knives made after the 1960`s. Knives are kind of like cars, after the 1960`s they went down hill. There are a few exceptions, of course.

The knives I really like are the ones made before the turn of the 20th century. They were all hand made, forged blades, very few machines to do the work of a human hand, like today`s knives. The oldies were made by craftsmen that apprenticed for years before being deemed a master cutler. Today you could go to a modern knife company, what few are left and if they are hiring, and they will put you right to work making knives after a few days of watching an experienced employee. Not the case in the 19th and early 20th century.

The knives produced during this period are some of the nicest old knives you will ever see.
As I have time I will be posting pictures of some of these early knives here in this thread. If anyone else has some post them here too

Here is an early pre 1890 James Barber folding knife, 2-blades, half stops, grooved rat tail bolsters, and some of the nicest natural stag seen on an old knife. Steel bolsters, liners, and pins. A simple yet elegant knife made for the working man and sold for under $.75!

It has been used, carried, sharpened and still is in excellent working condition. You could put this one back to work for another lifetime. It is a proven winner and has earned my respect for the cutlers that made these knives way back when.

MB how long didthe Barber Co make pocket knives?

Glenn,

They were made between 1894-1944, or about 50 years.






M.B.

Nice old knife! That's the way stag should be fitted!
Here's an Empire from very near the turn of the last century;

That's a beauty, Charlie. I have no knowledge concerning vintage knives, but I've been viewing old threads on here regarding vintage knives lately, and am ready to sell off the newer knives I have, you folks have some wonderful historical knives. Thanks for sharing.

Wow! Nice old Empire Charlie. The first I have seen with stag.

Here is another favorite New England company of mine. They made high quality knives and in lots of different patterns.

Here is one you won`t see everyday. It has four blades, tang stamped H &B
New Britain Ct. The company produced knives from 1852 till 1912, they sold out to L. F. & C.

This is the only example from this company I have ever owned that had natural stag handles.

Check out the back side of this one

Nice Humason and Beckley, Dimitri! An oldie for sure!!!

Empire used a lot of stag actually, and often dyed it quite dark, possibly with potassium permanganate(sp?).
These are all genuine stag;

Charlie,

All those are very nice

I don`t know exactly how the old companies dyed their bone. I do know it hasn`t been reproduced on new knives you see made today. I think it is a lost art.

I have some english knives that have that dark color stag handles. The english companies used stag much more on knives than did american companies during the same time period.

Very nice knives guys. Thanks for showing them.

glenn wrote:MB how long didthe Barber Co make pocket knives?

The James Barber name and trademark were owned by Thomas Ellin & Co. That was the maker of MB's knife.

As usual, S-K steps up to the plate!! Thanks from across the pond!!
Where would we be without our knowledgeable members chiming in??

I'll drag out the old STACY from No 4 Newgate St. Those are the only markings and both blades are marked the same. It is unbelievable how hard the snap is on this old knife. Better have a good thumbnail if you plan to open it. It is smooth as silk as well.

Willie,

That Stacy is a great old knife. Grooved bolsters, square joint construction, that is why it has strong snap. Most all the early square joint constructed knives have strong snap, even after decades of use.

That Barber has strong snap as well.

Here now is another oldie. It is an Aaron Burkinshaw circa 1881-1920. Jigged bone handles, steel liners, bolsters, and pins. I find that the early knives used a lot of steel, liners, bolsters and pins.

After the 1930`s most all knives made had brass liners and pins, the fancy pearl models used nickle silver. Then around the start of WWII they had to use steel again, due to war time shortages.

It goes without saying Wullie.... I LIKE that knife!

Thanks Dave,

I like EVERYTHING I've seen so far!!

Keep 'em comin'!

Pretty sure this is pre-WWI. The only sheepfoot HJ of any brand I have ever seen. Empire Winsted, with Alvord's patent number on the punch.

That is an unusaul one!

Don`t hold back on them Empire`s now Charlie!

I remember owning a HJ with a sheepfoot master blade, I believe it was a Schrade?

I will have to look for it !

MILLER BRO`S wrote:That is an unusaul one!

Don`t hold back on them Empire`s now Charlie!

I remember owning a HJ with a sheepfoot master blade, I believe it was a Schrade?

I will have to look for it !

REALLY??? A Schrade???

An old empire witha tapered backspring and a seal cap bolster. (please correct me on the name of the bolster if i am wrong). The bolster looks to be part of the spring.

edgy46 wrote:An old empire witha tapered backspring and a seal cap bolster. (please correct me on the name of the bolster if i am wrong). The bolster looks to be part of the spring.

Bill,

Nice old Empire

The end, or seal cap is not part of the backspring. Neither are the front bolsters.

These are seperate parts. On your knife the seal cap is on the head end of the knife, and the bolsters are on the opposite end, where the knife blade is pinned.

The bolsters are attached to the steel liners, the backspring is between these two liners.

All these individual parts are pinned together to form the knife.

M.B.

Great Idea MB!
Well, Isnt there a rule about a "Mandatory Case Peanut" is such threads as this?

Hawke wrote:Isnt there a rule about a "Mandatory Case Peanut" is such threads as this?

Yes there is!

A nice looking knife with unusual handles

Thanks for showing it



M.B.

Here's a few of my,"made before 1960" knives.Actually quite a bit before then.
First is an Empire stag pen that has yet to be sharpened.One small handle crack.
Next is an I*XL whittler with unusual stag scales.
Next is an unmarked stag mini pruner.
Next is a Northfield UN-X-LED pen.
Next is a Remington/PAL transition knife.Pattern # is ink stamped.
Last is my favorite:A William Congreave quill knife with stag scales,birds-eye rivets,"silver steel"stamped on the blade and a small piece of bone riveted in the back to act as a blade stop.Circa 1840.

This is fun thread, GREAT knives guys!
Old Camillus jack with a snaggle toothed pen blade.


A cute little E.W. Howard with faux tortoise scales


A big ol Robeson Jumbo jack


An old puukko


A cool old Challenge jack with advertising on the back side.




A Robeson made advertising knife.



I guess that's enough to tie up anybody on dial up for a spell. Sorry.

Great stuff Wullie!I have an identical knife to that Howard but it has a different stamping;I'll have to dig it out and see what it is.4th knife from the right on pic 1.
Here is a picture I did up awhile ago.I wanted to see how many miniature knives I could fit on the area of a $20 bill.Managed to get 31 on it.All for now;got a paint job in the am.