Miller Bros. 1863-1926

[Beechtree]

Bruce, that is a wonderful old knife. It looks to be a WWI issue navy rope knife. That is an especially good score, no matter what condition the other side of the handle is. The blade looks good and at least it has one intact handle.

Joe, that wharncliffe is Fantastic!

Here is an old whittler with good blade etch

[FRJ]

A beautiful little whittler there, Beechtree.

[galvanic1882]

Here's one I picked up, love the etch!!

[CheckSix]

Cool MB's guys! Keep'em coming!

[RobesonsRme.com]

They certainly used some good looking bone.

Those pick-bone handles are fantastic.

Charlie

[KnifeSlinger#81]

Here's one I picked up, love the etch!!

That's a real beauty! I don't think many miller bros made it to oklahoma because I never see any.

[Beechtree]

Mike, that Miller Bro is stunning! The etch is fantastic and as per your knives as usual, it is a lovely example of fine cutlery. Whenever you want to part with it, you let me know

[wiseguy]

Great cutlery being shown in here and I try to contribute where I can (if anyone's interested take a look) ...When did they start & stop using screws on the covers ?

[LongBlade]

That is one beauty of a knife ... I believe the MB gravity knife is a fairly rare commodity and not an easy one to find... that one is very cool!! Thanks for sharing and posting it!!!

Good question on the screws being used by Miller Bros - as we know they didn't used screws on all knives and seems to me they used both pins and screws in the same time period - why screws on some and not others is not clear to me at all... certainly they were used on their rope knives in the WWI time period but not sure when they first started to use them... I never checked to see if they even put a patent in on screws as a way to attach scales but maybe that is a clue as to when at least they started to use them... even the patent you showed for the gravity knife doesn't clearly show screws at least when I look at the photo and that was 1885... ... great question and one that has me curious as well!!

[peanut740]

Goins notes that screw on handles was a Miller Brothers patent.

[LongBlade]

Thanks Roger! I did note that reading Goins after posting my reply but thanks for the confirmation... I just can not find the patent using many different search options... actually if the patent was early in MB Cutlery history I am pretty sure that they just didn't use it on all knives - the question is why? Maybe due to the knife pattern not being amenable to the screws but even there I have seen smaller knifes from MB use and not use them on other patterns... maybe higher end knives used the screws

[Beechtree]

It is true that they did not use it on all of there knives, but really most from pre 1900 did have screws. It seems sometime around then they transitioned out of using screws. If you take a look at the rope knives and gravity knives, (Like Wiseguys) they made for the Spanish American War, it is around this time that you some are screw less. As time progressed and as they used up there stock (I imagine) it appears that the knives no longer feature screws. I would date any knives with screws likely to be pre-1910, unless they were contract knives, such as Maher & Grosh, who may have purchased a very large order. They, for example, continued to offer some screw handled Miller Bros knives into the 1920s, particularly there 4" Colorado Stock Knife) even though I don't think many other of their knives at that point were Miller Brothers made. These are just some thoughts.

[Beechtree]

Also, fantastic knife wiseguy. That is a really special one. Thanks for sharing it!

[LongBlade]

Thanks for the info Beechtree

Very informative and much appreciated.. I didn't realize it was more of an early development to use brass screws but had no rationale or reason as to why... I do know many patterns did use the brass screws and quite frankly I probably have more MB knives without the brass screws than with them... Also I thought I had read the rope knives were made under contract from Miller Bros to the US Govt during WWI and didn't remember them being made for the Spanish American War so thanks - - anyway not sure I ever saw a MB rope knife with anything other than brass screws but I maybe have just never seen one.... anyway I will store this info in my noggin for safe keeping (actually in my noggin may not be so safe

[peanut740]

It likely was cheaper to pin than to screw on the handles.

[Beechtree]

Thats OK Lee, AAPK is here to keep the information safe from being lost from our leaky, sieve brains
I think you are absolutely right Roger, I would imagine it also took more time to instal then a pin.

[wiseguy]

Just dropped in for a minute, glad to see /read some thoughts on the screws I`m somewhat concerned that Dimitri hasn't chimed in given the topic heading , Maybe snowed in

[Miller Bro's]

I'm still kicking J!

Nice knives guys I like them all

[FRJ]

Here's one. A little tired, but all there. 3 1/8".

[montemojo]

Thats a good one Joe, I have a few. Heres one I have. You can barely see the etch and the pile side bone handle has been fixed where a peice broke off. I like it any way hope ya'll do too
Monte

[FRJ]

Here's a Miller Bros. with a PhD.

A very strong little knife. 2 9/16".

[Beechtree]

Seems like you've been doing well lately Joe, that is a neat one. It has some pretty ivory handles.

Great full blades on that one montemojo, good score.

[montemojo]

A couple of good ones Joe, thanks Beechtree

[FRJ]

Thank you Beechtree and thank you montemojo.

[montemojo]

Here is one of my best Miller's. Sadly it has been cleaned . I like it anyway and hope ya'll do too

Thanks Monte