All About Pocket Knives

There are some really fine old knives shown here.

Dave, that is a really nice covered back spring Miller Brothers contract

Harold, that is a great looking looking old swell whittler. I would imagine it is from before 1900 as the majority of the existence of H&B (since 1853) was prior to the 1900 cut off. You could compare the nickel silver bolster to say one made in the 1920s. A knife made in the 1890s or prior should have slightly more gold colored nickel silver as the content was changed around that time. This being said, I do not feel confident in my abilities using this method.

S-K That is a great looking early stag budding knife and fanatic carved ivory whittler

Here are five knives made before 1900, all bearing bar shields.

Conn Cutlery Co. Thomaston - 1880-1883
3 3/8" tortoise shell whittler with manicure blade. It is inscribed in the nickel silver shield, Phoebe Thomas. A relative of Seth Thomas for whom the town is named? Who knows, but I really like this knife.

Union Knife Co. Naugatuck - 1851-1885
3 3/8" Ivory crown whittler, all blades with half stops. This is a fine early knife.

Humason & Beckley H. Mount & Son's - Circa 1890's
3" genuine stag senator with tip bolsters and milled brass liners. The blades show telling features, the master and one pen blade are marked H. Mount & Son's while the other pen and cuticle blade are marked H & B MFG. Co. New Britain. All blades show a long pull through the ricasso. This interesting knife was made for a H. Mount & Son's of Clayton, NY (I think). Included is an ad from an 1890-1891 advertisement for a Harness close out.

L. Bradley Knife Co. - Made in Naugatuck 1856-1876.
2 15/16" mother of pearl whittler, spear master blade with pen and cuticle blades with half stops.

Waterville Cutlery Conn. 1865-1890
5 3/8" Ebony swing-guard lock-back. The blade shows a fantastic sabre grind.

What beautiful old knives.
Beechtree, they're gorgeous. And what stamps!

Fantastic old knives, Beechtree! I love them all, but, especially the Waterville lockback.
Dan

What Dan said.

Really nice knives, the Water-ville Hunter is second to none.

Harold

Thanks Joe, Dan, Harold and peanut. I appreciate the comments. I really like the swing guard as well. But, each of these show such high quality construction and upon close examination their merits become clear. The Union whittler has an old school class, the Conn Cutlery has lovely tortoise shell which feels great to hold on to, the H&B oozes quality, and although well used the L Bradley surely is great for the stamp.
Cheers,

I wonder just how many L. Bradley knives there are?
Charlie

Good question Charlie?? I have a few before 1900, Barker Dounce Rose & Co 1875-1889. Lucky to have a box for it too.

There is always my Champlin knives, these have been posted before.

Beaver Falls carving set.

H & J W King 1857-1876

Mike, very nice, great etch on the H & JW King!
Dan

Here are a few more early knives.

Jenner & Knewstub Quill knife with letter opener page turner. Carved pearl handles with gold pins. c. 1856 - 1889. 6 1/8" closed.

Baxter & Co. carved pearl with Quill and Wharncliffe blade. 3" closed.

IXL folder 6 1/8" closed, 11" opened. Stag handle and Long pull spear blade.

H. & J. W. King N.Y. Warranted 1869, hawkbill pruner with stag handles. 4 1/4" closed. c. 1857 - 1876

Eagleton Knife Co, 2 blade pen with Stanhope viewer. Picture of burlesque star Viola Clifton in Stanhope. c, 1875 - 1900. 2 3/4" closed. Posted is the picture that is seen in the viewer. Photo by Thomas Houseworth of San Franasisco c. 1880.

Wayne

Wow I love that King stag!!!!

Great bunch of knives Wayne.

Very nice knives Wayne.
Dan

Fantastic display you have there Wayne. Your choice of both interesting stamps and unique patterns really makes for a powerful collection. Thanks for sharing these wonderful pieces.

Beautiful knives!

Thanks all. There are some really nice old pieces in this thread!

I got the little Eagleton knife with a collection I bought from a neighbor that knew I collected knives. His collection was A to Z but there was a KA-BAR big Grizzly that I knew he had and he finally decided to sell. Since there were over a 100 varied knives I didn't even realize the little Eagleton was a Stanhope viewer until I got the knives home and took a closer look. Then I misplaced the knife for about 4 months before I finally located it in a box of misc. junk. I had actually given up on finding it. Not the first time I misplaced a knife and I doubt it will be the last.

Funny how things work out. It's not always the biggest, oldest or most expensive knives that get our interest. That little roughed up Eagleton is a keeper for me.

Wayne

Nice stuff Wayne!

Love that Baxter!
One of my favorite patterns.
Mark

NICE! FOREST KING

Fantastic display Wayne! Thanks for posting them and all who also posted.
Stanhope viewers are fascinating.My first was a mechanical pencil knife that was a souvenir of Havana Cuba and made in Germany.Like you it took awhile before I realized there was a Stanhope in the handle.Typical 1900's risque picture.
The next one was an identical one except this time the words were in Spanish.Different picture too but the same genre.
My last one was a letter opener that had been made from a tree branch.I'll have to dig it out and photograph it.

Ever seen this tang stamp? HENRY SEARS CO.
no Prussia on back only marking on knife

Here's a couple more I dug out:Tried to research the names but to no avail.The two letter opener/knives look to be English;one has the VcrownR stamp.The ivory one has a patent date on it so I am assuming it was made in the USA