Oldest folding knives

OLDE CUTLER · Post by **OLDE CUTLER** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 3:05 pm

There are a lot of really old folding knives around and from time to time some of you have pictured them in other threads here on AAPK. Got me to thinking, what are my oldest. The three below are probably my oldest, but don't go back too far. I have seen pictures of some that are in museums and go back to the time of the Romans. Anybody have one that old? I would like to see those oldest folders you have.
Wilbert Moose, about 1908

Nelson Knives Germany whittler, about 1894 (has been rehandled)

Atlantic Jack Germany, about 1900

ken98k · Post by **ken98k** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:06 pm

Just curious, did Wilbert name the knife in your 1st photo "moose" ?
Or is moose a more recent name for that pattern?

tongueriver · Post by **tongueriver** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:20 pm

I have some folding knives that date from about 1900 to WWII, but lots of those around, so I wanted to show this one, which does not easily fold.
1800s English bread slicing knife. Blade about 8 inches. Handle about 5 inches. Bolster is integrally forged with the blade. Blade is serrated, has an elegantly curved shape, with a light swedge on the mark side. Stamped or etched into the center of the blade on the mark side, in a decorative old font is “Bread Knife.” To the right of that is WADE WINGFIELD over & ROWBOTHAM over SHEFFIELD. To the right of that is a crown, with the top to the left. To the right of that is an icon which I don’t understand, perhaps a bird’s wing. The blade shows very light scratches and sharpening marks, patina, and some pitting. The handle is a wooden lathe turning, with a stylized wheat head on the mark side and some decorative kerfs on the pile side. It terminates in a little button or nipple. The wood is in excellent condition, without significant scratches, and no damage. Goins’ Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings 1998 edition says circa 1825 until 1852, at which time the firm became Wingfield and Rowbotham.

glennbad · Post by **glennbad** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 5:55 pm

Probably my oldest, a Wade & Butcher.

Can't say for sure, but thinking somewhere around later 1800's

OLDE CUTLER · Post by **OLDE CUTLER** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 6:25 pm

ken98k wrote:Just curious, did Wilbert name the knife in your 1st photo "moose" ?
Or is moose a more recent name for that pattern?

I don't think that a Wilbert Cutlery Co. as stamped on the blade actually existed. It was stamped on knives that were sold in the Sears & Roebuck catalog and made by other companies. I think the moose pattern name is probably more recent. I have seen a 1908 reprint Sears & Roebuck catalog and they refer to this model as the "Gladiator" and that is what was etched on the blade. By the way, in the 1908 catalog it sold for 74 cents plus 5 cents shipping!!
Probably a lot of money back in the day.

knife7knut · Post by **knife7knut** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 6:44 pm

tongueriver wrote: To the right of that is a crown, with the top to the left. To the right of that is an icon which I don’t understand, perhaps a bird’s wing.

The figure is a harp with a winged cherub as part of the frame.(see pic). I have a 7 day razor set by WW&R.
As for my oldest folding knives;I have many.Here is a partial list with approximate dates.
R.Bunting & Sons 1837-1864(2 blade congress)
American Knife Co. Plymouth 1849-1875(ebony jack)
George Woodhead 1850-1876(2: a sleeveboard pen and a pruner)
Peters Brothers 1876-1886(2:Interframe whittler & 4 blade swayback jack)
Tyler Celebrated Cutlery 1869-1877(miniature pearl multiblade)
Charles Congreave 1825-1865(stag handled quill knife)
Ward Brothers 1867-1881(4 blade pen with silver stars and abalone inlays)
Unwin & Rogers1848-1867(ivory handled with mechanical pencil as a secondary blade)

And here are some that have no dates but are obviously from the mid 1800's
GH Exhibition Sheffield(pruner)
Alfred & Sons Celebrated Cutlery(2 blade pen)
H.W.Mason Sheffield(8 blade congress)
G & J Allen Celebrated Cutlery(pearl Wharncliffe with pique work circa 1840-1850)