Ring opener knives

[bronze4u]

Having never seen one in person, I have to ask, What's the purpose of the ring?

(Twist the ring, the blade opens)
Though I am pretty new collecting the 'ring turns' from what I have read 'online', they were either first made as a small knife for ladies to open without breaking their nails... And, or for the blind? It seems no one person actually knows for sure? I just think they are unique and interesting to collect. Many of them were used to advertise someones Company, or personalized as gifts...

This one was definitely for a man.. The only one I have that is larger than all my other ring turns. With a bottle opener!

[bronze4u]

Great thread, my first grail collectable was a ring turner, I always wanted one and it was 10 years before I got one, it was an Iberson from Sheffield made for Hoffritz. I've collected a few to satisfy my need. I have 1 of the 38 SFO ring turners for BFC and the one that's my favorite is my Schrade Walden Nickle Silver Wurlitzer advertiser.

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What is the SFO one look like? I now live in San Francisco...

The SFO or Special Factory Order is the pic on the bottom. It's a 2006 Canal Street Cutlery Ring Turner with Burnt Stag covers made for the Traditional's Forum at Blade Forums dot com, #13, 1 of 38 made.

a2006 CSC Ring Opener.jpg

NICE! thats a really nice Canal Street! Thanks for showing me this...

[bronze4u]

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The WURLITZER is nice as well....

Cheers,

Kirk

[bronze4u]

Three beauties just in today!

One is pretty much in Mint condition! Still has packing grease! Sat in a drawer in a wood box for years untouched!

RMS 'Berengaria' Butcher England with massive rings!, J.A. Henckels 'Double Wharncliffe' MINT!, Henckels German 'Screaming Eagle' logo

[bronze4u]

These are Simonds Worden White 'Hardware' ring turns.. Here I show the more common version of this knife (top pictured one). And my latest (bottom knife in picture), is an older more obscure version of this knife. Most are stamped SSW, USA on the blades, with slightly different brass handles and oval style rings. With my newest more obscure 'round ring version' It is stamped W.H. Morely & Sons Germany. I believe there are three versions of this knife (hard to find all three). I just purchased this 'round ring' version, so I now have two of the three versions. will post my own photography once I receive it. There is the oldest of the three left for me to find!

[bronze4u]

This is one I just purchased by the Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & CO
I assume it is nickel, or nickel silver maybe? I will be posting my own photography once it arrives. I like heir stamp on tag: 'O.V.B.' (our very best)

Looking forward to yet another nice ring turn knife.

[bronze4u]

Just in... I have this beautiful unsharpened ring ring turn knife by: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Co.

[bronze4u]

Hello, I am a 'newbie' here. I am currently collecting the old vintage 'Ring opener', 'Ring Turn', ring Twist' pocket knives, or whatever you like to call them. Please let me know should you have any you'd like to trade, or sell? I also have a fairly large collection of other vintage knives, and straight razors. Cheersring turn pic 2 - Copy.jpg

*UPDATE:
GRIFFON XX GRIFFON CUTLERY WORKS, GERMANY
Just purchased this beautiful jigged bone/stag? vintage ring turn in near mint condition!
I will post my own photography later, once it arrives.

[LongBlade]

Joining the Ring Opener party that Kirk started with his cool collection

Empire Winsted CT Sterling Silver Ring Opener (3 & 1/4") - Nicely engraved and some cool stamps on bottom photo on the mark side cover... not sure but believe the stamp on left which is a small flag with "F&B" inside may have been the jeweler who made the sterling handle covers, middle stamp is Sterling and numbers on right may be the pattern # from Empire "5467" ...

Cheers and thanks for looking!
Lee

[bronze4u]

That's a beauty! Let me know should you ever want to sell, or trade for anything, or both maybe? Thank you for joining in!

Cheers,

Kirk

[LongBlade]

Thanks Kirk ... first Ring Opener in my collection within my line of focus ...

[bronze4u]

Thanks Kirk ... first Ring Opener in my collection within my line of focus ...

I understand Lee! Great post!
Should you ever want to part with it, I have many vintage autos you might like to choose from. Lol

Cheers

Kirk

[bronze4u]

TRIO OF ALL THREE SIMONDS RING TURN KNIVES!!!

I now have collected the prized trio! The eldest version is before it was Warden & White, Just A A Simonds. All are USA, yet W. H. Morley Made.

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[bronze4u]

Finally I have all three versions of Simonds ring openers!
Oldest starting with: "the A A Simonds - Dayton Co.", then "Simonds - Worden - White Co.", and "Simonds Worden White Co."

We all know that feeling of reaching that 'knife hunt goal' At least I hope everyone knows... There will always be a hunt when it comes to knives!

Of course - I still have several other ring turn knives I am hunting for... As well, there are all the variables and unknown ring turns that I won't even know about until I see them. THIS ads so much more to the 'thrill of the hunt'.

I hope everyone finds their prey out there hunting.... Please share anything ring turn related here!

Cheers,

Kirk

[bronze4u]

My group shot minus one arriving later today.

[bronze4u]

My Griffon X X is here!

Looks to be bone for sure as I see a bone like side grain in it.. It also feels heavy like the real deal. It is definitely jigged.

Knife is great, just has some up/down blade wobble. No real side to side.. All in all in all a very nice and shiny new looking old knife.

Cheers,

Kirk

[bronze4u]

Here is another new ring turn that arrived today.

Dolphin Cutlery N.Y.S.R., Co., "Berry & Caswell Clothing Hub"

[LongBlade]

Another cool ring opener addition to the pile Kirk .... you are on a ring opener "mission" for sure and on a roll

[bronze4u]

Another cool ring opener addition to the pile Kirk .... you are on a ring opener "mission" for sure and on a roll

Ha! Thanks longblade!

Cheers,

Kirk

[bronze4u]

Gotta love MOP scaled knives, especially with rings!

[bronze4u]

Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Co. ring turn

[bronze4u]

These are in the mail. I purchased one lot of nine ring turns! Then the other three are coming from the U.K. We'll see how I did? These are the sellers photos that I combined.

[djknife13]

Nice collection. I see you even found a cigar box opener with a ring blade opener. That has to be a rare piece. ___Dave

[LongBlade]

Kirk - nice haul to add for the collection you are building ... you are indeed the "ring" leader ... I particularly like the HSB knife handle covers !!

As Dave pointed out a ring opener for cigar boxes - now that is interesting given that I thought these knives were favored by the ladies so they wouldn't break a nail opening the knife blades - like to see a photo of the woman who used this smoking a big stogie ... (if indeed it was a woman as I am sure some men carried these as well)...

[bronze4u]

Nice collection. I see you even found a cigar box opener with a ring blade opener. That has to be a rare piece. ___Dave

Thanks Dave, hmm I never heard that before. I thought it was a letter opener, or grafting knife.
I have one other one (added pic)

that seems really rare and possibly real ivory.