Antique Old knife unknown brand name???

[raincrowe]

I would like to feature a knife I've owned for a long time! I don't remember where or how I got the knife
but found it lately going through my collection... I would appreciate some help on identifying this one
It's a two bladed knife, three and three eight's inches closed, very slim in width and fits the hand extremely well
The knife has beautiful bolsters I think they are one piece with the liners... the handles appear to be tortoise shell
the brand I can't make out but check the online picture and my hope is someone can!!
Would like any and all information Thanks in advance

[BWT]

That’s a good looking ole knife RC I wish I could help you out but I don’t have a clue? I have posted a couple on here before and sometimes no one has any information to give. I like the knife though!

[raincrowe]

Thank you Bill...I believe the knife's older perhaps a quill or gentleman's knife
A lot can be told about a knife for instance the design on the bolsters, blades, handles are unique!
Hopefully someone can fill in the blanks when all these factors are included!!

[kootenay joe]

The tang marking looks like it might be "JAPAN" ?
I wonder if Japan was exporting folding knives 100 years ago ?
kj

[raincrowe]

Great job kj...After closer examination it's does look like it could be Japan on the tang...It would be a topic to research
Check when Japan started exporting knives and would the same rules follow adding the country's name after the 1890's
I like the design on the bolsters do you have any idea what they resemble or what they mean?
The knife looks old and it's in good condition...Could it be that they copied a knife from an earlier time period!!

[RobesonsRme.com]

Seriously doubt Japan on that one.

Appears to be 19th century, possibly even 18th.

If the bolsters and liners are one piece, that would support that kind of age.

Joints appear to be clean and square, another indicator of advanced age.

If it’s not English, I’d guess French.

A little large for a quill knife, but the blades certainly suggest that.

I don’t recommend a heat test on the handles, but knowing whether they are genuine tortoise or celluloid would help with aging and quality assessment.

I think it’s a beautiful piece of truly antique pocket cutlery.

[edge213]

Certainly a beautiful knife.

[56Dodgers]

Beautiful knife, my off-the-cuff analysis is British manufacture and likely prior to 1860. Are the liner/bolsters sterling silver? Do they have any hallmarks on the bolsters or inside the knife that you can see? I would agree with the others that if it is not British, its likely continental Europe. French knives, however, usually are marked on the flat of the blade and not on the tangs, however, that is a broad generalization.

[petekuhn]

Late 18th century Sheffield You will need to read the tang stamp and look it up

[petekuhn]

I cant read the tang stamp or I would look it up . I tried guessing but that doesnt work

[raincrowe]

I believe the knife to be 18th century Sheffield; but I can't seem to read the name, nor can I even guess
The bolsters may have a clue after inspecting them the symbols appear
To resemble a peacock with feathers spread, on top a pedestal with a crown above the head
These symbols may represent some idea or cutlery mark in that time period or just be my imagination
If only this knife could talk... I would like to thank everybody for their input and welcome other theories

[raincrowe]

Would like to see if anyone can make out the letters on the brand name J ????

[petekuhn]

Shine a light on it from the side. Helps with coins and tang stamps.

[raincrowe]

Thanks!!.... I will give that a try...Hopefully that will help...

[raincrowe]

Thanks!!.... I will give that a try...Hopefully that will help...

[raincrowe]

Sorry for the long delay about the name on the knife... I have taken it to a coin dealer and got it examined...
They couldn't verify the name either I found a different glass and took some pictures
Hopefully this can help identify the name

[richard]

JARVIS ?

[raincrowe]

JARVIS.....Are there any others knives by that name?

[danno50]

There are two entries for Jarvis in Tweedale's "Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers1740 - 2013.

James Jarvis - manufactured pen and pocket knives starting in 1833. He was known for producing pen, pocket and slit knives with cast iron handles. He may have died in 1868? His son, James John Jarvis, was listed as a manufacture of iron-handles spring knives during the 1880s.

The other listing is Thomas Jarvis, who is listed under the entry for John Merrill & Company and there s very little information given for him. Samuel Merrill joined Thomas Jarvis as a haft and scale presser and bone merchant in 1837. During the 1840s the firm became Merrill, Jarvis & Merrill. The firm was dissolved in 1852 and Thomas Jarvis went his own way, becoming a horn merchant. He died in 1883. No mention of him ever having been a knife manufacturer.

That is a nice old knife, my money would be on real tortoise shell.

[raincrowe]

There are two entries for Jarvis in Tweedale's "Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers1740 - 2013.

James Jarvis - manufactured pen and pocket knives starting in 1833. He was known for producing pen, pocket and slit knives with cast iron handles. He may have died in 1868? His son, James John Jarvis, was listed as a manufacture of iron-handles spring knives during the 1880s.

The other listing is Thomas Jarvis, who is listed under the entry for John Merrill & Company and there s very little information given for him. Samuel Merrill joined Thomas Jarvis as a haft and scale presser and bone merchant in 1837. During the 1840s the firm became Merrill, Jarvis & Merrill. The firm was dissolved in 1852 and Thomas Jarvis went his own way, becoming a horn merchant. He died in 1883. No mention of him ever having been a knife manufacturer.

That is a nice old knife, my money would be on real tortoise shell.

Thank You Danno....Awesome I'm very pleased to hear this information...I agree that the handles are real tortoise shell