Barrel Knife Multi-blade

[kootenay joe]

Here is a 3 1/4" eight blade Barrel knife, not a Swedish Barrel knife. Exquisitely made, smooth blade action, crisp snaps and no play, for all 8 blades. Handles look to be Snakewood.
This design goes back to vintage Sheffield days, likely made to show off a cutler's skill and shown in a cutlery merchant's display cabinet. Or made for a well to do gentleman.
This one does not appear to be vintage. I bought it over 10 years ago from Bill Claussen, author of "Sheffield Exhibition Knives". Bill had forgotten how he acquired i, but thought it might have been made by a knife maker in Japan. As with all Barrel knives i have seen, there are no markings. This seems to be a tradition for these knives. Although the blades are tiny, a skilled knife maker could put his mark on if he wanted to.
Have you seen one similar ? Any insightful thoughts as to maker or country of origin ?
If you have any Barrel knives please post pictures. The more we see, the more we might learn about them.
kj

[1967redrider]

I don't have anything like that, it's pretty cool!

[doglegg]

Roland, it seems that someone posted something similar a while back but certainly not the quality of yours. Very interesting and very beautiful.

[kootenay joe]

I posted a very old 16 blade ivory Barrel knife. Some of the blades are broken and condition is rough. I think it is a thread with "Ivory" in title.
I searched to see if i had posted this one previously but found nothing. I might have posted this years ago in BladeForums, not sure.
kj

[doglegg]

The one I'm thinking about only had blades on one end If I remember right. It was one of those 'what have I got?' or 'what is it?' post.

[Doc B]

Very cool KJ !!!

[Bfeldman]

That’s an amazing knife!

[btrwtr]

Beautiful knife KJ. I had posted an eight blade pearl knife with the same design. Unmarked as yours is KJ. These are referred to as being in the quill knife family.

[kootenay joe]

Grouping with Quill knives makes sense as these delicate blades should not be used to cut anything harder than a quill.
Wayne yours is a beauty, ivory & antique and almost certainly of Sheffield origin. Marvelous knife ! Likely made in 1800's but do you know if early or late 1800's ? I think this pattern goes back to 1830's or earlier ?
What is closed length ? Maybe 3 1/8" same as mine ? The knife maker who made mine possibly had a vintage example and took measurements.
kj

[Meridian_Mike]

MAN..... those are some really interesting knives! I've never seen such!
Now, I am sitting here trying to figure out how they are put together....LOL.
(The springs are a conundrum....)

[jmh58]

Very NICE Gents!!!
John

[RevolverGuy]

I've never seen one of these before. That is one pattern that should really make a comeback.

[petesknives]

Those were definitely owned by someone with wealth, definitely not for the average person.

[knife7knut]

A beautiful little knife Roland! I think it may have been made in Sheffield as the manicure blade looks to be of the Curley's Patent style. What is snakewood? I don't recall ever hearing of that material.

[Breeze]

Here are a couple of barrel knives that Bob Cargill made. I don't know much about them. Photos taken from a thread on bladeforum.

[kootenay joe]

WOW ! Those 2 Cargill Barrel knives are incredible ! I had no idea that he made such refined and challenging knives. These belong in the top tier of modern custom made knives. "Stunning" applies here and I feel a little stunned from seeing these pictures.
kj

[Breeze]

WOW ! Those 2 Cargill Barrel knives are incredible ! I had no idea that he made such refined and challenging knives. These belong in the top tier of modern custom made knives. "Stunning" applies here and I feel a little stunned from seeing these pictures.
kj

Definitely some exquisite craftsmanship.

[kentucky.2006]

Now that is real craftsmanship!

Jan

[RobesonsRme.com]

Are the two Cargill knives unique or did he make multiples of the patterns or other similar patterns?

Charlie

[1967redrider]

WOW ! Those 2 Cargill Barrel knives are incredible ! I had no idea that he made such refined and challenging knives. These belong in the top tier of modern custom made knives. "Stunning" applies here and I feel a little stunned from seeing these pictures.
kj

I Second that!!!

[Breeze]

Are the two Cargill knives unique or did he make multiples of the patterns or other similar patterns?

Charlie

I think they were very rare one offs. Here's a page from his original website where he mentions working on one for 3 years. And another snippet from when he was president of NKCA mentioning working on one for a specific person.

[kootenay joe]

I had no idea that Bob Cargill was a Master Cutler of the highest degree.
His 24 blade ivory Barrel knife has 87 pieces and can be taken apart and reassembled with the help of a 'road map' he provides ! I would not attempt this.
Anyone know where this knife is now ?
Totally Amazing.
kj

[galvanic1882]

Great thread KJ, I have always liked this type of knife and Bill had some beauties in his collection. Richard Rogers made one for him years ago that was modeled after a Rodgers knife. I think it was a Rodgers knife but could be mistaken.

Here is the only one I have it's a Friedmann & Lauterjung marked knife with ivory handles.

[kootenay joe]

Mike, Fantastic knife ! It is the first i have heard of markings on a Barrel knife.
Levine lists F & L as a "wholesaler" which includes being an importer ? and out of business in 1909, so your knife is older than this date. (which i am sure you know)
Does the "Lauterjung" mean a connection with Puma ?
Likely made in a small high end cutlery shop than by a large cutlery manufacturer ?
Likely there are a few more of these 'out there' safely stored as a family treasure. If so i would love to find one.
Thank you for posting it.
kj

[1967redrider]

Another beauty, galvanic!!! I always enjoy seeing the gems you have found.