What kind of Pocket Knife is this?

[anthroguy2004]

A little background: I'm a graduate student studying archaeology. The anthropology department that I'm studying with hosts what is called a "potlatch" every August to kick off the new school year (you folks from the U.S. Northwest might be familiar with this). A potlatch is a historic tradition of Native Americans from the Northwest Coast. Like them, everyone in our department gets together to share lots of food and exchange gifts in a somewhat ritual atmosphere. The idea is that everyone parts with something that is meaningful to them, but in the process we strengthen our relationships with one another. It's a bit like Christmas, except that the objects given have each accrued their own personal histories. Some objects are re-gifted the following year, and so become associated with a chain a owners over time (adding to their symbolic value). At least two of the objects in circulation have been exchanging hands for about 20 years and so have become somewhat prestigious things to receive!

Anyway, this year I received this pocket knife as a gift from a mentor. I would love to know more about it. At the time, he explained what kind of knife it is and a bit of the history behind its design. He said that the design originates in the late 1800s (1880s, I believe), that it has a "bird beak" blade on one side, its made of Sheffield steel (each of its two blades is stamped with ERA James Barber Sheffield), and it sports some stylish decoration on one side. It looks to me like an antler handle. All this being said, I know nothing about knives and was wondering if anyone here could tell me more about this type of knife. Thanks!

[tjmurphy]

Goins Encyclopedia list ERA JAMES BARBER SHEFFIELD c.1894-1944 and that it is a trade-mark used by T. Ellin. I would say that the pattern is a serpentine pen with a wharncliffe master blade, very nice stag handles and very, very nice file work. I'm kind of a novice to knife collecting and someone will be along to give you real scoop. Nice knife, very nice tradition.

[Unk]

According to Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings, James Barber of Sheffield, UK was in business 1894 to 1944. It was a trademark used by Thomas Ellin & Co., which was in business from 1784 to 1970. So your knife should be circa 1894 to 1944.

Most folks would call the style of knife a "Wharncliffe", as it has a wharncliffe blade and a pen blade. The file work on the backspring and the blades may indicate that the knife has been apart and customized (I think). Most of the time this is done after the knife has been purchased, and the owner wants to customize it, although some factories sell knives already file worked.....I am not familiar enough with the James Barber company to say which is the case for your knife.

There are several folks on this board who are extremely knowledgable on Sheffield knives - I am sure they can provide you with more detail.

[tjmurphy]

Hey Unk!! Looks like our little fingers were dancing over the keyboard at the same time. We got to stop meeting like this

[Unk]

TJ - Great minds think alike!

[anthroguy2004]

Thanks for the information guys! I knew from perusing the other topics that someone would say something about my knife. It's nice to know that I really do have an antique of sorts. I hope you are right that the knife was once purposely modified by an owner; that would add a personal dimension to it. Hopefully one of the folks you both mentioned can tell me more about that design and these knives in general.

Thanks again!

[arathol]

That pattern is whats generally known today as a half whittler. The handles look to be red dyed stag. As to the file work, age and whether its been apart you would need to find someone who is familiar with construction techniques and details of the period and maybe find a catalogue showing similiar knives from the same maker or retailer. Small things such as font style or how the pins are swedged can be used to narrow it down.

[DRM60]

you got yourself a looker there anthroguy. really nice!

[anthroguy2004]

Thanks everyone! As per your suggestions, I'll be looking up more about this knife. To my untrained eye, it does appear that it was disassembled at some point, but it'll require a bit more research to be sure.

[Fishtank]

The Big Blade looks like an English Gardeners Pruning knife to me.

I am no expert, But I do carry a Laguiole Calmels all the time and I love it.

[Roush428r]

Old-timey Sheffield cutlers were referred to as "Little Messers". In Sheffield's heydey there were hundreds of these folks, but today there's likely but a few remaining...with the best known being Stan Shaw. He's in his eighties and has no apprentice. He has a waiting list such that unless you ordered quite some time ago, the odds and time are against you. Sheffield cutlers commonly added a personal touch to their work by fileworking the backspring and sometimes the a bit of the blade spine. This was referred to as "workbacked" in Sheffield. While the knife in question could have been disassembled and fileworked at a later time, it's just as likely that it was done at the time the knife was made.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Now that's an interesting and factual statement.

I don't know if Stan Shaw ever worked for ERA Barber.......and, the file work on this knife does not look like Mr. Shaw's, but it gave me an idea for a suggestion.

For years, regardless of for whom he was working, Stan Shaw marked his knives on the inside of a liner. Knives by him will be marked on the inside of the brass liner, "S.S.-76" or "78" or whatever year the knife was made.

Is it possible that other Sheffield "Little Messers" marked their work?

Take a look at the inside of the brass liners of the knife. See if there is a stamped legend of any kind.

You'll need a light source and some magnification.

Charlie Noyes

[Roush428r]

Now that's an interesting and factual statement.

I don't know if Stan Shaw ever worked for ERA Barber.......and, the file work on this knife does not look like Mr. Shaw's, but it gave me an idea for a suggestion.

For years, regardless of for whom he was working, Stan Shaw marked his knives on the inside of a liner. Knives by him will be marked on the inside of the brass liner, "S.S.-76" or "78" or whatever year the knife was made.

Is it possible that other Sheffield "Little Messers" marked their work?

Take a look at the inside of the brass liners of the knife. See if there is a stamped legend of any kind.

You'll need a light source and some magnification.

Charlie Noyes

I doubt Stan Shaw was the maker and I don't think he ever worked for Barber.

Yes, other Sheffield makers did in fact mark the inside liners of their work.

That's a great suggestion from Charlie.