Korn patent corkscrew
- galvanic1882
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Korn patent corkscrew
I picked up this pearl handled Bartender's knife last year and keep forgetting to post it. It's marked Henry Sears & Son 1865 on both blades and on the foil cutter. Press down on the foil cutter and the corkscrew pops up. The is a similar pearl handled knife in a Cattaraugus catalog that is called a lobster/bartender knife. The frame is a bit different with this knife having a serpentine shape and pinched middle. I believe that JBF Champlin and Sears had some kind of connection in the early years along with George Korn. One of my Galvanic1882 knives, the doctor's pattern, is a dead ringer for a Henry Sears doctor's knife. I have also seen the bottle shaped Korn pattern corkscrews marked Henry Sears.
Just my guess is all.
Just my guess is all.
- Doc B
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
Neat looking knife!!!

Heretical Refurb / Mods of cheap old folders, since late 2018
- deo-pa
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
Mike that is such a great knife! The unusual pinched middle really adds to the design. I can see from your photo how the corkscrew sits deep in the well. Looks to be too deep to get to with a fingernail so pushing down on the cutter levers out the corkscrew... very cool and also pretty unusual. Does the similar Cattaragus one you mentioned have all these same features?
Is that lever out feature the Korn patent you refer to in the post’s title?
Please let me know if you ever decide to part with this beauty.
Dennis
Is that lever out feature the Korn patent you refer to in the post’s title?
Please let me know if you ever decide to part with this beauty.
Dennis
- herbva
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
Very unusual, cool and interesting knife and knife history. Another example of, a somewhat complicated, intertwined history between 19th century knife makers.

"Better to do something imperfectly, than to do nothing flawlessly." ~ Robert H. Schuller
Herb
Herb
- galvanic1882
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
Dan I’m not sure what you mean about lever out feature? The patent is for the foil cutter used to open the corkscrew. Here is a picture of the Catt catalog knife. Mikedeo-pa wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 7:10 pm Mike that is such a great knife! The unusual pinched middle really adds to the design. I can see from your photo how the corkscrew sits deep in the well. Looks to be too deep to get to with a fingernail so pushing down on the cutter levers out the corkscrew... very cool and also pretty unusual. Does the similar Cattaragus one you mentioned have all these same features?
Is that lever out feature the Korn patent you refer to in the post’s title?
Please let me know if you ever decide to part with this beauty.
Dennis
- deo-pa
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
It looks to me that when the foil cutter is closed if you push down on the foil cutter blade it in turn pushes down on the end of the corkscrew and that action pivots (levers) the corkscrew up and out. Is that what you meant by “Press down on the foil cutter and the corkscrew pops up” in your OP? Or did I misunderstand how it works?I’m not sure what you mean about lever out feature?
Dennis
- galvanic1882
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
You got it right Dennis
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1fartsmella
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
Mike, That is a beauty! Have never seen another of that pattern. Quite unique.galvanic1882 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 20, 2020 4:54 pm I picked up this pearl handled Bartender's knife last year and keep forgetting to post it. It's marked Henry Sears & Son 1865 on both blades and on the foil cutter. Press down on the foil cutter and the corkscrew pops up. The is a similar pearl handled knife in a Cattaraugus catalog that is called a lobster/bartender knife. The frame is a bit different with this knife having a serpentine shape and pinched middle. I believe that JBF Champlin and Sears had some kind of connection in the early years along with George Korn. One of my Galvanic1882 knives, the doctor's pattern, is a dead ringer for a Henry Sears doctor's knife. I have also seen the bottle shaped Korn pattern corkscrews marked Henry Sears.
Just my guess is all.
I have a pair of Korn Patent Figural knives, with the pop up cork screw. The Champagne Bottle is Ivory and has advertising. "Compliments of National Tobacco Works Louisville Ky" on one side, and "Piper Heidsiek Plug Tobacco Champagne Flavor" on the other side. The 2 cutting blades and the foil cutter are stamped Henry Sears & Son 1865. The back of the foil cutter Is stamped Korn's Patent inside a box.
The Pitcher Figural is cloisonné. Both cutting blades are stamped Cattaraugus Cut Co. The foil cutter is stamped Registered. All of these knives are thought to have been made by Cattaraugus?
Barry
- galvanic1882
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
Very nice Barry love those knives!! 
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- galvanic1882
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
Just got this Cattaraugus bartenders knife with the Korn patent pop up corkscrew. Faint Catt stamp but the pattern number is clear 42369. First one I’ve ever seen!
- LongBlade
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
Awesome Mike
... Congrats on finding that one!!
____________________________________________________________________________
Lee
Lee
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- 1967redrider
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
Very cool knives posted here! I like the unusual
!


Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
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1fartsmella
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Re: Korn patent corkscrew
Mike, That foil cutter is different than any other we have seen on these old knives. A cap lifter, rather than a foil cutter/wire cutter.galvanic1882 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 2:50 pm Just got this Cattaraugus bartenders knife with the Korn patent pop up corkscrew. Faint Catt stamp but the pattern number is clear 42369. First one I’ve ever seen!
A nice find, thanks for posting.
Barry