Lets show some Old and Rare ones.

[LongBlade]

Very cool find Mike ... Knrled metal handle and no doubt a unique small blade...

I think Ken is on to something - looking at the blade with the hole and shape sure suggests that it is used for sewing and based on size it must be for a heavy material .. makes sense to me unless we hear different ...

[1fartsmella]

Here is a odd one, marked on the main blade tang is Gilt-Edge Warranted. There is a patent date on the frame Nov 11,1884. Any help on what it was used for and who made it would be great. Mike

Mike, I was the # 2 bidder on this one. I think it is a sailors knife that had a Marlin spike that screwed in at the bottom. The Sheep foot blade made me think nautical. Barry

[LongBlade]

I was thinking sails as the material which would make sense based on Barry’s thoughts... I would think if for the water though perhaps the handle would be brass but not necessarily I guess...

Is there thread in the hole on end where something could be screwed in like a marlin spike? Maybe the auction photos had that photo

[1fartsmella]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GILTEDGE-WARRA ... 7675.l2557

[Mumbleypeg]

For posterity. Very interesting construction.

Ken

[galvanic1882]

Thanks guys and I can see what you mean about the one blade that can be used for punching holes in sails etc. Barry sorry it was you who was the second bidder and never thought it would be a marlin's spike screwed into the bottom. I was thinking that a handle of some kind was screwed to it??

Have you ever seen one with the spike screwed in?

Wish I knew who the maker was.

[S2K]

Hi all, I just found this thread so haven't worked through it. While likely not my oldest, this trio certainly looks the part. From the top a Colonial, Camco and Imperial. The Imperial is not nearly as well made as the others, and has thin covers with severe chips but all three still have plenty of snap.

[Miller Bro's]

What you have there Mike is the handle to a whip. The whip is the part that is obviously missing it was removable so the knife could be carried in your pocket when the whip was not being used or you needed the knife blade or the awl. Being a horse related item it was designed with an awl to repair harnesses and such. That's why the awl is so thick and heavy duty.

All I have seen so far were missing the original whip.

My kind of knife!

[galvanic1882]

Thanks Dimitri, do you have the abstract or patent page for it?

[1fartsmella]

I think it would be cool to see a photo of one. I tried google, but had no luck. Barry

[Knife Nut]

Wow, been around knives a long time and have never seen a picture of that knife much less one in hand.
Very cool and interesting.

Paul

[LongBlade]

Great info Dimitri ... never would have guessed a whip screws in that end .. no doubt now I can see that heavy duty sharpened awl would have been the perfect tool for repairing leather as well ..very cool .... I think this wins the rare knife of the year award!!

[bestgear]

Ahhhhh, the sweet smell of an HOK. Finally hooked my a New Britain Knife, hopefully not my last.

[djknife13]

Beautiful old workhorse. I love it. ___Dave

[LongBlade]

Nice score Tom ... no doubt not many of those out there - seem a few variations of the stamp but always thought they were from some company. The worm groove bone is really cool ...

[Mumbleypeg]

Thanks guys and I can see what you mean about the one blade that can be used for punching holes in sails etc. Barry sorry it was you who was the second bidder and never thought it would be a marlin's spike screwed into the bottom. I was thinking that a handle of some kind was screwed to it??

Have you ever seen one with the spike screwed in?

Wish I knew who the maker was.

You may know this already but Goins' says Gilt Edge was a trademark of Farwell-Ozmun-Kirk & Co., a hardware wholesaler located in St. Paul, MN. Says they acquired Henry Sears & Son in 1897. That may be who made it.

Ken

[galvanic1882]

Thanks guys and I can see what you mean about the one blade that can be used for punching holes in sails etc. Barry sorry it was you who was the second bidder and never thought it would be a marlin's spike screwed into the bottom. I was thinking that a handle of some kind was screwed to it??

Have you ever seen one with the spike screwed in?

Wish I knew who the maker was.

You may know this already but Goins' says Gilt Edge was a trademark of Farwell-Ozmun-Kirk & Co., a hardware wholesaler located in St. Paul, MN. Says they acquired Henry Sears & Son in 1897. That may be who made it.

Ken

Thanks Ken, I totally missed that.

[RobesonsRme.com]

This knife sold on Ebay this past week.

Thoughts?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FANTASTIC-EARL ... 1438.l2649

Stamp is J. HINCHCLIFFE / CELEBRATED / DIRK KNIFE

Goins says 1841 to 1860.

Charlie Noyes

[ScoutKnives]

I was watching that one as well , it went for a lot but it is a beautiful old relic .

[RobesonsRme.com]

Ebay also had an interesting and somewhat elaborate Bowie knife, too.

I have no idea if it's real or not. If counterfeit, someone went to a great deal of trouble and should be making custom knives for a living.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-PRESEN ... 3270821283


Charlie Noyes

[RobesonsRme.com]

Also, this apparent tortoise multi-blade.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-1856-Weis ... 4b573dd761

Charlie

[LongBlade]

I think that Hinchcliffe folding dirk is cool - nice bolster and guard with nice age old stag !! Blade and stamp look real (unless it is a real good fake) - just my opinion ... I posted a Hinchcliffe carved MOP quill under the Quill Knife thread - I remember they were well known for carving MOP having won awards for it and they made some superb knives. I am not sure I have seen a Hinchcliffe bowie or dagger but will check all my references on these as there are many examples - many old Sheffield cutleries did make bowies and daggers, and folding ones as well - especially late 1840s to mid 1860s - some were just more well known for making them.

As an aside I only add that fakes exist and in the world of bowies and daggers there were many made years ago - some of which by this time have alot of patina and age - some fakes were are so good they even have fooled some considered experts - - some were bad fakes where one can see with a careful eye a “Made in India” stamp that was ground or sanded out... saw one myself last year that was overstamped with an IXL but you had to use a loupe and right light to see the underlying India ...

I’ll say this Hinchcliffe is a beauty in the photos!! ... The price probably on the high side abit but you don’t see them like this very often!! Be good to see it in hand though for a final inspection missed in photos...

[LongBlade]

Some nice additions under the Hinchcliffe Charlie!!!

The Bowie looks like a Navy officer’s knife - have seen a few with that style of sheath and adornments - however most Naval Officer knives were more like a small cutlass or fancy daggers - I wouldn’t be comfortable saying its real until taking a closer look and I browsed the photos more closely .. but like you said seems like alot of work to fake but on other hand look at the price as well (I think the best cobblers probably also make some stunning customs with their name - given the price I would only hope someone with lots of knowledge backs up their wallet

The other Weiss folder is spectacular in my opinion.. very cool blade assortment!! A real nice knife.. as an aside if I’m not mistaken Weiss was well known for surgical tools as well..

[Miller Bro's]

This knife sold on Ebay this past week.

Thoughts?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FANTASTIC-EARL ... 1438.l2649

Stamp is J. HINCHCLIFFE / CELEBRATED / DIRK KNIFE

Goins says 1841 to 1860.

Charlie Noyes

Beautiful, unusual and authentic old knife

[RobesonsRme.com]

If a British Naval Officer's knife, then it probably should not fall under the "Bowie" umbrella.

And Levine does not list John Coe as a maker of Bowie era knives.

Charlie