This Old Knife........What Is It?

[kootenay joe]

A very similar, if not the same, blade is seen on Champagne Patterns and is a champagne wire cutter blade. However as this knife appears to lack a corkscrew this blade is likely intended for a different function.
kj

[djknife13]

I remember reading an article that addressed those, but that's about all I remember. If I had to venture a guess, it may be a early stab at a gutting hook where you use your fingers to guide the blade. I sure wish I could read stuff and remember what I read, or where I put the article. ___Dave

[kootenay joe]

I can think of something it would work perfectly for. In the old daze, newspapers, magazines, etc. would be tied into bundles for drop off at various vendor locations. Sometimes there would be a stack of these bundles and the string had to be cut twice (lengthwise & crosswise) for each bundle. This blade could be easily and safely slid under the string, pull towards yourself & string is cut, no trauma to self or magazines.
Iszatit ?
kj

[knife7knut]

If that is as far as that small blade opens I would tend to go with it being used to cut twine and rope from bound bundles of newspapers or whatever.

[knife7knut]

Here is a small tool I picked up the other day mainly because it had a small knife blade in it. All metal and stamped with an old Montgomery Wards logo,the blade is a small curved coping blade similar to the ones used in early English quill/letter opener knives. That is NOT what this tool is for. In addition to the blade, there is a small wire brush;a two sided tool(the primary use for this tool)and six small folding pieces on the outside.Don't read the inscription on it because that gives away it's purpose.EDIT: Never mind;I erased the stamping that told it's purpose.

[Mason]

Some good suggestions towards the English lock back folder, but not on the mark yet. The small blade does open fully and a hint would be that it has a military connection.

[cody6268]

Possibly for spark plugs? Those things that fold out from the side might be gap guides of some sort.

[jerryd6818]

Spark plug gaping tools on one end with feeler gauges in the (probably) .025 - .045 range or so. Notches are for bending the side (or ground) electrodes to the proper gap.

The other end is for battery terminals. Knife blade for scrapping off corrosion and the brush for brushing out the hole in the cable end that goes over the post on the battery.

[gsmith7158]

K7K"s is definitely a spark plug tool but Mason"s is still a mystery. If it has a military use could it be a can opener?

[knife7knut]

Spark plug gaping tools on one end with feeler gauges in the (probably) .025 - .045 range or so. Notches are for bending the side (or ground) electrodes to the proper gap.

The other end is for battery terminals. Knife blade for scrapping off corrosion and the brush for brushing out the hole in the cable end that goes over the post on the battery.

Good call on the tool Jerry;I didn't think it would fool too many people. The feeler gauges run from .018"-.040"(good call!)The brush I think is for cleaning off the spark plug itself as it is rather small for a battery terminal brush. I still haven't figured out what the hole is for in the electrode wrench. I have seen them on other similar ones and they don't seem to have any real function.

[knife7knut]

Spark plug gaping tools on one end with feeler gauges in the (probably) .025 - .045 range or so. Notches are for bending the side (or ground) electrodes to the proper gap.

The other end is for battery terminals. Knife blade for scrapping off corrosion and the brush for brushing out the hole in the cable end that goes over the post on the battery.

Good call on the tool Jerry;I didn't think it would fool too many people. The feeler gauges run from .018"-.040"(good call!)The brush I think is for cleaning off the spark plug itself as it is rather small for a battery terminal brush. I still haven't figured out what the hole is for in the electrode wrench. I have seen them on other similar ones and they don't seem to have any real function.
EDIT: Here is a close-up of the logo.

[gsmith7158]

Spark plug gaping tools on one end with feeler gauges in the (probably) .025 - .045 range or so. Notches are for bending the side (or ground) electrodes to the proper gap.

The other end is for battery terminals. Knife blade for scrapping off corrosion and the brush for brushing out the hole in the cable end that goes over the post on the battery.

Good call on the tool Jerry;I didn't think it would fool too many people. The feeler gauges run from .018"-.040"(good call!)The brush I think is for cleaning off the spark plug itself as it is rather small for a battery terminal brush. I still haven't figured out what the hole is for in the electrode wrench. I have seen them on other similar ones and they don't seem to have any real function.

That hole should fit right over the contact so you don't damage it while bending the electrode.

[jerryd6818]

Good call on the tool Jerry;I didn't think it would fool too many people.

Well, I come from the era of changing plugs and points every 20,000 - 40,000 miles or so (if my memory is working. sometimes it doesn't). As for the hole, I don't recall ever using it and can't think of a purpose. I think you're spot on about the brush. Battery terminal brushes were/are much larger and since the tool is a plug tool the brush makes sense as a plug cleaner.

