Knife Identification

[Dave T]

I picked this knife up recently. It was in a very rusty state. Having cleaned it up I found that the three main blades are each tang stamped with a picture of a KEY and the name G. BUTLER & Co. and on the reverse side of the tangs on 2 of them is ART in an oval shape with SHEFFIELD above and ENGLAND below. There is a hint the same ART mark was on the reverse of the third tang but it has rubbed off.
Can anyone please tell me anything about this knife?

[kootenay joe]

Dave, the pattern is known as a "Horseman's knife". The big hooked tool that folds over the knife spine is for pulling stones out of a horse hoof and some have little spikes at the base for securing a nut to crack.
Handles are Stag, now worn smooth which matches the heavy wear on the blades. (i.e. handles are original, not replacement)
The manufacturer, George Butler & Co. was a well known Sheffield knife company in operation from about 1768-1952. Yours has "England" on the tang so was made after 1891 and likely before WW I. It has seen a lot of use as the blades are down by at least 50%, but this is not uncommon for these knives. They did get used.
Hopefully someone who knows more will be along to add more specific information.
kj

[Dave T]

Thank you for that. There are small spikes on the base of the hook blade. I wondered what they were for. Also there are 3 brass liners and one iron liner. This latter one is extended so presumably can be used as a screwdriver. I had assumed that the scales were bone. I guess that is a lot of wear on the original stag. Is there a picture of an original somewhere?
Thanks for the dating info. I guess it must have a value.

[kootenay joe]

If you search "Horsemans knife" on ebay there are usually a few listed. Stag handles are the most common for this pattern so you will see knives with Stag less worn than yours.
The little spikes you note are to help anchor the nut you are trying to crack. And you are correct about the steel liner projection being a slot screwdriver, or mini pry bar for very light duty prying.
Value is dependent upon condition & size. Yours is heavily worn, so value is low. If auctioned on ebay, average price would not exceed $100 in my opinion, which is not expert.
kj

[Dave T]

Joe, thank you again. Just looked up and one recently went on eBay USA with good pictures. It looks very similar but I would definitely say it was bone (or even more worn than mine if stag. There is a difference in the tang markings. On mine the ART mark is on the reverse of the tang and the name on the front side is G BUTLER & Co. On the other the ART is on the front side with the name , which is GEO BUTLER & Co SHEFFIELD. What does that difference say?
I am in UK where no knives on EBay

[kootenay joe]

I do not think anything can be said because of the different placement of the markings or G. in place of Geo.
British Blades forum has experts on the vintage Sheffield knives. If there is any significance to these minor differences in markings someone there would know. There are Horseman collectors and likely some who specialize in collecting G. Butler knives.
If you find out anything more at BB please come back and post it here. This is how we all learn, a little bit at a time.
kj