Vintage Whittler Knives

[Duffer]

Here is a very rare Robeson gunstock split spring Whittler style folder. Pattern no. 692374. Tang marked Robeson/Shuredge (script)/Rochester NY 1911-1921. It is 3 & 3/8 inch closed. Very nice pick bone type bone handle covers. In very good condition and functions perfectly. Negligible blade loss but looks to have been very lightly sharpened.

[ScoutKnives]

That's an awesome knife you have Lloyd thanks for sharing it .

[Dinadan]

Nice old knife, KAW. That knife is definitely a whittler, in my opinion, and the body shape is serpentine, not gunstock. The spey blade is a bit unusual on a whittler, as is the serpentine body. Both are more common on stockman patterns. But the way the main blade rides on both back springs while the secondary blades each ride on one spring is pure whittler.

Beautiful example of a gunstock pattern, Lloyd!

[ratlesnake75]

Hey Guys, If you look at Mr. Lloyds Gunstock bone whittler it also has a serpentine body shape too it,,,,The Top part of the handle "gunstock" part is just not as Pronounced is all,,,Compared to Mr, KAW's,,,,To me I have always called this pattern a gunstock whittler & with use and carry and different blade configurations including Punches can also be found w/ this pattern & maker and sometimes they are more Pronounced than others,,,depending on when they was made. Regardless of its "Shape" its surely a fancy old whittler & attractive in my eyes.
Kind Regards,
Mark

[ratlesnake75]

Hey Guys, I done a shape comparison for you old timers...HAHAHA LOL...
If you notice how both shapes are nearly identical,,,one knife(Mr. Lloyds) is just a little bit more Pronounced is all. Not by much and the more of these NYK hammer brand whittlers you handle over the years,,,The more you will see that not all of them were exactly the same dimensions or shape,,,They all differ just a little bit and some are way more Pronounced than others but they all still look very similar and are gunstock whittlers too me,,,hahaha
Good luck guys & my only intentions is trying to be helpful.
Kind Regards,
Mark

[Mumbleypeg]

Here is a very rare Robeson gunstock split spring Whittler style folder. Pattern no. 692374. Tang marked Robeson/Shuredge (script)/Rochester NY 1911-1921. It is 3 & 3/8 inch closed. Very nice pick bone type bone handle covers. In very good condition and functions perfectly. Negligible blade loss but looks to have been very lightly sharpened.

Outstanding old gunstock whittler Lloyd! I think Charlie Noyes has one just like it, unless he parted ways with it. I've got its Case near-twin.

Ken

[Duffer]

Good eye Ken! Yes, I got this Gunstock and a VERY rare Robeson Wharncliffe split back Whittler from Charlie Noyes. Thanks Charlie for parting with them I will try to post a photo of the Wharncliffe when I get a chance.

[ratlesnake75]

Hey Guys, both them Bone Gunstock whittlers are so nice & scarce,,,,Just super rare antique knives and are Lovely,,,Thanks for sharing the pics with us
Kind Regards,
Mark

[KAW]

Thanks all for sorting this out. Mark.... Since you have handled a few of these, based on your experience, how old do think this one is?

[ratlesnake75]

Hey KAW, All we can do is go by our books and I use "Goins Encyclopedia of cutlery markings" for most of my references. He says 1878-1932 for the Hammer New York knife Co stamping. Here is another look at a Hammer brand chart after that date. To my understanding New York knife co went out of business & went bankrupt in 1931, according to Goins. In 1936 Hammer brand was a trademark of the Imperial Co he says. I am sure others have more info on this dating as I dont really go into further depth on this subject & I just take it for whats written about it.
Kind Regards,
Mark

[ratlesnake75]

Hey KAW, Here are a few other neat old whittlers I have had in my past.
I hope you guys enjoy the pics. Here is a Sterling knife Co Gunstock whittler(1894-1915). The sterling was "over-stamped" on a Hammer brand Knife Just like yours KAW,,Just a different blade configuration as I was talking about earlier in my postings. If you notice this one,,,has a more pronounced looking "Gunstock" look to it
Kind Regards,
Mark

[ratlesnake75]

Hey KAW, The Pattern #'s on back of my sterling knife Co MASTER BLADE,,,will differ from yours only because of different handle materials and different blade configurations that we will find. But both of these knives are very similar and near similar in dating as well
Kind Regards,
Mark

[LongBlade]

I had thought that too at first Lee.... but then a fellow AAPKer pointed out that on a Stockman the spey blade is usually paired with the master clip.... not at the other end.... ....as far as the handle is concerned I, too, thought it was considered a serpentine.... but what do i know.... I'm just a newbie ....need to hear more from the experts.... IOW, let's stir the pot some more.