It amazes me that plugs will now go 100,000 miles. I guess that's why they don't bother to make them easy to get at. What about these current cars which require the engine to be partially pulled to get at the plugs.

[gsmith7158]

I had a Saturn Vue with the V -6 and you had to remove the intake manifold to replace the spark pkugs.

[knife7knut]

[quote="jerryd6818")

It amazes me that plugs will now go 100,000 miles. I guess that's why they don't bother to make them easy to get at. What about these current cars which require the engine to be partially pulled to get at the plugs. [/quote]

I have owned 2 vehicles that require major work to remove and install spark plugs. The first was a 1991 GMC Syclone pickup with the turbocharged 4.3 V-6. The plug change required first removing the front wheels to gain access to the area. The center plug on the driver's side(a problem with all the V-6 engines)could only be successfully removed and installed(without breaking)by using the shortest 5/8ths plug socket(sans universal joint)and a "wobble drive" extension. A wobble drive has a radiused drive section that allows the socket to deflect side to side more than normal. Anything else would result in the plug breaking. Everything on this vehicle was a disaster waiting to happen. The oil filter was remote and located behind the left headlight(!)because there was NO room underneath. It's only redeeming feature was it was faster than a greased pig down a water slide. It met an untimely fate while I was demonstrating it to a potential buyer. With my foot through the floorboard and accelerating smartly(0-60mph times were less than 5 seconds from a stock one and this one wasn't stock)I experienced a backfire through the turbo resulting in several bent valves.It was eventually bought by someone in Tennessee who fixed it.
My other one is my 1994 Pontiac 25th Anniversary Trans Am that I bought new. When it needed plug wires replaced the service manager(a good friend of mine)suggested replacing the spark plugs at this time(60,000 plus)as it was a rather costly measure and would save the expense of doing it again down the road.With parts and labor it came to just over $500 and took nearly 10 hours! It required unbolting and jacking up the engine to complete the job.
The reason they went bad initially was that the water pump had gone bad(two pumps eventually)and antifreeze had poured out and into the front mounted distributor trashing it. They were a problem on the LT-1 engines and many were replaced under warranty. My friend managed to get mine replaced like that. The second pump that went out overheated the engine frying the ignition wires. That car still sits in my garage waiting for a new owner.

[LongBlade]

Going back to Mason's small hooked blade - looks almost like a cigar cutter but guessing it is not... no doubt looks to be a twine/rope cutter as K7Knut and KJ guessed (I would use it for that myself ... I would agree with Greg in terms of a "tin" opener but think those I have seen have a small knob on the side of blade to guide it... No doubt looks like something that is used to cut but avoid puncturing given it doesn't fold in completely but for what is the question, and a military connection ... Its for ripping open something like a claw (has that shape) - I'm stumped...

[gsmith7158]

Could it be a seam ripper for heavyweight materials such as canvas?

[jerryd6818]

When I first saw it, champagne knife popped into my mind and in spite of there being no (visibal - possibly broken off?) cork screw, I still think that's what it is.

[kootenay joe]

Jerry, the foil cutter blade on a Champagne Pattern knife opens all the way. We are told that on this Gunstock knife it only opens as far as shown in the picture, if i have understood correctly. This would eliminate it as being a Champagne bottle foil cutter.
Military = guns = blade for unjamming something ? or opening up something ? or cut the parachute cord that has you hanging in a tree ?
kj

[gsmith7158]

It's an English lockback so it may be specificaly for opening a can of kippers to have with your tea.

[Mason]

Interesting thread with some neat examples. Here is an English lock back folder which has a small curved folding blade for a unique specific purpose.
What is it?

This model was made by various English manufactures and was usually unmarked for military use. The small curved blade was designed for slashing tires and was designed for the British S.O.E. (Special Operations Executive) which was founded in 1940 to conduct espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance throughout occupied Europe during WWII.

[LongBlade]

Thanks for the answer Mason - never would have guessed puncturing tires!!! Well my claw analogy and ripping something was close but that is only good for hand grenades and horse shoes ... I wonder if James Bond had one of those knives

[Miller Bro's]

Nice example Mason

They used two models same knife except without the Tyre-Slasher blade.

Here's a English half crown with the Tyre-Slasher blade

[Mason]

Nice example Mason

They used two models same knife except without the Tyre-Slasher blade.

Here's a English half crown with the Tyre-Slasher blade

Very cool, and it reminds me of some of the items in the book "Firearms Curiosa".
That book also features some interesting knife pistols.