Vintage Mother Of Pearl (MOP) Knives

[FRJ]

Here's a little Case XX 9201. Snappy!

I got fooled: This is imitation pearl.

[FRJ]

MAN OVER BOARD!! MAN OVER BOARD!!
OK, I may have gone a little over board in this thread, but it was lot of fun setting the knives up and adjusting my camera six ways to sunday to spend a lot of time taking pictures, which I love to do.
So, three more knives and a group picture.
Thanks for your indulgence.

Three Robesons .............

[FRJ]

And the third and the herd.

[LongBlade]

Joe .... I think it was more our indulgence buddy - Thanks for sharing that string of awesome pearl knives - can't call them a herd unless they were bone or ivory ...

[FRJ]

Thanks, Lee. OK, maybe a bunch of bottom feeders.
I'm glade you liked them.

[steve99f]

Wow Joe ! Nice pearl.

[gsmith7158]

Wowza!!! What a spread. I've got a new one inbound but will almost be embarassed to show it after Lee and Joe's bombardments.

[FRJ]

Thank you Steve and Greg.

Looking forward to seeing your new knife, Greg.

[gsmith7158]

Thank you Steve and Greg.

Looking forward to seeing your new knife, Greg.

Another little Empire Joe. A two blade pen this time.

[Dinadan]

Joe - nice job of catching the fire in the MOP. I have tried many times with varying success. Getting the lighting and angle perfect takes a bit of doing for me. Fine collection you have there!

[FRJ]

Thanks so much, Mel.
I'm finding that low, subdued light works best for me. Fortunately, I have an adjustable camera so I use a high ISO setting/fast shutter speed, refined image and adjust light coming into the camera.
I also have collected materials to form a book of backgrounds and a steady stick.
It needs some refinement and is a plan in progress but it works in most situations for me.
Thanks again.

[kootenay joe]

Joe are you using a tripod ? And, what is a 'steady stick' for ?
kj

[FRJ]

Thank you, KJ, no, I don't use a tripod. I use the steady stick (my term) to steady the camera and maintain elevation from the subject.
It's only 1/3rd as effective but the image stabilizer in camera takes up the slack.
The attachment will give you an idea of the use of the stick. I need to redesign the stick.

[kootenay joe]

I had forgotten that newer cameras can have image stabilization. I still think a tripod would be helpful as it frees up your hands to position knives exactly as you want them. They are inexpensive, start at ~ $30.
kj

[Dinadan]

Sometimes I also use a steady stick. Most of my photos are taken in front of my window over the garage. I use a little plastic step stool with various materials on top for background texture and color. My window faces west, and for the best MOP shots I like the long slanting rays of the declining sun.

Sometimes I have a little visitor in the background on the window ledge.

This is what the setting sun does to a Bulldog.

[FRJ]

That looks like the perfect spot, Mel.
I also like the color and shape of that lizard. Pretty cool.

[bighomer]

Great photos and great subjects

[ScoutKnives]

How about a couple utility scout pearls .
Kabar and an Empire

[gsmith7158]

Here's a little Empire MOP pen that I got in today.

[kootenay joe]

Here are two superbly made pearl handled knives. Both are 3" and made in Germany over 100 years ago.
First is a Jacoby/& Wester/Germany with 2 Pen blades, finely ground & 'swedged' both sides, along with Scissors that are full length of the frame; finely milled brass liners and a small cut out to access the scissors nick.
Second is an Equal End Whittler with threaded bolsters & 2 brass liners, no center divider. Magnificent knife, all blades marked "Western/Cutlery/Germany".
Both knives have perfect walk & talk and not even a remote hint of play and edges are sharp !
kj

[gsmith7158]

Just beautiful kj!

[1fartsmella]

An antique MOP advertising knife stamped HENRY SEARS & SON 1865 marked PRUSSIA.

[kootenay joe]

Oh my Barry, truly Stunning ! It is a beautiful design and the condition is PERFECT. What a beauty. I love these smaller, precise, exquisite Gent's type knives.
I doubt there is another as fine as this example.
kj

[1fartsmella]

Thanks Roland, Here's a scan with another HENRY SEARS...also advertising with Ivory handles... this one has Korn's patent auto corkscrew opening blade...squeeze the wire cutter and the corkscrew pops open. A hard set to find. Believed to been made by Cattaraugus.

[gsmith7158]

That's one of the most unique and beautiful MOP gents knife I have ever seen!