Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

This forum is dedicated to the discussion and display of old knives. The rich history of all the many companies that made them through the early years will be found here as well as many fine examples of the cutlers art. Share pictures of your old knives and your knowledge here!
Post Reply
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

I wanted to start a new thread on vintage pocket knives that are handled with Genuine Mother Of Pearl.

These were some of the most expensive knives to buy back in the day.

Working with this substance is dangerous to your health and when the knives were being assembled it was easy to crack it. The workmen that hafted knives in Pearl were the highest paid! Too bad it ended their life prematurely :(

Most every pattern knife could be bought with MOP, at a higher price, therefore you see very few large knives with it as a handle material. The few examples like E. Toenails that have it command a very high price from collectors.

Lots of tiny, small, and medium sized pen knives come handled this way, I even have a 15/16" charm knife in MOP. It seems every small scrap of this material was used and not wasted.

Some of this pearl is what is called "Firey", meaning it has color. Some of this type is very attractive.

Here is a Boker MOP handle Office Knife, firey mother of pearl on the front and back side! It measures almost 4" closed, so these are big slabs.

If you have any vintage MOP handled knives, big or small, Let`s see `em ::tu::
Attachments
Boker
Boker
3.JPG (47.39 KiB) Viewed 15956 times
Boker
Boker
4.JPG (34 KiB) Viewed 15956 times
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
tjmurphy
Posts: 11129
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:41 pm
Location: South of Cincinnati

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by tjmurphy »

Here's a C. Lutters(sp?) Lion Brand
1.jpg
3.jpg
6.jpg
"There are none so blind as those that refuse to see"

God Bless America - Though I don't know why he would want to.
User avatar
Owd Wullie
Posts: 3622
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:31 am
Location: Macomb, MO

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Owd Wullie »

Here's another one of MB's knives.. ::tounge::
A pretty little Union Cutlery he traded me out of a while back.
Image

It has some AWESOME pearl on it.
Image

Just hard to get a good picture of that stuff. ::disgust::
Here's an old S&M
Image

Back scale is cracked :(
Image

ANd a pretty little UNITED CUTLERY Co Germany whittler I got from MB quite a while back in a roundtable trade.
Image

Got some more oldies but I need better pics.
Member of The West Texas Chapter Of Gun Ownin', Pickup Truck Drivin', Jingoistic, Right Wing, History Changin', Huge Carbon Footprint Leavin' Conspirators.
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Just picked up this little jewel today, a Case XX 8261 pattern.

Check out the secondary pen blade, yes it came this way from the factory!
Attachments
Case XX 8261
Case XX 8261
5.JPG (34.08 KiB) Viewed 15938 times
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

TJ,

Nice one!


Willie,

I like that old Schatt, crack and all ::nod:: ::tu::
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
Owd Wullie
Posts: 3622
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:31 am
Location: Macomb, MO

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Owd Wullie »

Miller Bro`s wrote:TJ,

Nice one!


Willie,

I like that old Schatt, crack and all ::nod:: ::tu::
Whatcha got to trade? :mrgreen: You know what trips my trigger. LOL
Member of The West Texas Chapter Of Gun Ownin', Pickup Truck Drivin', Jingoistic, Right Wing, History Changin', Huge Carbon Footprint Leavin' Conspirators.
gino
Posts: 8069
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:50 pm

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by gino »

This is one of my favs
Not quite as old as some of the others but 30 some years

Gerber Saki silver knight
Attachments
!BqPOyy!CGk~$(KGrHqEH-D8EuvhH4v!8BLu43tl3jg~~_35[1].jpg
!BqPOyy!CGk~$(KGrHqEH-D8EuvhH4v!8BLu43tl3jg~~_35[1].jpg (6.26 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
knife7knut
Posts: 10068
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by knife7knut »

Here's a few from my collection.Some are in relic condition and others near mint;I love them all.
First up is a really old multiblade marked,"A*Tyler Celebrated Cutlery" a little over 2" long.Some of the blades have tabs to assist in opening.
Second is a favorite:an Empire 2 blade with sterling silver bolsters and came in a nice chamois pouch.
Third is a 2 blade(Wharncliffe and coping)marked,"G&J Allen Superior Cutlery" with pique work and threaded bolsters on one end.Dates around 1840.
Fourth is an 8 bladed congress marked,"H.W.Mason &Co."Not in the greatest of shape but most unusual.
Fifth is a 4 bladed Krusius Brothers with button hook.
Sixth is a Needham Brothers with an ivory master blade;likely a fruit knife.
Seventh is a nice 4 blade Rodgers No.6 Norfolk St.
Eighth is a half congress by R.Bunting & Sons circa 1840.
Last is a 2 blade marked,"R.Thomson & Co."What is unusual is the length of the master blade;it barely fits in the handle.Not replaced as far as I can tell.
Attachments
Astar1TylerCelebrated Cutlery1.JPG
Astar1TylerCelebrated Cutlery1.JPG (29.1 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
Astar1TylerCelebratedCutlery2.JPG
Astar1TylerCelebratedCutlery2.JPG (27.49 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
EmpirePearl2.JPG
EmpirePearl2.JPG (25.34 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
GandJAllenSuperiorCutlery1.JPG
GandJAllenSuperiorCutlery1.JPG (29.77 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
HWMason&Co1.JPG
HWMason&Co1.JPG (16.21 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
Krusius1.JPG
Krusius1.JPG (25.31 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
Needham1.JPG
Needham1.JPG (25.85 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
No6 2.JPG
No6 2.JPG (28.01 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
RBunting0.JPG
RBunting0.JPG (24.55 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
RThomsonAndCo1.JPG
RThomsonAndCo1.JPG (23.55 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
gino
Posts: 8069
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:50 pm

