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That is a nice early 20th Century knife to collect and even better that you have worked it to be safe to carry and use.
It adds to the story that with the help of Knifeaholic and the late Col. Mayes book, you have narrowed down the manufactory from which it came.
Is it reasonable to say that, as a Cattle Knife, it is the ebony handle material and on a “swell-center balloon” die?
Here is an illustration of the Diamond Edge iteration of the knife, from the 1942 Shapleigh’s Hardware Co. Dealer’s Catalogue reprint, which offering presumably would not have come from Empire Knife Co., but rather one of the other makers of that hardware store’s branded knives.
Thank you, stumpstalker.
For the life of me I can't get this thing to be a cattle knife. I see it as a whittler.
In my view I would call it a swell center balloon sleeve board with ebony covers.
I was saying it was made by Empire because of the catalog description in Mayes's book.
Dug out my reference book by Mark Erickson on American switchblades. Knives were made by Schrade.
This one is just “Shapleigh”, with the DE logo below.
Edited to hide my myopic vision…
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That is a beauty, Ike, and a hard knife to make. Four blades is a lot to keep track of in a blade well.
Beautiful covers and bolsters in a sleevboard pattern; with a punch. That's pretty special.
Chris i woke last night to the sound of thunder
how far off i sat and wondered
started humming a song from nineteen sixty two
aint it funny how the night moves
Great knife Ike I’m with Lyle, I believe it was made by Schrade. Those divot jigged bone handles are nice. It is generally believed they came after pick bone but before peach seed. If you have a copy of the Schrade 1928 catalog E and supplements on page 15 top left there is 4 blade sleeveboard that has a frame like yours but with some different blades. I am sure Schrade could change up the blade selection for a customer like Shapleigh. Good Catch!!
