Eureka Jacks
- thegreedygulo
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Eureka Jacks
Eureka jacks are a rare old pattern. Anybody have any? Here's a couple of mine.
Both are H. Boker & Co's Improved Cutlery.
Both are H. Boker & Co's Improved Cutlery.
A pocket knife is still an intimate personal possession of the individual who carries it and consequently deserves the best of materials, finish and workmanship in its production. (Quoted from Boker's 1928 cutlery catalog).
- theblindog
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Re: Eureka Jacks
those are real beauty!
I love the bone
thanks for sharing these!
Falah
"Have a sharp day!"
"Have a sharp day!"
- biglmbass
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Looks like a neat pattern and is similar to a dogleg. Those are great. Approximately how old are they and how long are they?
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gino
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- dcgm4
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Re: Eureka Jacks
WOW!
Those are two incredible knives! I really like that bone-handled one.
Dave
Always looking for vintage knives with Virginia, Maryland, or Washington D.C. tang stamps. Any condition.
Always looking for vintage knives with Virginia, Maryland, or Washington D.C. tang stamps. Any condition.
- paulsvintage
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Never Argue With a idiot
They'll bring you down to their level & beat you with experience
PAUL
They'll bring you down to their level & beat you with experience
PAUL
- RobesonsRme.com
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Those Boker eureka jacks are very nice.
You obviously have a fantastic collection of Bokers.
I have this one, a pseudo-eureka Robeson "Demonstrator" with the usual hard rubber handles and "ShurEdge" shield, which I've seen only on the Demonstrator marked knives.
I have never seen a bone handled version of this knife.
Charlie Noyes
You obviously have a fantastic collection of Bokers.
I have this one, a pseudo-eureka Robeson "Demonstrator" with the usual hard rubber handles and "ShurEdge" shield, which I've seen only on the Demonstrator marked knives.
I have never seen a bone handled version of this knife.
Charlie Noyes
DE OPPRESSO LIBER
"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons ___but they are helpless against our prayers. "
Sidlow Baxter
"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons ___but they are helpless against our prayers. "
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- FRJ
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Hi, greedy.
Those are two different frames with swell centers. And they are fine looking knives.
What makes a Eureka Jack?
Consider my knife, if you will.
Is it a Eureka Jack?
I can improve on the pictures if need be. Thanks.
Those are two different frames with swell centers. And they are fine looking knives.
What makes a Eureka Jack?
Consider my knife, if you will.
Is it a Eureka Jack?
I can improve on the pictures if need be. Thanks.
Joe
- thegreedygulo
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Re: Eureka Jacks
FRJ,
According to Bernard Levine's Guide To Knives And Their Values 4th Edition, Eureka Jacks are also called swell-center serpentine balloon knives which have the blades on the same end (the bone handled one I listed fits this category) and also called swell-center serpentines with the blades on opposite ends (the ebony handled one fits this description) or cattle knife type double-end jacks. Eureka Jacks are generally considered a deluxe or fancy cattle knife pattern.
As for your knife, it is a swell-center serpentine pen knife rather than a true Eureka Jack. While similar in shape to a Eureka Jack knife and/or cattle knife, it is both slimmer in proportion and much smaller in size. The shape doesn't eleminate it as being a Eureka jack, but the size of it does. These knives I listed are fairly large working knives. The ebony one is 3&5/8" closed and the bone is about the same size.
I've attached some pages of info. about all three knives that you may find interesting. The scans aren't that great, but If you will enlarge them, you should be able to read them.
According to Bernard Levine's Guide To Knives And Their Values 4th Edition, Eureka Jacks are also called swell-center serpentine balloon knives which have the blades on the same end (the bone handled one I listed fits this category) and also called swell-center serpentines with the blades on opposite ends (the ebony handled one fits this description) or cattle knife type double-end jacks. Eureka Jacks are generally considered a deluxe or fancy cattle knife pattern.
As for your knife, it is a swell-center serpentine pen knife rather than a true Eureka Jack. While similar in shape to a Eureka Jack knife and/or cattle knife, it is both slimmer in proportion and much smaller in size. The shape doesn't eleminate it as being a Eureka jack, but the size of it does. These knives I listed are fairly large working knives. The ebony one is 3&5/8" closed and the bone is about the same size.
I've attached some pages of info. about all three knives that you may find interesting. The scans aren't that great, but If you will enlarge them, you should be able to read them.
A pocket knife is still an intimate personal possession of the individual who carries it and consequently deserves the best of materials, finish and workmanship in its production. (Quoted from Boker's 1928 cutlery catalog).
- thegreedygulo
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Re: Eureka Jacks
biglmbass
They are both somewhere in the age brackett of 1869 - 1914. The ebony knife is 3&5/8" long when closed and the bone handled knife is approx. the same size (I don't have it readily available to measure at the moment). They are both good sized working knives.
