All About Pocket Knives

Howdy,

I just won this one off the bay,
and was wondering if anyone could guesstimate a manuf. date.
It's a little beat up, chips on both handles near the bolsters, and a pin crack,
but it was cheeeep (less than a Rough Rider).
I couldn't find anything definite in Goins.
The tang reads:

I-XL
GEORGE
WOSTENHOLM
SHEFFIELD
ENGLAND

Thanks
Keith

With that tang Goins says between 1890 and 1971.
I would say towards the latter end of that time frame

What is the scale material? It appears to be from towards the end of the time frame as Gino stated. Still should be a decent user. s-k

Thanks guys,

The item description didn't include what the scales were made of.
I would guess horn, but I don't have anything other than the look to base that on.

I've been looking for a Barlow to add to the EDC rotation,
but the last one that I bought (Taylor Eye Witness) in the AAPK auction a few weeks ago weighs a ton.
I really like it, but it feels like you're carrying a brick in your pocket.

keithw, here's a similar jack. Maybe a little older.

Nice Joe.

Paul

I'm going with the later end of the production. Those knives are built like tanks and are great EDC knives. They rarely go "cheap"' on ebay too. I*XL was a great company with a long lineage in the Sheffield knife industry. Now they're just a memory.
Here's a late production one with wood scales.


and a 2 blade with reddish bone.

Here's my one and only I-XL. Had this puppy about 40-years. I've come to the conclusion that this is from about 1960.

What hasn't been mentioned in this post is the 'OIL THE JOINTS' stamp that appeared from about 1930 to 1970 on the back side of the tang. The question I have is did that stamp appear on all the production between those dates?
The answer to that might clear up when this Barlow was made.

Ray,

I'm not positive but I don't think that it does have "Oil the Joints",
but I will check for sure when I get home tonight.
Thanks for the info

Keith

Paladin wrote:What hasn't been mentioned in this post is the 'OIL THE JOINTS' stamp that appeared from about 1930 to 1970 on the back side of the tang. The question I have is did that stamp appear on all the production between those dates?
The answer to that might clear up when this Barlow was made.

Not 100% sure, but I don't think "Oil The Joints" was used after the 1950's unless in the newer reproduction stuff after the Wostenholm era.

According to Goins it was used from 1930 to 1971.

You're right about Goins, my knife does not say "oil the joints" and I know it is prior to 1970. I guess all were not marked with that stamp

TJ,
"About" 40 yrs puts it "about" 70. Might be too close to call and make the assumption that they were not all marked. IMO
Mark

I've had it about 40-years, but did not get it new. I traded a friend something or other for it. The knife is 1960's, I think.

My Barlow of previous posts says Oil the Joints, But my Congress, which I assume is an older knife has no such mark.

TJ,
I have a twin to it. Can you see any etch (IXL) on the blade, and is yours marked stainless steel on the back tang?
Mark

No hint of etch on blade and the blade is carbon steel, no stainless. Can you post a pic?

'oil the joints' is a later mark 1930-71. The other knife looks older than that. s-k

Mine doesn't have "Oil the Joints" on it either.
Thanks
Keith

Tj,
I missed that request before. You can barely see the stainless steel stamping on the reverse tang, pic 3
Mark

Wow! I'd have never guessed that knife would have been made in bot stainless and carbon. Kinda cool.

I got a Wostenholm off ebay from mossdancer. It arrives a couple days ago.
Nice deep etch on the master blade: PREMIUM STOCK KNIFE.
A little pitting on the blades.

Note the OIL THE JOINTS stamp on the pile side tang.

I have been carrying it since I got it a couple days ago.
I really like the steel!

I will eventually put new bone handles on it.
There is a piece missing out of the front handle pretty much the length of the handle.
It feels good in the hand though.


Dale

I have a few from the mid 80's.
My favorite is the Pipe knife.

Wow Gary,
You are right, the pipe knife is my favorite as well!
I would like to find one like that!

Nice one,
Dale