Old Miniature Knives

[Miller Bro's]

Cool bolsters on that one Mark

[knife-nut]

Thank you Dimitri.

[LongBlade]

That's one mini beauty Mark ... tortoise and cool bolsters as Dimitri said ... sweet

[knife-nut]

Thank you.

[Jtx]

This one is about 1" closed.

[knife-nut]

Nice!

[Otis the 3rd]

I saw one of these hit ebay yesterday so I thought it would be fun to show mine. It's cool to compare the two, they were definitely made by two different cutlers. Hats off to the guys that assembled these. My eyes get crossed just opening the small blades, I can't imagine putting one together.

[edge213]

Otis, that is really cool!

[RobesonsRme.com]

I got this off Ebay this past week.

I posted it in the Robeson Forum, but given its diminutive size, it fits here, as well.

The knife is only 2 1/2" long, excluding the bail, so it's a dainty little thing.

It's in great condition. All blades walk and talk with significant and audible snaps. There are a few little scattered spots, but nothing really significant. There is no evidence of use and the knife has never been sharpened beyond that done at the factory.

There are long pulls on all blades.

All blades have sunk joints like those on their PocketEze knives.

The nickel-silver liners are nicely coined.

There are no cracks or chips in the pearl handles, although there is a bit of loss around a couple of the pins.

Three of the four blades are marked. The scissors are not. The file blade is the only one with a complete stamp. The "O" in "CO" has been ground away on the master spear and the file.

The stamp on the pen is ROBESON / CUTLERY CO.

The "O" in "CO" is upper case instead of lower and there is no line under it, which is usually an indication of German Manufacture.

I have never seen that stamp before and it is not shown in Tom Kalcevic's book, Knives Can Talk!.

All other similar known stamps are found on German or English made knives and date anywhere from 1885 to 1895, according to Kalcevic.

I have no firm conviction that this knife is that age, but I suspect it is close.

I think Robeson copyrighted their ShurEdge logo in 1903, so I think this knife predates that.

There is no country of origin on the knife anywhere.

The most perplexing thing is the knife has a valid Robeson pattern number, 743 / 202 in two lines on the back of the master spear. The "7" denotes pearl handles, the "4" four blades, the "3" nickel-silver liners and the "202" is the handle die shape number.

I have never seen a pre-1900 German import Robeson knife with a pattern number, so I think this one was made here.

I cannot find it right now, but I'm pretty sure I have read that Robeson did not institute their numbering system until after they moved to Perry, New York in 1899 or 1900.

Whatever the knife is, I think it is circa 1900 and possibly a very early product from the plant in Perry.

Photos should expand with a left click or two.

Charlie

[eveled]

I have a couple, aquired by accident with other knives.

[Miller Bro's]

Here's a bunch I picked up.........

[whitebuffalo58]

Nice bunch there Dimitri.

Here's a few I've picked up along the way.

WB

[Miller Bro's]

Hey Rob good to see you posting again!

Nice collection of mini's, I need to find one of those little "hatchet", bottle opener combos

[whitebuffalo58]

Thanks Dimitri, it's good to be back.

Those hatchet/bottle openers don't seem to show up quite as often as they used to, I'm still looking for one with a shield...and one of the miniature fixed blades without the shield...and one of the original combo sheaths...and...


WB

[kootenay joe]

Here is a 2" multiblade with ivory handles, marked "Drew & Sons/Circus" on the 3 main 'blades'.
I think "Circus" refers to an area of central London.
Age ? Probably "Civil War" era knife.
kj

[Miller Bro's]

Those hatchet/bottle openers don't seem to show up quite as often as they used to, I'm still looking for one with a shield...and one of the miniature fixed blades without the shield...and one of the original combo sheaths...and...

WB

It never ends does it? LoL

[Miller Bro's]

Here is a 2" multiblade with ivory handles, marked "Drew & Sons/Circus" on the 3 main 'blades'.
I think "Circus" refers to an area of central London.
Age ? Probably "Civil War" era knife.
kj

Roland, that's a beautiful little knife!

[kootenay joe]

Thanks D. It is obviously quite old and i wonder who used these small multiblades. Perhaps women in their purse ? if women commonly carried a purse in the mid 1800's ?
You still see quite a few of these small British multiblades so they were very well made, and all the ones i have seen have been resharpened a few times, so they got used, not just left in a drawer.
But, who used them ?
kj

[Miller Bro's]

In victorian times women used a chatelaine worn around their waist. Basically it had a series of chains with a spring clip on the end where you could secure items a victorian woman would need, they were handy and could be removed easily when needed. Some held sewing tools, keys, pocket knife, button hook, etc. etc. See attached photo.

Also these type of knives were sold with young children in mind or a gentleman would buy one for his vest pocket. The only exception I would make are the extremely small knives, under 1 1/2" these were not made to be used but were exhibition knives, novelty items and a show of the Cutler's skill.

[kootenay joe]

Thank you Dimitri. I did not know any of that.
kj

[Miller Bro's]

Your welcome Roland

Here's a nice little Ulster, not many knives this small had etched blades

[Old Folder]

Both the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation 1953 was manufactured by "Richards" Sheffield England. Both measure 1-7/8" closed. Fairly easy to date.

1939 New York World's Fair 1-½" closed. Cracked ice with the Perisphere and Trylon embossed on handle. Almost 80 years old.

One new on original card, and one loose Disneyland knife. 1-½" closed.
Obviously sold at Disneyland Park in Anaheim Ca. Between 1962 & 1967.
If you observe the "Disneyland" price tag affixed to the rear of the card, you will notice:
.50¢, plus .02¢ tax, total: .52¢ which equals = 4% California Sales Tax on the Dollar.
From 01/01/1962 to: 07/31/1967 Ca. Sales Tax was 4%. Prior to this date, tax was 2.5%. After this date, tax was 5.00%

[Miller Bro's]

Nice selection Dan!

[wlf]

Love those old "show offs". Boy Dan , seems like yesterday you joined,yet it's been years. Where's the the time gone.

[Old Folder]

Nice selection Dan!

Thank you Dimitri.