A British folder

[ZippyZip]

This one I definitely know I got in the UK, someone was demolishing a garden shed and this was at the bottom of a sack of junk.
This is after I've cleaned it so you can imagine what it was like!

Blade is marked (first line worn off by sharpening)

JOSEPH ALLEN & SONS SHEFFIELD

I assume it was a gardener's trimming knife, it's very weighty and the bone(?) handle is thick and chunky - the blade although deeply pitted still takes a keen edge!

Any ID, age etc would be appreciated.

[FRJ]

Hi, welcome, Zippyzip. Can you post pictures of the other side of the knife?
How about close ups of the tang? Thanks.

[gino]

Welcome ZZ, nice old knife, I like those handles.

[dcgm4]

Joseph Allen & Sons operated from 1864 to 1953. Judging by the shape of the handle and blade I think it may be a rope knife, though it could also be a variant of a pruner. The reason it has heft to it is because rope knives and pruners were made with thicker blades and backsprings. They were also usually made with steel liners rather than brass (which is lighter and more malleable) because steel can handle a heavier workload. Good-looking knife.

By the way, welcome to AAPK.

[knives-are-quiet]

Does it have any of these markings on it?

JW

[smiling-knife]

A nice looking knife. The top line likely reads NON-XLL which was a common trade mark for this company. It appears to have stag scales and a sheepsfoot blade. The handle tends to be curved the other way on Sheffield prunners. I'd say made early 1900s. Looks like the blade was repinned at some point. s-k

[ZippyZip]

Big thanks to all you experts!!

No other marks and the top line is not viewable even through my loupe

It has had a lanyard ring at some time, the ends of the rear pin extend for that purpose

For the record it weighs 171 grams

Attach some clearer pictures