Odd IKCo Knife

[kootenay joe]

Here is a 3" pearl 3 'blade' knife with "IKCo" in a diamond outline on one tang . This marking indicates Imperial Knife Co., circa 1920's, although i am not certain of this dating.
The blades are: pen, scissors, and ?? a saw blade, now with worn down teeth ?
What was the intended purpose of this blade selection ? to trim spurs on fighting roosters ? marketed to those who had fighting cocks ?
Or ?? is it for something more mundane ?
kj

[knife7knut]

I was always under the impression that the blade in question was a form of nail file;similar to the ones that have a groove cut into the flat area to use in filing your fingernails.

[orvet]

I believe Ray is correct, it is a blade used for filing the ends of your fingernails to smooth them down. Cattaraugus used to use this sort of file. They are really effective, at least one there new and sharp.

[kootenay joe]

When i try to use this parallel to the end of a fingernail it just goes off to one side or the other of the fingernail; i.e. it won't stay on the nail edge the way a regular manicure blade would.
If i use it perpendicular to the nail then it is more like sawing a groove in the end of the nail rather than filing down the entire nail edge.
Maybe if it was sharp i would get different results ?
Thanks, kj

[bestgear]

I think Dale and K7K are referring to a nail pick typically found on the bottom of a lobster knife like the picture I've attached which is a beautiful tool for grooming one's fingernails. From my observation, Roland's knife has vertical teeth and would be more of a sawing edge than a filing tool. Just my $0.02

[knife7knut]

When i try to use this parallel to the end of a fingernail it just goes off to one side or the other of the fingernail; i.e. it won't stay on the nail edge the way a regular manicure blade would.
If i use it perpendicular to the nail then it is more like sawing a groove in the end of the nail rather than filing down the entire nail edge.
Maybe if it was sharp i would get different results ?
Thanks, kj

I believe the way it is normally used is to lay the blade along the bottom of your index finger with the teeth facing outward and filing the nail with your finger pressing against the tip of the finger you are filing.It is easy to control and gets the job done.

[kootenay joe]

Wow, amazing ! Holding as you describe and it functions well. I doubt i would have thought of this on my own.
thank you, kj manicure-man !