They are both somewhere in the age brackett of 1869 - 1914. The ebony knife is 3&5/8" long when closed and the bone handled knife is approx. the same size (I don't have it readily available to measure at the moment). They are both good sized working knives.
A pocket knife is still an intimate personal possession of the individual who carries it and consequently deserves the best of materials, finish and workmanship in its production. (Quoted from Boker's 1928 cutlery catalog).
- FRJ
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Thank you greedy, for your considerable response. I see now that my knife is not a jack (which I certainly knew) but aimlessly hoped to fall into that classic pattern.
I am learning. And am struck by this unique and stylish, uncommon design.
I have Levine's 3rd. and have found like articles. The cattle knife inclusion is interesting.
I do have this new Schatt & Morgan. A facsimile for sure. Thanks.
I am learning. And am struck by this unique and stylish, uncommon design.
I have Levine's 3rd. and have found like articles. The cattle knife inclusion is interesting.
I do have this new Schatt & Morgan. A facsimile for sure. Thanks.
Joe
- Paul M
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- IMBand
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Grredy and Paul M -
WHOA!!! KILLER KNIVES - WOW!!
What a great pattern and info - thanks Greedy. Paul - that is one of the finest knives I
have seen, thank you very much for posting it, and thanks again greedy for this thread.
I am pretty new to buying knives and there is still alot I have not seen. The feelings I get
when I see something like that make me think that this hobby/disease is right for me, LOL.
Thanks aapk for the site and to all the members who post, WOW!!!
IM
What a great pattern and info - thanks Greedy. Paul - that is one of the finest knives I
have seen, thank you very much for posting it, and thanks again greedy for this thread.
I am pretty new to buying knives and there is still alot I have not seen. The feelings I get
when I see something like that make me think that this hobby/disease is right for me, LOL.
Thanks aapk for the site and to all the members who post, WOW!!!
IM
AAPK #6581
- thegreedygulo
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Paul M..................WOW! That is a beautiful old knife............a classic example in every aspect. Very nice. Thanks for posting it.
A pocket knife is still an intimate personal possession of the individual who carries it and consequently deserves the best of materials, finish and workmanship in its production. (Quoted from Boker's 1928 cutlery catalog).
- paulsvintage
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Never Argue With a idiot
They'll bring you down to their level & beat you with experience
PAUL
They'll bring you down to their level & beat you with experience
PAUL
- orvet
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Paul M wrote:Here is my Eureka, A Walden Knife Co. 3 3/4" long
WHOA BUBBA, STOP THE TRAIN!!!
That is one of the most beautiful knives I have ever seen!!!
I love it!
If ever I make a slipjoint from scratch......
Dale
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- Paul M
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Thanks Guys! It is one of my favorites. A very high form of the Cutler's Art.
Paul M
- slimpickins
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Re: Eureka Jacks
A very rare pattern to be sure. Paul that Walden is spectacular!!!. I only have one , a re-make for sure pictured along side another re-make. Not sure who made em'. The Eureka is marked Diamond Edge and the Tear-drop is marked Bingham. Both are well made with great F&F. Slim.
- galvanic1882
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Here is my Carrier Cutlery Eureka jack. Came from a salesman's roll that was found a few years ago at an upstate NY antique show.
- RobesonsRme.com
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Beautiful knife Michael.
Now, what happened to the rest of the knives in that roll?
Charlie Noyes
Now, what happened to the rest of the knives in that roll?
Charlie Noyes
DE OPPRESSO LIBER
"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons ___but they are helpless against our prayers. "
Sidlow Baxter
"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons ___but they are helpless against our prayers. "
Sidlow Baxter
- theblindog
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Re: Eureka Jacks
sweet bone there galvanic!
this is really rare patern, i've been looking for eureka jaks seen i read this thread, couldn't find one that affordable
this is really rare patern, i've been looking for eureka jaks seen i read this thread, couldn't find one that affordable
Falah
"Have a sharp day!"
"Have a sharp day!"
- thegreedygulo
- Gold Tier

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Re: Eureka Jacks
galvanic1882: That is one KILLER looking knife.
A pocket knife is still an intimate personal possession of the individual who carries it and consequently deserves the best of materials, finish and workmanship in its production. (Quoted from Boker's 1928 cutlery catalog).
- paulsvintage
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Never Argue With a idiot
They'll bring you down to their level & beat you with experience
PAUL
They'll bring you down to their level & beat you with experience
PAUL
- galvanic1882
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Re: Eureka Jacks
The rest of the knives in the roll are owned by a dealer friend. I bought the only etched one in the roll. Attached are pictures of 2 more from the same batch. Check out the salesman's numbers etched on the back of the blades. The ebony jack is 3 3/4" closed and the other is 3 3/8" closed.
- biglmbass
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Re: Eureka Jacks
Those are great, galvanic1882. The bone on that bare end looks fantastic. I assume that's ebony on the last one?