All About Pocket Knives

WOW,that gets my vote!

Heinr. Boker & Co Baumwerk-Solingen Germany-Alemania.

The thread started by Colonel26 (Wade) under General Knife Discussion regarding Congress knives and tobacco farming got me motivated to take a few pics of a few of my Congress knives… so I guess Congress is back is session …

Wm Parker – Sheffield : I am seeing 2 different findings for Wm Parker Sheffield… from Goins it lists Wm & JG Parker from 1841-1852. Based on Tweedale there was a Wm Parker who was the son of a master cutler from the 1700s and manufactured knives in the early 1800s. Tweedale reported the latter William Parker dying in 1837 and that he expanded himself to be an American merchant as well. Sadly Tweedale notes his wife committed suicide by slicing her throat with a razor in the 1840s following the closing of the cutlery. (Side note – Tweedale has some interesting notes regarding many of the cutlers including how they died, where they buried, how much money they left etc). Nonetheless this 6-blade MOP Congress knife with 3 springs at 3 ½” had a variety of blades from a sheepsfoot, spear, coping, pen, manicure and also a small lambsfoot at least to my eye. I assume this blade configuration was fairly popular back in that time period based on a few examples in which I have seen photos. No doubt for an approx. +/- 170 year old knife it still is solid, tight and still has snap to the blades – bit lighter snap to master blades in center but others are hard snapping!! Definitely old Sheffield quality - amazing after all this time how the blades on the same spring still snap into their positions without blade rub etc… No doubt has some old staining/patina and though used for sure it was not abused! Definitely this Congress knife is one of my favorites ...

Thanks for looking – I have a few others to post soon from other makers including a 2 and a 4 blade Congress…
All blades had the same following tang stamp:

Wow some really nice knives posted here of late. Ratty, old, new and all.

I am loving those old ones! I often carry a more modern Boker, but I was rummaging around and found this Bulldog, 4 inches, fiery pearl, SIX blades. It is available.

Here is a big Case USA 6 dot (1974) 6488 congress knife I have had for many years. It is unlike most others in that it is a true lunchbox type knife. Never made it to the final polishing in the factory. Blades are polished but the pins, handles and exposed area of the back springs are left rough.

Many times when I hare the term lunchbox knife it is just a preface for an adulterated or counterfeit knife. I had a pretty respectable bunch of older Case 88 and 52 pattern congress pens at one time and sold them all. I kept this one and newest knife of the bunch because I consider it unique.

I have acquired just a few of these lunchbox knives over the years and feel lucky to have them. I could finish them out to factory like finished products but then they would be just like many other knives.

Nice knives Calvin and Wayne never heard of a lunch box knife - cool!!!

So while Congress is in Session…

Jonathan Crookes (Heart and Pistol Trademark) – Goins lists the Jonathan Crookes stamp from 1780-1827 at which time the cutlery became “& Sons”… Note there is no Sheffield on stamp indeed suggesting a very old knife… The Tweedale account of Jonathan Crookes is indeed fairly complicated but agrees to some extent with the Goins source though Tweedale claims there were two Jonathan Crookes - the first in the late 1700s was the grandfather of the second Jonathan Crookes although even Tweedale notes it is probable but uncertain. He does note both did use the “Heart and Pistol” trademark and the latter Jonathan Crookes was the one who really made that mark famous.

This Congress knife was a 4 blade pattern – MOP (you can still see abit of fire in the MOP in some of the photos) and pinched bolsters with a closed length of 3 5/8”… Blades included a sheepsfoot master, pen and coping blade as well as a manicure blade. Very cool etch on the master sheepsfoot “Senators Knife”… Other than the tang stamp noting only Jonathan Crookes with the “Heart & Pistol” mark underneath there was no notation of Sheffield which indeed suggests an early knife. If I remember correctly I had read that Sheffield did not start appearing on knives until after 1830 but please correct me if I am wrong. Nonetheless another very old Congress knife that is still solid other than some aging (though I am sure someone cleaned it abit somewhere along the way - certainly not me )…

Thanks again for looking…

Lee, what a unique and very old knife. And a bit of history to boot.
Congrats on that one!

