Two Oldies!

[Bulldog-Arne]

This one have no tangmarks at all.The only thing I know about it is that it is a Swedish knife and it is said to be from between 1850 and 1900, or probably before 1890. About 1890 it was a peak in the production in the Eskilstunaregion,the cutlerydistrict, and it lasted more or less untill 1920-21. Before that, and after, it was quite usual that the relatively few an small cutleries didnt always bothered to mark their knives. Don´t know why.

Its 91 mm, that is about 3 3/8 "(?) and the handle is bone, some kind of cattlebone, cow or bull or something and it has got nickelsilver bolsters. It appears to be well made and is in rather good shape, no wobble and snaps all that you want and then some. Feels nice.
I am so curios who made it... and why he didnt put his mark on it. The corkscrew is forged instead of spun(if that´s the right words for it). I think its a beautiful knife .

So, here it is.

[Bulldog-Arne]

The other one is far from unknown. Its an Emil Olsson. EO started making knives 1894.. or was it -96? No, -94. They continued until 1967 but Emil himself were not since long no longer with them then. This is their model "17" and its from their early years, how early I dont know. About 3 1/8 ".

Its got the viking theme on it, rather usual on the crabstyle knives which have been made reproductions of you could call it, in the nineteenseventies and even around 2000 by other cutlers but this model 17 I think is more unusual than the crabs, and earlier with that decoration. Vikings were popular and highest fashion in the nationalistic and patriotic 1890´s. Its a pattern from a runestone. The vikings wrote their.. hm.. words of wisdom on these stones for they who came after to read. This one has an impressing dragons head on, something that could be seen in the front of their ships when they sailed at sea. The dragonhead was almost always taken down when the ships came near the shore or landed cause the supernatural beings didnt like it and could be angered if they didnt took it down before they approached land... except for the most toughest perhaps cause they didnt care what anyone thought. Well.. that was an isignificant paranthesis I would say.

There is a problem with this kind of knives. A frustrating problem They are nickelsilverplated and under the nickelsilver, wich comes off like bubbling paint on an old car and after 75 years or more it rusts incredibly. I dont know what to do about it. I reckon just to grind the rust away and put wax on it, or oil. So if someone have any suggestions... Its a pity cause they are well worth to save imo.

Nevertheless here it is.

[jonet143]

very nice

[smiling-knife]

Beautiful knives Bulldog-Arne. I think Swedish knives are very well made. The corkscrew on the first knife is a 'bladed' style. It is made on a lathe from a steel rod. There is one almost the very same in Don Bull's Ultimte corkscrew book. It was made by S. Molin of Eskilstuna. The only difference being the corkscrew on the Molin knife is the wire helix type. Don't know if your knife was made by the same maker. It could be a common pattern. s-k

[Bulldog-Arne]

Thanks
Interesting s-k, and I also learned some new words there The whole knife appears quite similar to some Molin knives, but as it is a model that became popular in the second half of the 1800´s, who knows...

[Bulldog-Arne]

By the way... here is a comparison between this knife and a Molin. Not much that differs.