All About Pocket Knives

While going through and re-photographing my collection due to the loss of most of my Document File,I came to a group of knives that hadn't(I don't believe)been covered here;namely watch fob knives.

There are many small knives that can be considered to be watch fob knives but for simplicity's sake I will cover the most common ones:the small metal scaled(and sometimes celluloid)two blade knives with a small loop to attach a pocket watch chain.

There were many makers of fob knives;some of them being Miller Brothers;Voos;Meriden;Imperial;and the like.They usually fall into two distinct types:
First is the so-called,"lobster" pattern in which there is a master blade(usually a pen)and a secondary blade(usually a manicure)that when both are opened look somewhat like a lobster claw.These blades are on opposite sides of the knife.
Second is a knife that has two pen blades;one slightly larger than the other and they may be on opposite sides or the same side.
There are a variety of handle shapes including rectangular;oval;large oval and various symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes.The handles(or scales)may be brass;silver;gold;or even small strips of different types of metal fused together to provide alternate color patterns.They may be smooth or have stamped designs or even engraved designs.There is usually a space in which initials or a name may be engraved.
With that in mind I hereby present some of my watch fob knives.I have also included some that could be classified as fob knives if they had a chain loop on them.Mostly these are small advertising knives that usually have a small sheath or purse to hold them.
Picture #1
2 knives marked MSR USA. I have no idea what this stands for.
Esemco
Lustern 12K G.F.(gold filled)stamped on chain loop and blade.
Stainless.

Picture #2 Left side Right side
Miller Brothers Miller Brothers
Meriden Knife Co Voos
O.M.D.(stamped on loop) Elgin American 14K
Hayward Meriden Knife Co
Sheffield USA Voos

Picture #3
Voos(w/arrow thru name)
Walden Knife Co.
I*XL(w/unusual sheepfoot master blade)
Hayward
Miller Brothers(missing loop)

Picture #4
Sheffield
Unmarked
Hayward
Clay Cutlery Andover NY(unusual brass & silver strips form scales)
Stainless

Picture #5 Left side Right side
Ad-Nife Miller Brothers(cigar cutter)
Latama Gold filled(on chain loop)
USA Imperial
Made in Italy Imperial
Quik-Point(held together w/screws) Voos

Picture #6 Left side Right side
Imperial Barlow Japan
AS(no other mark) Stainless Japan
Italy Barlow Japan
Latama Stainless Japan
Latama Barlow

I have a couple celluloid ones that are in another drawer and will get them out and photograph.One is a New York Knife Co and the other unmarked with Christmas Tree scales.

Anyway feel free to post yours and/or comment/

Sorry about the loss of your files....

Knice collection of fob knives

Here's a couple more as promised:
Top one is unmarked but has a very unusual set of Christmas Tree scales.The bottom one is marked Hammer Brand New York Knife Co.

I am in the process of re-photographing my pearl scaled knives and will post some of those that could be considered(and likely were) watch fob knives.

Very nice pieces as usual, knife7knut.

I wanted a Miller Bros stamp so last year I picked up this little watch fob for cheap.

Nice one Jerry;Miller Brothers made some of the nicest fob knives.

Thanks Ray. It's nothing special but it's in fairly good condition and now I have a Miller Bros.

Here are some I have a file photo of.

Splendid assortment Dimitri.

Jerry!

Some more watch fob knives:

very nice guys !

ones Paul

I don't have any fob knives but it sure is fun seein them!

Here is a few I dug out.

nice Gino !

Heres a pretty little one. Very fine workmanship.
Voos
Imprinted with "N. A. A. & Co" on the bail.

Can any one tell me if this is an Empire Voos?

Hello my grandfather passed away and left me this small pocket knife. It has the blade that folds out and on opposite side there is a file with a point that folds out. On the blade I can make out Jaywar and on the the loop which is gold it has Hayward clear as day. The Hayward I'm finding results on but the Jaywar noting? Its either stainless, or some type of metal has a stainless look to it. It has a elongated daimond shape engraveing on both sides in the middle. I've looked all over and your pictures are the 1st that look really close to it. I would never sell it I just am curious what era its from. Your photos are great and you metion Hayward, I have a photo of this little pocket knife but would have to email it to you. From the great info you gave I have gethered that its probly a watch fob knife. Thank you and I hope you will be able to narrrow down or solve, what its called (fob?), manufactur, and so on. Really thank you again.. I'm Rob

That looks really close to mine, other then in the diamond shape engraving there is noting on mine. I have a picture on my phone regetfully it will not let me load it on my computer. I can email it and would be very thankful for any replies. Like I said has Jaywar on blade, and Hayward clearly on the gold loop. Thank you..

Greetings Rob,
From the sounds of it, your knife is a Hayward with a warn tang stamp (Jaywar is pretty close to Hayward). Hayward was a stamp used by Empire of Winsted Connecticut. I don't have the exact dates of their manufacture, but it is somewhere in the teen's and 20's. I find it interesting that your knife looks like the Voos knife above, as Goins notes that Empire made some knives for Voos.

Here's an odd one that has, I believe, a Meriden Knife Co., U.S.A. stamp on the main blade.
And a Wostenholm stamp on the secondary. 2 1/4".
Nice little knife.

Very nice knife Joe.
Here are some Remingtons.

Oh man, that's a great collection, Keith.
A pleasure to view.

Yes they are! Great to see these!