All About Pocket Knives

In another forum here about the Lehigh Valley Knife Show, Galvanic wrote " There was a collector that had some fantastic KA-BAR knives and also a gravity Miller Brothers with an ebony handle that is Rare, Rare, Rare."

Another friend brought this Miller to my table on Sunday to photograph for him. As luck would have it, this knife was a topic of discussion when I looked at BRL's forum on Blade on Monday morning. Here's one of the pics I took at Lehigh. Someone on Blade found the patent, No. 1,065,863 June 24,1913. The one I photoed was marked Pat. Pend. so it was made prior to this date.

This is a large knife, about the size of a swell-center hunter. The base of the endcap swings down on a hinge pin and the blunt point is inserted under the hide or skin, which leads the skin into a cutting edge which is vertical. It works like a paper slitter.

There's some cool knives to see at some of these shows, but money alone won't pry them away from their owners. Fran

That is a great one Fran. I have a couple of Miller Bros. jacks that I like alot. Otto

Nice one Fran.
I have a few Miller Bros.
Always looking for another that is in my price range.

Dale

What a great looking Miller Bros.---Here is a pic of a harness jack--Thx Mark

Nice hj Mark!

Dale

Thanks Dale, for the kind words--I searched a long time to find a good one for my collection. Thx Mark

here's a navy/rope knife that hasn't seen much use at all... (no cleaning either )

Those last two are both GORGEOUS knives.

Fran

Hello tmwsiy, Is that the large Miller Navy knife? Very nice I don't see them often.

Stockman

great millers guys. that rope knife is a classic with the handles attached with screws.

stockman wrote:Hello tmwsiy, Is that the large Miller Navy knife? Very nice I don't see them often.

Stockman

yep, its the large one...
thanks for the compliments, guys

HI,names jaquin and just joined! I aquired a Miller english jack recently and an interested inany info. about it[price,etc.] I have not photographed it as of yet but will try to soon. I'll try to discribe it as best I can with consertive condishion.4 1\8" closed ,71\8" open,appx.3" spear point blade. Brown jiggered boan scales set with brass screws[4] and lanyard hole in rear. Dished,fancy bolster,all steel liners and bolster.Overall cond. ex., no cracks to handles[keychane wear to lanyard hole] ,blade hes very light pitting marks in areas,well sharpened,slight grinding marks[rounded]into sholder of tang just kissing stamp. Curved logo" Miller Bros cut. co.Meriden. Overall great look ,well warn but not abused! Any intrest? I guess a picture deff.is worth a few hundred words anyway! Is this a common Miller ? I figure made in the teens? Any help surely app. ,Thanks,jaquin

Well, a good bit of time has gone by for this thread and I still haven't found a Carter skinner or Miller gravity knife of my own.

I'm always cruising though, and not above a little something strange.

Here's a sweet 'lil thing I picked up in Lewisburg Pa. yesterday.

Fran

Wow, nice find, it even has the patented screw on handles!

That buttonhook knife is Stylin, Fran! Tortoise shell screwed on! And lookit that way cool clip blade!
I'd be proud to have that baby to hook up my spats!!

I'm still hunting a Miller Bro's or three for my stack. Thought I had a couple of nice ones bought a while back, but they turned out to be less than they were supposed to be.

One of these days I'll stumble across one.

Miller bros sure made some cool old patterns. I think I've still got one kicking around somewhere, I'll dig it out and post a pic of it when I get a chance.

Sauconian, Concerning the big Miller at the start of this thread, I once heard an old fellow remark at a show about one, "Wow, that's the biggest Cotton Sampler I've seen." And then he went on to say that the small hook blade in the butt end of the knife was for cutting the cords that bound cotton bales in the old days. I have no idea if this is indeed what the knife was made for but I thought you might find the info interesting so I passed it along. Eric

Eric, Some folks just have to have an explanation for everything, and if they don't know the answer will concoct a plausible explanation. I sure hope the "Carter Skinning Knife" etch was worn off when the old fellow dreamed that one up.

Reminds me of the time I saw a couple of those clamp-on handles that went on a scythe handle. About an 1-1/2" diameter steel ring, and the antique dealer had them labeled " primitive bottle openers." I don't know if he thought the caps were larger in the 'olden' days, or if he thought they were used to just snap the necks off a bottle.

Better to be ignorant, than to appear unknowing.

Fran

I actually find it plausible that the knife could have been used as a cotton sampler even if that were not its intended purpose. In any event, the knife is a real dandy and I have wanted to own one for a long time for no reason other than being able to show it off. Eric

A big 3 3/4 inch jack knife--thx Mark

Very nice

I like that spear blade and the shield.
Very nice!

Dale

Old MB harness jack. Punch is tipped and the shield went missing.


Piece of bone missing on the backside


Just an honest old knife. Still "walks and talks."

Thanks for the compliments knife friends--I am a big SUCKER for those bowtie or propeller shields