Antique Leg Knife with tiny photo in eyelet

Farnes · Post by **Farnes** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:01 pm

Hi everyone. I just signed up here earlier today to try and find out what I can about this antique "leg knife" my wife bought at an estate sale this past weekend. I think she paid $15 for it, or possibly she waited for the 2nd day half-price of $7.50. I forget which.

Here's photos:

It measures 2-1/2"long when closed. The handle is either ivory or bone - I'm not sure which. The base of the blade is impressed "Wm. Elliot & Co." The neat thing about it is that there is a micro-photo inside the knife (in that round eyelet in the handle near the blade base). The photo shows a leggy female Victorian burlesque dancer. BTW - what would you call the "eyelet" I mentioned? Is "eyelet" the correct term?

Does anyone know anything about this knife? Is it common or rare? What is its value?

Thanks!
Marc

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:05 pm

welcome and great knife. that is a stanhope lens. i'll find a link for you.

http://www.stanhopemicroworks.com/release/index.htm

Farnes · Post by **Farnes** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:15 pm

Thank you Johnnie. I am off to explore that site.

Marc

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:17 pm

Farnes. This was an import company located in NYC 1880-1907. In 1907 the company was taken over by Adolph Strauss & Co who continued to use the Wm Elliot & Co mark until 1918. If made after 1891, it should have a country mark on it, i.e., Germany. Can't tell from the photo if it is bone or ivory. If the former, it will look like it has some pores in it. Try a magnifying glass. I'd say for $15 it is very good value for money. In tact stanhopes, are desirable and add to the value.

s-k

Farnes · Post by **Farnes** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:53 pm

Hi s-k. Thank you for the welcome and the information. I just looked the knife over and still can't tell if the handle is bone or ivory LOL. There isno country of origin on the knife -- I guess this might be an old one!

Farnes

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:58 pm

Hello Farnes to me it looks like bone.

If she had more YELLOW in her vanes I would give you $20.00 for her...

Just to let you know some people here think I like YELLOW knives...

Come back and join in the fun here at AAPK and get a AAPK hat and sign up for the FREE give away knife too...

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:04 pm

Marc,

Look closely at the ends of the handles, where the blade pivots.

If bone, you should see some tiny specks, or small dots, which are the pores of the bone.

If it's ivory, you should see lines instead. Possibly cross- hatched, these would be the growth rings of ivory, somewhat like looking at the end of a log.

Darn nice knife, whatever the handles are.

Fran

Farnes · Post by **Farnes** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:00 pm

Thank you to everyon who commented. I found only one similar knife - one by Ames - in completed auctions in ebay. Same size as mine, but no mention of the Stanhope. The Ames had splits in both handles near the base blade. Also had a chip out of the handle. On the plus side - it has a corkscrew. It ended at $559. Wow!!!

With a value in that range I can't afford to keep the knife, so I just put it on ebay.

Item# 220183215958

Kind regards,
Marc

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=012

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:13 am

With a value in that range I can't afford to keep the knife, so I just put it on ebay.

?????? Did it eat too much ? Have expensive health problems ??????

Fran

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:46 pm

Sauconian wrote:With a value in that range I can't afford to keep the knife, so I just put it on ebay.

?????? Did it eat too much ? Have expensive health problems ??????

Fran

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:05 pm

Just a quick lesson, remember if the country of origin is stated on the knife it helps to date it correctly. If not, It may or may not be from the earlier period. So it may or may not be pre tariff in the late 1800's. It may have come from the original country as well and didn't need a stamp.

JUst a lesson.

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:31 pm

Thanks for reminding us if that important point PA

. I was not at all precise in my response.

Technically, as Wm Elliot & Son was a US based importer of German and Sheffield knives and not a maker, all knives imported by this company 1891 or after should have the country stamp. The absence of a country stamp suggests pre 1891 more so (but not certainly) in this case than it would in he case of a maker who sold knives outside of the US which were not subject to this requirement. Don't know if that made sense.

s-k

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:54 pm

Sauconian wrote:With a value in that range I can't afford to keep the knife, so I just put it on ebay.

?????? Did it eat too much ? Have expensive health problems ??????

Fran

Well said!!

Farnes · Post by **Farnes** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:36 pm

With a value in that range I can't afford to keep the knife, so I just put it on ebay.

?????? Did it eat too much ? Have expensive health problems ??????

That means I need the money more than the knife, regardlss of how much my wife and I like it. I'm glad it amuses you.

Understand now?

Marc

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:45 pm

This sounds like in the future someone will be saying "I wish I still had that one"....

Just a thought for you SAVE the photo of it to show in the future please.

useem · Post by **useem** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:50 am

Well, it will probably sell for more than i could aford too! So, thanks for posting the pictures.

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 2:46 am

Marc,

If you are on hard times, I'm not at all amused. Been there.

Your statement that although you like the knife you can't afford to keep it, still amuses me. That is either $7.50, or $15. What you may get for it, is the next person's cost to keep it. I think collectors may agree with that logic, sales people won't.

I see you are favoring the more expensive ivory in your listing, but you must have received more favorable advice elsewhere to date it at " pre - 1885."

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=012

Nice photos BTW. Especially the Stanhope image.

Fran

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:50 am

looks like bone in the picture. are'nt those surface veins showing?

Farnes · Post by **Farnes** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 2:42 pm

This sounds like in the future someone will be saying "I wish I still had that one"....

I can appreciate this bit of advice-- I already know this knife is a keeper, and that I will miss having it. This is why I put a reserve on the it -- mixed feelings on having to sell it. If it doesn't meet its reserve - it's mine. Although I am not a knife collecter per se, I've always been attracted to them and always pick them up out at the sales. My wife has come to appreciate them, too, as a result of my appreciation for them. And anyone who gets out to the sales religiously knows how attached you can become to neat objects you've found out there "in the field."

But harsh reality has a way of insisting on being dealt with - and so. . .

Marc