All About Pocket Knives

Here is what Bernard Levine referred to as a, "German Physician's Knife". This knife was made in Germany for Millard Robeson in the 1890's.

The master blade is a flexible spatula. It is not sharpened, but the bottom edge is about half as thick as the top. The other blades include a pen and a corkscrew.

I think the corkscrew was for removing a true cork stopper from a medicine bottle or vial.

The spatula was used to measure powdered medicinals from bottles and then to blend them into compounds, in addition to the uses described above, such as separating and counting pills. I cringe at the tongue depressor option. Surely not.

Charlie Noyes

RobesonsRme.com wrote:
The spatula was used to measure powdered medicinals from bottles and then to blend them into compounds, in addition to the uses described above, such as separating and counting pills. I cringe at the tongue depressor option. Surely not.

Charlie Noyes

Hadn't really thought about the old practice of providing medicinals as powders. Even 15 years ago I remember finding "headache powders" at the pharmacy where years a go one could obtain a "Bromo" at the fountain or as a powder to take home. A hundred years and more ago many if not most bottles were corked so a corkscrew of some type was very practical.


I read I believe here in the forums about some of the history of corn knifes(makes me shudder). Anyone have real knowledge of why the shape and how it was used? Fleams are another blade shape which begs the question of technique.

I am learning a great deal here thanks.

Trying to find a knife that can also work as pry bar, razels look like the way to go but was hoping to find one in a more normal blade. Have a spyderco police serated that might work but was hoping that one of the al mar's might do the job.

You cant really have a tool that works as a knife and a prybar. The knife needs to be hard so it will hold an edge, which also makes it too brittle to be a prybar.
Mark

My sak flat screw driver will have to do for now, instead of prying straight up I just slip it in and turn it on edge. Looks like that is as good as it is going to get. Orvet, thanks for the story on Al.

sharalds wrote:Trying to find a knife that can also work as pry bar, razels look like the way to go but was hoping to find one in a more normal blade. Have a spyderco police serated that might work but was hoping that one of the al mar's might do the job.

Try an electricians knife. If it's not already, you can actually sharpen the screwdriver blade to second as a knife. Or just use the primary blade for cutting tasks. WB

Thanks whitebuffalo58 good idea and the price is right.

Corn razors and corn knives were designed and used to shave the hardened, protuberant mass of a corn, an abnormal growth of skin on the bottom of one's foot.

The trick is to lay the blade flat against the foot and take the corn down in thin layers and avoiding getting into the "quick" or viable tissue beneath.

Modern corn razors have a depth shield attached to ensure only a thin layer is removed with each cut.

Charlie Noyes