Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Picked this up at a flea market for cheap; I can’t seem to find any legitimate information on it. Anybody have any ideas? How old is it, company history, value?
Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Perhaps it’s from 1903-1929? Found a reference listing it’s tang stamp in a google document.
Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
mopbucket wrote:Perhaps it’s from 1903-1929? Found a reference listing it’s tang stamp in a google document.
I think you may be on to something. In Goin's Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings there is a listing for LION WORKS SHEFFIELD. The only additional info on that listing is "A German made knife". Could be related although I certainly can't say so definitively.
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
It does say Germany on the tangphilco wrote:mopbucket wrote:Perhaps it’s from 1903-1929? Found a reference listing it’s tang stamp in a google document.
I think you may be on to something. In Goin's Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings there is a listing for LION WORKS SHEFFIELD. The only additional info on that listing is "A German made knife". Could be related although I certainly can't say so definitively.
Love this thing tho, it’s got a great snap. Almost jumps outta the hand! Haha.
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Likely rehandled,the bone is poorly fitted to the bolster and you don`t see old knives with smooth undyed bone.
Roger
Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
I can certainly see how this is possiblepeanut740 wrote:Likely rehandled,the bone is poorly fitted to the bolster and you don`t see old knives with smooth undyed bone.
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
You don't miss much do you Roger? "Eagle Eye", that's what I call you.peanut740 wrote:Likely rehandled,the bone is poorly fitted to the bolster and you don`t see old knives with smooth undyed bone.
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
I have an old German EO jack with smooth off-white bone handles similarly fitted as O.P. knife.
Re-working vintage German knives is something i have not seen. Prices of original examples are lower than similar vintage British or USA knives, so 'profit' would be very low.
kj
Edit: just took these pics. handle looks like ivory but experts have said "Bone !" Looking at it again, maybe it was re-handled ? Certainly never had a buff.
Re-working vintage German knives is something i have not seen. Prices of original examples are lower than similar vintage British or USA knives, so 'profit' would be very low.
kj
Edit: just took these pics. handle looks like ivory but experts have said "Bone !" Looking at it again, maybe it was re-handled ? Certainly never had a buff.
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Lion Cutlery Co. in Germany was a mark used by Vom Cleff. Usually the lion mark will be on the pile side of the tang and Vom Cleff on the mark side.
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Roland,your knife looks like Ivory to me.I see no pores.kootenay joe wrote:I have an old German EO jack with smooth off-white bone handles similarly fitted as O.P. knife.
Re-working vintage German knives is something i have not seen. Prices of original examples are lower than similar vintage British or USA knives, so 'profit' would be very low.
kj
Edit: just took these pics. handle looks like ivory but experts have said "Bone !" Looking at it again, maybe it was re-handled ? Certainly never had a buff.
Roger
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
k7k, different lion. You are thinking of Lutters Cut. Co. whose trademark is the 'Reclining Lion' and they made high end knives for Vom Cleff. No relation to O.P. knife.
Roger i agree, looks like ivory but the collector i bought it from said 'no, it's polished bone'. I posted it in BRL forum at BF years ago and experts again said "bone".
So handles are bone, or maybe ivory
kj
Roger i agree, looks like ivory but the collector i bought it from said 'no, it's polished bone'. I posted it in BRL forum at BF years ago and experts again said "bone".
So handles are bone, or maybe ivory
kj
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Either way, bone or ivory, that’s a beauty kj.kootenay joe wrote:k7k, different lion. You are thinking of Lutters Cut. Co. whose trademark is the 'Reclining Lion' and they made high end knives for Vom Cleff. No relation to O.P. knife.
Roger i agree, looks like ivory but the collector i bought it from said 'no, it's polished bone'. I posted it in BRL forum at BF years ago and experts again said "bone".
So handles are bone, or maybe ivory
kj
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Thanks SSk, but it is not much of a collectible knife: "Garland Cutlery" = importer, manufacturer unknown other than being German; unsure of handle material; unsure if handles are original or replacement.