Great points all and KAW you are right that the spey is usually with the master.... Not sure I agree on the gunstock aspect though and still think it is a serpentine whittler - I do agree it is a whittler - again in not an argumentative manner as to the pattern - just my opinion and I do respect yours Mark... Not all is in stone in terms of definitions for knives - especially whittlers ... there have been many discussions here as to whittlers

So in looking through my knives I have this Winchester Whittler - clip blade master and spey blade secondary with split wedge springs... so really it is very similar to yours KAW .... (not a great photo taken a few years ago but it works to show the similarity....)...

And this photo of an Empire made Shapleigh Cattle knife just as comparison and thought - note the spey is secondary to the master spear and punch ...

[ratlesnake75]

Hey Longblade, Your so cool buddy and I would never take what you guys say as arguing,,,you are so right as the terms and definitions we use are all over the place as per how we perceive old knives & where in the country we are, LMAO!!!
Kindest Regards,
Mark

[ratlesnake75]

Hey Guys, How about this Henry Sears Gunstock whittler,,,Love how pronounced the "Gunstock part" is.
I really liked this knife when I had it. It was very elegant too me. Hey KAW,,,,Are you seeing a pattern here YET Brother??? For the term, Gunstock whittler??? HAHAHAHA
Kind Regards,
Mark

[ratlesnake75]

Hey Guys, Here was my Scarce LOCKBACK Whittler
Kind Regards,
Mark

[ratlesnake75]

Hey KAW, Here is a Butter Bean OVAL whittler
Kind Regards,
Mark

[ratlesnake75]

Hey Guys, Last but not least was my Congress Whittler knife
Hope you guys enjoyed the pics
Kind Regards Ya'll
Mark

[LongBlade]

All great knives Mark .... all awesome knives and great "specimens" in every way ... and btw - that Henry Sears Gunstock MOP whittler really needs a drool rag ... the Sterling is so unique - is it a split wedge spring with a punch blade as a secondary??

Regards to you as well buddy!
Lee

[ratlesnake75]

Hey Lee, Many thanks for the compliments buddy!!! I bought a large pearl knife collection a couple years back and these were some of my personal favorites. That sterling knife co was exactly like KAW's knife only different handle material & instead of pen blade,,it was a punch blade.

That Lockback whittler had the old style split-spring that emerged into one full wide backspring,,,if you know what i mean by this... That true Split-spring was a very old style as I am sure you know about and are very tuff to come by,,,,as far as I can tell,,,anything after the 1880's or so it went to the brass/steel/nickle silver divider between the 2 different backsprings,,Just around about guess on this. For the most part we see this type of set-up on around the Civil War Era whittlers. The early true split-spring are very cool and I havent seen but a handful of specimens.
Kind Regards,
Mark

[Duffer]

WOW, those are some primo specimens Mark! I agree with Lee that Henry Sears Gunstock Whittler is something special for sure I also like that BB Oval Lockback MOP Whittler--very nice! Thanks for posting these fine photos.

[KAW]

Wha.... wha.... What did I miss! Oh man.... I just stepped away for a moment & look at all the activity!
Mark.... thank you for displaying all those exquisite Whittlers.... & how did you know Mother−of−Pearl is one of my favorites?!
....it was like getting an education at a museum.... a virtual museum.
If I'm hearing what you are saying, Mark, about the age.... it would be a fair guess it is pre−WWI (1915 or earlier)?... that helps as I was thinkin' 20's.
Lee.... those are some samples you have there as well ....able to make the visual comparison really helps!....
....now I'm gonna need you to pass me that drool rag.... oh, never mind.... I'm gonna need the bucket!

[Dinadan]

Very fine MOP whittlers, Mark. That Sterling with the punch is something different for sure. Regarding gunstock versus serpentine, there does seem to be a point at which one shades into the other.

[ratlesnake75]

Hey Guys, Many thanks for all the compliments,,,You guys are the best!!! I usually dont post my knives on AAPK because I sell them on ebay as most of you already know(mark-shana on ebay). I really should post more of the SCARCE knives I find on aapk and I will do my best to do that ya'll.
Kind Regards,
Mark

[Berryb]

I read all 15 pages of this thread to make sure I had a handle on what a Whittler is. It quickly became one of my favorite patterns, and I saw a lot of "I gotta get me one of those" knives.
These are my 3; Case, Western, and Krusius.
I have a question though: the little Boker in the second pic. It has a heavy whittler blade and a spring to match. There is a brass shim to keep the smaller blade tight. It also has tighter tolerances than any of the whittlers I have. Is there a name for this one besides "2 blade whittler wannabe"? Thanks
Bruce