Parker & Field (Prussia) Serpentine Whittler

[wlf]

Wostenholms:

[wlf]

2 Henckels and a Boker:

[wlf]

3 Germans: Henckel, Clauberg Bros., Griffon

[kootenay joe]

Not bad knives.
Awesome knives !
kj

[wlf]

Only two of those last ones are mine. The sacrificial knife is the German Western Cutlery whittler I posted on page three.

[gsmith7158]

This is really an exciting and most interesting thread. To think we may soon have an answer to something we have pondered about so many times before is wonderful!

[LongBlade]

I feel I should post the photos of this Wostenholm handle again after reading Charlie's post again - when I read "creamy white matrix" I kept thinking of these handles which are no doubt some type of pressed natural material that were darkly dyed - they certainly do not resemble the pattern nor the lighter color (dye) of the other knives posted but I can't help but think it may have been pressed stag (or horn)... I'll post mark and pile sides, wedged springs for a view of the thickness but importantly look at the tang stamp photo as you can see more clearly the underlying creamy white material which is not synthetic ... Again the handle is different but it may very well be related ... What do others think???

[danno50]

That is an interesting one,Lee. At first glance, I would have said horn. However, looking at the tang stamp photo it certainly looks more like stag?
I am looking forward to the results of Charlie's research. I thought I had a couple of Sheffield knives with pressed something?, but can't seem to find them.

[wlf]

Thanks for joining in the conversation Dan.

[LongBlade]

Thanks Dan ... The tang stamp photo shows the closeup - I’m not sure if I’m seeing Haversian canals but if one looks closely there is some striations of some sort ... just curious what people think - maybe Charlie’s investigation will show something similar... again not the same as other handle patterns but no doubt a natural material that I am guessing is pressed with the pattern... Will the real pressed or patent stag please stand up? ...

[danno50]

Lyle, I was reluctant to chime in on a subject with which I have very little experience. I am not sure if I have ever had a knife with this handle material in hand? I thought I had a couple, but can't find them. I do like the appearance of the material, especially on the first Wostenholm you posted.
Lee, the striations (or checks) in the tang stamp photo were what made me think stag, or bone? I cannot see any identifiable Haversian canals in any of your photos either. When I enlarge the photo of the backsprings, I think I can see layering in the material. This is most evident to me just above the end of the wedge? Whatever the material is, it is a nice knife.
Forgot to say how much I like Charlie's WH Morley knife. That Clover Brand blade stamp is great.

[FRJ]

I can't get past the idea that this is a manufactured process.
I always thought of these covers as a unique and likable, natural cover.

I have two examples.
A Morley and a Wostenholm

[LongBlade]

Thanks Dan - I agree with you on your observations - it does look like some possible layering and is why I tried to show different angles of the handle...

Nice additions Joe ... well the jury is still out on what the handle covers are so stay tuned - hopefully we’ll get to the bottom of this

[wlf]

Thanks Dan and Joe for joining in the conversation.

[upnorth]

I am slowly gathering my materials (and my courage)!!

Lyle has graciously sent me his "relic-ey" example knife to dissect and burn, and I have found a couple of pieces of stag and bone. I had some scraps of horn around - they are eluding me now, but I will likely find some.
Ain't we got fun!!??

[LongBlade]

Charlie - “Bonne Courage” ...

Lyle - Nice sacrifice for the cause - hope you don’t cringe when you see photos of Charlie hitting it with a hammer ...

[JAMESC41001]

Found a pic of a horn press

[kootenay joe]

Wow ! This is hard evidence that horn can be and has been, treated to have a pattern on the surface.
Great addition to this thread James !
kj

[LongBlade]

Nice addition Jay ... I wondered what a horn press would look like - basically a clamp and I would assume the mold would fit within it and being tightened down...

[Mason]

There is plenty of information and examples for pressed horn in a great variety of items.
Try to find anything on pressed stag, other than just the name.
"Pressed Stag" was used as a name in the cutlery industry, as was "Perfect Stag", "Imitation Stag", and "Improved Stag".
These were all meant as trade names and not a descriptive term like "Pressed Horn" was.
It is possible that some cutlery manufacturers used the term "Pressed Stag" for what was actually "Pressed Horn".

[JAMESC41001]

I recently read that there is a US Patent for pressed stag dated 1870 but have not had time to try and verify this. The process and the need were mostly done for pure economic reasons. Although many Sheffield exhibition knives discribe there knives as having “exhibition grade stag” for their handles. My understanding is not only were the choice sections used but that particular species and supply were deminishing so this may be an additional reason to try and replicate that.

[JAMESC41001]

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2689400A/en
Here is a link to a press for making stag knife handles.

[upnorth]

So, my project to take a close look at pressed material is inching along!
Here are some of the materials I have gathered to date; from the top:
- Jigged bone slab from GEC. I am looking for an undyed piece.
- Sambar stag slab, intended for a knife handle
- Checkered horn handles, bug-eaten, removed from a sportsman's knife
- the sacrificial knife that Lyle donated (Thanks, Lyle!!)
- Gunstock with pressed handles, pictured previously above.
- A knife handled in Red Deer antler.
(This Red deer, introduced and harvested in New Zealand, has a similar appearance to pressed stag!)

[wlf]

We anxiously await.

[Mason]

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2689400A/en
Here is a link to a press for making stag knife handles.

That patent is for pressing thin sheet metal handles, NOT for pressing genuine stag.