Harness Jack

[sunburst]

Queen Schatt & Morgan Farmers Jack, candy-stripe celluloid!

This is not a model that most folks have sitting on top their dresser but I have got to say that it is really a nice everyday pocket knife that fit's well in your pocket.

I purchased the Candy Stripe model from one of the classiest gentleman in the knife collecting business Charlie Campagna, nothing but first class in my book and then some

Here is a little history on this knife;

This 3 1/2" harness or farmer's jack was inspired by an original that appeared in the 1911 Schatt & Morgan catalog. The design for the secondary punch blade is based on a 1908 patent for what was called a "Mayer" punch. Moritz Mayer of Syracuse, N.Y. invented this punch in 1906, finally receiving a patent in 1908. The goal was to be able to produce an easily manufactured, and thus inexpensive, tool for cutting a round hole in leather and other soft material. Schatt and Morgan used it in their 1911 catalog of knives (see attached pics for an image of model 1149, the basis for this modern knife, in the old catalog).
The steel is traditional, high-carbon, non-stainless 1095. The blade is hardened to Rockwell 57-58 while the punch is at Rockwell 51-52. The punches have to resist snapping when twisted, hence the lower Rockwell, while the blades do better harder, in keeping an edge. Made to use!

A total of 109 were made, 75 in Goldenroot bone and 25 in ebony and 9 in candy stripe. All have a nickel-silver Federal-style shield. The blades on the bone knives are etched "1 of 75", the candy stripe are marked "1 of 9" and the ebony "1 of 25". This means "one among" that number; they are not individually serial numbered. There are three stamps on each knife. The front of the master blade and the punch blade are both marked with the S&M logo {over} Titusville {over} PA. The reverse of the master is marked with the old Queen City stamp: Queen Cut. Co {arched, over} Titusville, PA.

This project was commissioned by Charlie Campagna, collector in Washington state, and will not be repeated. This is the second harness jack this collector has had Queen make up for him. The first piece, also made by Queen, is still available in several bone colors.

[jonet143]

wow, very nice.

[jfarmer]

Beautiful sunburst. I love that candystripe.

James

[smiling-knife]

Wow Sunburst... you really do have a 'bad' case of the Schatts. Great looking knife and somewhat unusal. Thanks s-k

[justold52]

can you please place this loved photo and history lesson in my celluloid handles post please sunburst. I am trying to make a history log of this subject.

[sunburst]

smiling-knife said

Great looking knife and somewhat unusal. Thanks s-k

Imagine a different era before everybody had an automobile. Instead most folks got around with horse & buggy. On that horse & buggy there were all kind of leather straps, buckles and items that involved a piece of leather. Now you when your leather breaks or your buckle finally wears out you need to fix that thing to get home. So you whip out your harness Jack knife and punch you a new hole to adjust the buckle so you can get the misses home so she can fix you up with a piece of that homeade apple pie...

[jonet143]

sunburst - great post. mmmmm that pie sure looks good.

[9ball]

They were also good to have around to put a few more notches in your belt.
Especially when the growing/hunting season was not going well.

9ball

Nice pocket knives you got there Sunburst

[tank]

Those are great looking knives sunburst. Can you message or email me how to contact Mr. Charlie Campagna ?
I love the jack knife pattern, it reminds me of the days when the pocketknife was a necessity not a just another gadget.
My email is relic (@) wildblue.net
BTW I ran across this article you might enjoy
http://www.vintageknives.com/tek9.asp?id=127
Thanks,
Anthony

[sunburst]

Thanks for the nice compliment Tank, I sent you a PM on the information you asked for...

Sunburst

9ball said

They were also good to have around to put a few more notches in your belt.

That works the other way to for folks who have to "increase" their belt size...

[Blade Runner]

Beautiful Knife Sunburst, And yes Charlie Campagna (waynorth) is one class act.
Take Care
Gary

[upnorth]

I just had this thread pointed out to me, and want to thank all of you for the nice complements! My passion for HJs runs unabated, and thought I'd post these here for your enjoyment. They are special limited pieces, some one of a kind, that were part of the production process of reviving these knives. I'm planning to do another this year, and maybe you all can help me decide on a choice!! Chime in if you like!

[Hukk]

Very nice group of Harness Jacks, thanks for sharing. I especially like the Tiger Coral and the Heart Abalone knives.
I'm a big fan of knives with Abalone Shell handles. There is a huge shortage of shell for the Red abalone and Green abalone due to the cancelation of the commercial fishery in California about 10 years ago. At this time there is no signs of the industry being revived. I have seen small pieces of knife quality abalone shell sell for nearly $100.00 per set and larger pieces go for much more, even over $200.00.
Just a guess, but I would assume that the prices of the knives will follow suit in the future.