"Lobster" question

[pocketkeeper]

I recently got this sleeveboard lobster pen. It isn't valuable but it is my only lobster pattern and I only paid $1.00 at a yard sale. My question is, why is this pattern called a "lobster"? Where did that name come from? I've read about the guy who invented the spring system on which these knives are based, but I've yet to hear how it got the name "lobster". I guess the back blade on my (German made) knife is for manicure. The inside edge is a file but it is awfully narrow for a nail file.
Dave

[btrwtr]

I'm not sure but always assumed that the name came from the way the knife is double sided and the blades open in the manor of a lobster claw. It could also be the less conspicuous design of the springs that can be wishbone shaped and again like a claw in shape. Maybe someone has a better and more definite answer.

Very nice little knife and a true bargain at $1.

Wayne

[RobesonsRme.com]

Open all the blades/
Lay it on a table.
Can you not see the "lobster"?
Charlie Noyes

[pocketkeeper]

Well, Charlie, I have to tell you...... I live in Maine. We're pretty familiar with lobsters here. That knife don't look like no lobsters come out of our waters. Ah yuh!
Dave

[RobesonsRme.com]

Make a "stick" drawing of a lobster.

[tjmurphy]

Well, Charlie, I have to tell you...... I live in Maine. We're pretty familiar with lobsters here. That knife don't look like no lobsters come out of our waters. Ah yuh!
Dave

It's an Arizona lobster

[orvet]

It's an Arizona lobster

A scorpion?

[carrmillus]

......I've got one I got off of ebay about 10 years ago, a Camillus,both blades 4 line stamped, pick is not marked, brown rogers bone handles....I've never seen another one like it!!........... ............

[pocketkeeper]

Charlie.... I just made that stick drawing of a lobster. But it looks more like a stick than my knife. Maybe if I make a stick drawing of my knife.....?

[Miller Bro's]

It could also be the less conspicuous design of the springs that can be wishbone shaped and again like a claw in shape. Maybe someone has a better and more definite answer.

It`s the shape of the internal spring that gives the knife it`s name.

[Dinadan]

It could also be the less conspicuous design of the springs that can be wishbone shaped and again like a claw in shape. Maybe someone has a better and more definite answer.

It`s the shape of the internal spring that gives the knife it`s name.

Do you have a link to a photo or drawing of the spring? Just curious as to how it would work.

[terryl308]

you guys need to use you're imagination, this is a "Nebraska Lobster knife" or maybe a crawdad! Anyway I have added some self illistrations to demonstrate . Mine is a J.A. Henckels lobster. Have a good day! Sorry I can't come up with where they got the name?

[pocketkeeper]

Wow, this post is getting out of hand. I never meant to stir up so much trouble. But to add to the silliness, I think Terry's knife looks less like a lobster than a picket fence with all but two pickets missing, and one of them has fallen down. So I would call this pattern a "picket"
Dave

[RobesonsRme.com]

Depending on the number of blades, the internal spring in a lobster might be shaped like an elongated "Y" or "X".

I do think that certain lobster patterns look like a lobster when the blades are open, sort of like a lobster waving its claws side to side.

Charlie

[royal0014]

Ran across this 'un on ebay, have not seen one like it. Does it qualify?
Was gonna post it in the Schrade threads, see if anyone knew something....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281456280163?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

[pocketkeeper]

Yup, that qualifies. Love the old bone. Too bad about the chip in the one.
Dave

[terryl308]

Getting back to the "why it's called a lobster knife" question. I found on page 263, 5th edition of Levine's guide to Knives and their values, a article on "Lobster Pen Knives" of which I will just retype a small portion thereof. James Crawshaw, a cutler and merchant who worked in Sheffield from about 1817 to 1850 , invented a new style pen knife in the 1820's. An 1831 history described it as "the lobster-knife, by which four blades open upon one spring..[which] instead of forming the back, as in the old method, is placed along the middle of the handle , and between the scales or sides of the handle, so that it works on each side, and hence admits the blades at each end, and even any number of them.-----Because its spring or springs are in the middle , a lobster pen knife always has its pivot pings set off to the sides of the long axis of the knife---hence the resemblance of its pivoting blades to the waving claws of a lobster. That's what Mr. Levine has to say about that. I apologize for my crude drawing, not meaning to make fun of your question, it was a legitimate question and I hope this sheds some light on the subject. Terry

[knife7knut]

I guess the back blade on my (German made) knife is for manicure. The inside edge is a file but it is awfully narrow for a nail file.
Dave

I have quite a few of these little gems.They are indeed manicure blades and some of them have a groove cut down the center of the file blade.This allows the fingernail to ride in the groove while it is being filed.I've used them before to file a broken nail and they actually work quite well.The point is of course to clean out under the fingernail and can be used(albeit quite carefully)as a cuticle pusher.Here are a few examples.

[pocketkeeper]

That's a nice collection of lobsters, knife7knut. And Terry, thanks for the research. I'm satisfied I got my answer. Thanks to you all.
Dave