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This is a ***VERY RARE** Vintage and Antique C.F. BLANKE TEA & COFFEE CO 3-Blade Wharncliffe Splitback Whittler Folding Pocket Knife with a Still Working Stanhope Lens, a Used and Sharpened Carbon Steel Wharncliffe Main Blade with a Common Nail Pull, a Used and Sharpened Carbon Steel Cut Off Pen or Coping Blade Secondary Blade with a Common Nail Pull, a Carbon Steel Dual-Sided Nail File, or Manicure, Tertiary Blade, a Set of Genuine Mother-of-Pearl Scales with Raised Lettering on Each Scale Advertising C.F. Blanke, Two (2) Polished Brass Handle Pins in Each Scale with the Stanhope Lens Under the Wharncliffe Blade, Brightly Polished File Worked Brass Liners, Two Steel Back Springs in a Split Back Spring Configuration with No Cracks or Breaks, 2 7/8” in Length and Made for the C.F. Blanke Tea & Coffee Co of St. Louis, Missouri Most Likely Between c.1901-1909.

C.F. Blanke Tea & Coffee Co tins and boxes are widely collected but the only knives I’ve seen for them were bartender knives with Stanhope lenses similar to the more famous Budweiser examples. Mr. Blanke was related to Adolph Busch via the marriage of their children. It’s thought that is how he came to have some knives made with Stanhope lenses like the Budweiser bartender knives. But I have never seen one in Pearl. I’m sure they’re out there but I haven’t seen or couldn’t locate another. It’s got a few flaws but it’s still valuable to me in its present condition. This is a Vintage or Antique Novelty Cutlery Co. 3-blade Splitback Wharncliffe Whittler picture pocket knife. Novelty Cutlery was one of the first two knife makers licensed to make picture knives using the process of clear celluloid over a paper substrate. The paper could include just about anything the end customer wanted to present. Even individuals could order their own unique knife with whatever text or miniaturized photo the wanted to include. By the 1930’s the fad was beginning to play out plus knife makers realized all the shortcomings celluloid presented. Cracking and gassing plus celluloid being highly flammable were the issues. This knife has a used and sharpened carbon steel wharncliffe main blade with a long nail pull. The blade still appears to be close to full. Both faces do have scratches from use and scattered very light micro-pitting. The front tang is stamped NOVCO (in an arch)(over) USA (over) CANTON, O. On the other end of the frame is a used and sharpened carbon steel pen secondary blade with a long nail pull. The front face has a few very light pits and the rear face is pretty clean. The front tang is stamped NOVCO (in an arch)(over) USA (over) CANTON, O. The third blade is a used and sharpened sheepfoot blade with a long nail pull. Well, I think it is since it’s a bit rounded off. Both faces have just a little light pitting with the majority on the rear face. Stamped on the front tang is NOVCO (in an arch)(over) USA (over) CANTON, O. All three blades have excellent to hard snap on open and close. The scales are clear celluloid over a paper substrate. They are free of any cracks or splits but there is a small gouge in the front scale on top near the Wharncliffe blade. Printed in black on the paper on the front scale is W. E. Stadel (over) 415 Oakdale St (over) Grand Rapids, Mich. Judging by the nearness of Mr Stadel’s home so close to the heart of Grand Rapids I would guess this knife is closer to the 1879 date than the 1949. On the rear scale is the Masonic emblem so one would think Mr. Stadel to have been a Mason. Also on the back scale is the double headed eagle with a pyramid on top. I believe this is the Masonic symbol for the 32nd Degree of the Scottish Rite. The Eagle is holding a banner in its talons that reads in Latin SPES MEA DEO which translates loosely into English as MY HOPE IS IN GOD. all this research and I doubt a single person reads it. Anyway there are 3 nickel silver handle pins in each scale. It has brightly polished nickel silver rounded bolsters. The knife has brightly polished brass liners. The two steel back springs are in a split back spring configuration which allows the thicker wharncliffe main blade to ride evenly on both springs while the pen and Sheepsfoot blades beach ride on their own back spring. The back springs are in great condition with no cracks or breaks and both continue to perform the functions they were designed to perform. This is a unique and rare pattern for this Vintage or Antique Novelty Cutlery Company 3-blade Swayback Sorta Congress Splitback Wharncliffe Whittler Picture Pocket Knife. The knife was made in Canton, Ohio between c.1879-1949. The knife is 3 1/4” in length. Additional photos or information on request.

You must be at least 18 years of age to bid on or purchase this knife. By bidding on this knife you are guaranteeing you are least 18 years of age. No exceptions. Will ship to USA only. Don't even bother to ask if you are outside of the USA.

Knife will be safely packaged in bubble wrap and shipped in a box to reduce chances of damage. I will ship multiple purchases together to reduce shipping costs. If you win multiple items and want me to ship them together don't pay right away. Wait for me to send you an invoice reflecting the reduced shipping cost.

For Sale By: Robert’s Store

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