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by gino »

Gerber
Silver knight ( only 30 something years old)
but one of my favs
Attachments
!BqPOyy!CGk~$(KGrHqEH-D8EuvhH4v!8BLu43tl3jg~~_35[1].jpg
!BqPOyy!CGk~$(KGrHqEH-D8EuvhH4v!8BLu43tl3jg~~_35[1].jpg (6.26 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
Jacknifeben
Posts: 1560
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:06 pm

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Jacknifeben »

holler when you get tired of looking at my CATTARAUGUS knives. numbers on these are cattle knife 32183, congress whittler 32053, long bolster equal end 22793, equal end 22683, and tip bolstered whittler 32683.
Attachments
MVC-031S.JPG
MVC-031S.JPG (32.81 KiB) Viewed 15920 times
MVC-032S.JPG
MVC-032S.JPG (40.35 KiB) Viewed 15920 times
MVC-033S.JPG
MVC-033S.JPG (34.8 KiB) Viewed 15920 times
MVC-034S.JPG
MVC-034S.JPG (37.41 KiB) Viewed 15920 times
MVC-035S.JPG
MVC-035S.JPG (36.74 KiB) Viewed 15920 times
Jacknifeben
Posts: 1560
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:06 pm

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Jacknifeben »

here is another cattle knife number 32203, a tip bolstered whittler and a knife that jewelers used to stock and personalize with your name number 3093.
Attachments
MVC-001S.JPG
MVC-001S.JPG (33.24 KiB) Viewed 15915 times
MVC-029S.JPG
MVC-029S.JPG (24.43 KiB) Viewed 15915 times
MVC-028S.JPG
MVC-028S.JPG (36.18 KiB) Viewed 15915 times
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

K7K,

Nice pearls ::tu::


JKB,

I ain`t tired yet...........keep `em coming :wink: :D
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
Owd Wullie
Posts: 3622
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:31 am
Location: Macomb, MO

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Owd Wullie »

Miller Bro`s wrote:K7K,

Nice pearls ::tu::


JKB,

I ain`t tired yet...........keep `em coming :wink: :D
What he said!! ::tu::
Member of The West Texas Chapter Of Gun Ownin', Pickup Truck Drivin', Jingoistic, Right Wing, History Changin', Huge Carbon Footprint Leavin' Conspirators.
knife7knut
Posts: 10068
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by knife7knut »

I'll third that;JKB those are some beautiful pearls!I could stay up all night looking at them!
Here's a few more to keep the thread going.:

First up is a Schrade lobster candle end with a black pearl scale on one side and regular pearl on the other from the factory.

Second is a Wahkonsa Cutlery Co.3 blade.Levine's guide(#3)lists the name but no information except a High rating.

Third is a W&G Vogel Cutlery Co.2 blade with a built in nail clipper.To access the clipper,there is a slide button that releases the spring loaded handle.

Fourth is three views of a W.H.Morley multi-blade knife with very fancy file work on the spine and file blade.

Last is a four blade marked,"Silver Steel" on one side and an owl's face on the other.I have no info on this knife at all but it looks old.
Attachments
SchradeBlkPearl1.JPG
SchradeBlkPearl1.JPG (25.62 KiB) Viewed 15885 times
SchradeBlkPearl2.JPG
SchradeBlkPearl2.JPG (25.64 KiB) Viewed 15885 times
WahkonsaCutlery1.JPG
WahkonsaCutlery1.JPG (26.6 KiB) Viewed 15885 times
WandGVogel11.JPG
WandGVogel11.JPG (23.68 KiB) Viewed 15885 times
WandGVogel1.JPG
WandGVogel1.JPG (11.87 KiB) Viewed 15885 times
WHMorley1.JPG
WHMorley1.JPG (31.68 KiB) Viewed 15885 times
WHMorley2.JPG
WHMorley2.JPG (22.33 KiB) Viewed 15885 times
WHMorley3.JPG
WHMorley3.JPG (21.99 KiB) Viewed 15885 times
SilverSteel3.JPG
SilverSteel3.JPG (25.98 KiB) Viewed 15885 times
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
User avatar
orvet
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 19336
Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 6:23 am
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by orvet »

Goins doesn't have much to say about Wahkonsa Cutlery Co. either: c. 1928 - 1930

Dale
Dale
AAPK Administrator

Please visit my AAPK store: www.allaboutpocketknives.com/orvet

Job 13:15

"Buy more ammo!" - Johnnie Fain
“Evil is Powerless If The Good are Unafraid.” – Ronald Reagan
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Here is a Swell-Center Balloon pen knife by New York Knife Co.