Thanks Joe

One more from me – a 2 Blade Congress…

Griffon Cutlery Works (1893-Present ; note while Goins and Levines index lists to Present I do believe they no longer exist - and online I have read they started in 1888 but either way an old company)... Griffon was headquartered in NYC and was considered a wholesaler & manufacturer under the direction of Albert L. Silberstein who later turned it over to his son Alfred in 1927. The company made knives in both the USA (Bridgeport CT and Worcester MA) and Solingen Germany. They were known for manufacturing both pocket knives and razors (known for their trademarks of Griffon XX and Carbomagnetic). The following link has a few interesting historical links to their sign that still exists in NYC (151 19th St) to this day - www.14to42.net/quik01.html .... In addition click the link within that site to see the old factory site in Solingen Germany no longer in production. According to that site they ended in 1968 at least in terms of their NYC presence. Note the Worcester factory from where this knife was made was only in business for a short time - 1918-1921 (or 1919-1921 as per Goins) and I believe they moved some equipment from Bridgeport to Worcester to set up that factory. One last note and as seen in building sign in NYC - the company later changed the name from Griffon Cutlery Works to Griffon Cutlery Corp in the 1940s (also seen on factory site in Germany).


Griffon XX Worcester 2-Blade Congress - Jigged bone; Sheepsfoot master and Lambsfoot pen... 3 & 3/16""... not an easy stamp to find for Griffon due to their limited production for only 2 or 3 years in Worcester.. but note the Griffon stamp (mythical creature that I believe was German in origin) on back of master tang – that Griffon stamp I have seen on other knives made in Bridgeport but have not seen that stamp on any of their German made knives.

I posted this once before on a different thread but belongs here too - also I'm using a new photo setup so pics are better .. anyway thanks for looking!

Picked up this Maher&Grosh, seller sold it as cleaned but does not appear to be damaged from the cleaning. Stamped on all 4 blades, 4" long, just a real nice looking knife. First vintage Congress I have been able to find for a reasonable price.

That`s a beauty!Real nice. Bill

John, super nice old Congress knife. Do know who might have made it? Miller Bros?

Thank you Bill, thanks Ralph. Ralph I don't know who made it, the bone does look like some Miller Bros bone I have seen, maybe Roger will chime in with an idea.

Could very well be.I have a Congress in both M&G and Miller Brothers. I have seen both with different shields.I will dig them out and take some pics.

Wow.... this has got to be a record for the longest Congress has ever remained in session!

Now for my contribution.... a Walden Knife Co. 2¾” with Mother of Pearl covers.
I picked it up because it is my first MoP & my second Walden.... by coincidence it happened to be a Congress....
It has some issues but still a looker....

KAW, very nice Congress. Here are a couple Remington's
#1 - R6033
#2 - R6073
#3 - R6123
#4 - R6143

JohnR wrote:Picked up this Maher&Grosh, seller sold it as cleaned but does not appear to be damaged from the cleaning. Stamped on all 4 blades, 4" long, just a real nice looking knife. First vintage Congress I have been able to find for a reasonable price.

John here's a cut out of a 1929-30 M&G catalog with what appears to be your knife.Miller Brothers quit making knives in 1926,but that doesn't mean it wasn't some left over stock from earlier, or someone else made it.

Thank you Roger, love being able to see a knife in a vintage catalog. I was comparing the knife to some of the others in my collection and the bone also looks similar to Winchester bone.

Here is a R423 Congress jack. 3 3/4. Very light etch.

Nice one Keith. Beautiful bone.

Thanks Phil. I haven't seen many Congress knives that are jacks??

Here is a Canal Street Cutlery Half Congress. Only one I have ever seen

Tom

Here is a Remington half Congress. R4143

Here's an oldy but goody.

I like your knife Joe. Does it have a split backspring?