I see this knife as 'interesting' and suitable for sharpening and occasional EDC'ing.
kj
I see this knife as 'interesting' and suitable for sharpening and occasional EDC'ing.
kj
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Roland:Is this the stamp you are referring to?kootenay joe wrote:k7k, different lion. You are thinking of Lutters Cut. Co. whose trademark is the 'Reclining Lion' and they made high end knives for Vom Cleff. No relation to O.P. knife.
Roger i agree, looks like ivory but the collector i bought it from said 'no, it's polished bone'. I posted it in BRL forum at BF years ago and experts again said "bone".
So handles are bone, or maybe ivory
kj
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Yes to the reclining lion but i have never seen it with "Lion Cutlery", only with "Lutters" a well known Solingen cutlery manufacturer. I will be back at knife home in a few days and then will check in Anthony Carter's book for mention of "Lion Cutlery" in description of Lutters.
My apology for stating you were mistaken. Have you seen other knives with the same markings ?
kj
My apology for stating you were mistaken. Have you seen other knives with the same markings ?
kj
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
No apology necessary Roland. Here is another Vom Cleff knife with the same markings.It is a whittler with one blade snapped off and the other tipped. I've had it for many years and bought it because I liked the stag handles. Unusual for a whittler.kootenay joe wrote:Yes to the reclining lion but i have never seen it with "Lion Cutlery", only with "Lutters" a well known Solingen cutlery manufacturer. I will be back at knife home in a few days and then will check in Anthony Carter's book for mention of "Lion Cutlery" in description of Lutters.
My apology for stating you were mistaken. Have you seen other knives with the same markings ?
kj
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
I've seen a few knives like the Lion O.P. that were smooth bone and low quality. I'd say the smooth bone handles on the O.P. and Roland's knife are original. Doesn't make sense to do all the work to re-handle, pin and fit a shield only to leave the handles short of the bolsters. Anyone that could do this work as a repair would do better. These knives were low cost imports and for me that explains the poor handle fit.
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Thanks to all of you for the feedback. I love this knife and its wonderful to know more about it.
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Carter's book "German Knife and Sword Makers" gives "Lion Cutlery", registered in 1905, as one of the markings used by C. Lutters & Co. The more often seen marking is "C. Lutters & Co." over reclining lion trademark with "Lowenwerk/Solingen" underneath.
Although not stated, i think "Lion Cutlery" was the marking used for export knives as it is in English, not German. Most of the knives i have seen with "C. Lutters & Co." have been 'upscale' knives, precise & beautiful.
kj
Although not stated, i think "Lion Cutlery" was the marking used for export knives as it is in English, not German. Most of the knives i have seen with "C. Lutters & Co." have been 'upscale' knives, precise & beautiful.
kj
Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
That would make sense they’d have a line of export knives with English branding. I’m pretty happy with this knife. I’ll have to dig around and see what I can find about C. Lutters & Co. - seems to be an older manufacturer? Thanks KJ!kootenay joe wrote:Carter's book "German Knife and Sword Makers" gives "Lion Cutlery", registered in 1905, as one of the markings used by C. Lutters & Co. The more often seen marking is "C. Lutters & Co." over reclining lion trademark with "Lowenwerk/Solingen" underneath.
Although not stated, i think "Lion Cutlery" was the marking used for export knives as it is in English, not German. Most of the knives i have seen with "C. Lutters & Co." have been 'upscale' knives, precise & beautiful.
kj
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Re: Bone-handled gunstock jack - Lion Cutlery co.
Quote: " seems to be an older manufacturer?"
Yes, founded by Carl Lutters in 1840, C. Lutters & Co. became one of the largest Solingen cutlery manufacturers. By 1920 they specialized in high quality folding pocket knives.
kj
Yes, founded by Carl Lutters in 1840, C. Lutters & Co. became one of the largest Solingen cutlery manufacturers. By 1920 they specialized in high quality folding pocket knives.
kj