Some nice pearls posted here so far on this thread ::nod:: ::tu::
Attachments
N.Y. knife Co.
N.Y. knife Co.
6.JPG (38.28 KiB) Viewed 5957 times
AAPK Janitor
369
Jacknifeben
Posts: 1560
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:06 pm

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Jacknifeben »

JUST REMEMBERED THE WINCHESTER PEARLS. 2378, 2337, AND 3343 WHITTLER.
Attachments
MVC-002S.JPG
MVC-002S.JPG (37.53 KiB) Viewed 5949 times
MVC-003S.JPG
MVC-003S.JPG (38.57 KiB) Viewed 5949 times
MVC-004S.JPG
MVC-004S.JPG (25.92 KiB) Viewed 5949 times
ole_muddy
Posts: 365
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:52 pm

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by ole_muddy »

Here's two of mine. Both are advertisers, pre-prohibition I'd guess, and both are somewhere in the near mint to mint range, not counting the ink loss on the pearl. The Schlitz is a Wester Bros Germany and the Old Log Cabin/Golden Wedding is a PAL Brand, which Levine sez is a UK&R import brand from Germany or Czechoslovakia. I think the most interesting part of it is the bolsters, which I think are bakelite. Eric
Attachments
Schlitz Bartender's Knife c.jpg
Schlitz Bartender's Knife d.jpg
Old Log Cabin-Golden Wedding Whiskey Advertiser a.jpg
Old Log Cabin-Golden Wedding Whiskey Advertiser b.jpg
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

ole_muddy wrote: think the most interesting part of it is the bolsters, which I think are bakelite. Eric
Eric,

I have a knife with those bolsters I think they are made of Rubber or possibly dyed Leather.

I know one thing they are soft if you test them with your fingernail ::nod::

Check yours closer and let me know if they are soft ::tu::
AAPK Janitor
369
knife7knut
Posts: 10068
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by knife7knut »

Thought I'd add a few more to the mix;this time in a smaller vein.All of the pennies in the pictures are actual size.Most of these are unmarked except for the Peres,the Hart Cutlery,and the Krause.
Attachments
Hart&SonsFineCutlery1.jpg
Hart&SonsFineCutlery1.jpg (38.65 KiB) Viewed 5945 times
Hart&SonsFineCutlery2.jpg
Hart&SonsFineCutlery2.jpg (40.26 KiB) Viewed 5945 times
KrausGermany1.JPG
KrausGermany1.JPG (28.14 KiB) Viewed 5945 times
KrausGermany4.JPG
KrausGermany4.JPG (27.43 KiB) Viewed 5945 times
MiniKnife001.JPG
MiniKnife001.JPG (28.24 KiB) Viewed 5945 times
MiniKnife004.JPG
MiniKnife004.JPG (28.97 KiB) Viewed 5945 times
MiniKnife005.JPG
MiniKnife005.JPG (29.29 KiB) Viewed 5945 times
MiniKnife006.JPG
MiniKnife006.JPG (31.09 KiB) Viewed 5945 times
MiniKnife008.JPG
MiniKnife008.JPG (29.3 KiB) Viewed 5945 times
MiniKnife010.JPG
MiniKnife010.JPG (28.54 KiB) Viewed 5945 times
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
msteele6
Posts: 1963
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:29 pm
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by msteele6 »

-


Here's an old Torrey I got awhile back, don't really collect them but just couldn't resist. I still am not sure if the engraving on the bolsters is original or added.

-
TorreyPearlCattleKnife.jpg
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

WoW!

Nice Torrey ::drool::

If the bolsters are Aluminum, and I suspect they are, the engraving is original.
AAPK Janitor
369
knife7knut
Posts: 10068
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by knife7knut »

msteele6 wrote:-


Here's an old Torrey I got awhile back, don't really collect them but just couldn't resist. I still am not sure if the engraving on the bolsters is original or added.
That is the most beautiful pearl knife I have EVER seen!!! I would agree that the engraving is original to the knife and I would bet it was a VERY expensive piece in it's day.Judging by the condition it is in,whomever owned it treasured it.
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
User avatar
RobesonsRme.com
Posts: 9887
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:44 pm
Location: The Heart of Dixie.
Contact:

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

In the interest of time and space:
Enlarge the photo twice.
You guys are showing some great knives in this thread. I love pearl handled knives.
Charlie N.
Attachments
RobDisplay4.JPG
DE OPPRESSO LIBER

"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons ___but they are helpless against our prayers. "

Sidlow Baxter
User avatar
tjmurphy
Posts: 11129
Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:41 pm
Location: South of Cincinnati

Re: Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

Post by tjmurphy »

SHA - ZAMM!! Really nice Charlie. I'm kinda surprized there are any left.
"There are none so blind as those that refuse to see"

God Bless America - Though I don't know why he would want to.
Post Reply

Return to “Knife Lore - Traditional Knives From the Old Days”