All About Pocket Knives

Bernie Levine defines an English Jack as a slim, regular, or sleeveboard Jack, over 4" in length. An American term for a traditional English pattern, they sometimes had premium materials, fancy bolsters and/or locking blades. Some were called folding Bowies. They conjure up pictures of men walking through foggy London nights in dark cloaks, with dim gas fired globes creating intermittent pools of light!!!
I am growing to like these big knives. Here are a few. Please show off yours for all to see!
The first is an Empire from Winsted Ct, and the pair are; left, Schrade Walden, and right, Schrade Cut Co! Enjoy!

I'm not quite sure if this Robeson would qualify as an English Jack or not.

James

I believe S&M Calls this one an English Jack.

James

Nice looking knives, James! How long are they??

The S&M is 3 5/8 inches and the Robeson is 4 1/2 inches. That is the closed length of them.

James

Well, if you stick to the conventional terminology, the Robey is an English Jack (EJ) and the Schatt is not. I think the idea is it's supposed to be a bigger knife.
Doesn't stop the Schatt from being a nice knife though. A "mini" EJ if you will !
Now let's get those biggies out there guys!

Great looking knives upnorth I really like that 'mini' English Jack James All of my English Jacks are under 4 inches. s-k

Are you pulling our non-English legs s-k??

I don't have any of the long slender style although those are a very traditional pattern. These are all under 4 inches long with a variety of master blades.

Great looking knives.
Upnorth:
Thanks for the post, have'nt had the old fella out in a year or so. This is the later issue KA-BAR of the Union Cutlery in LGIV pg 218. It also depicts a post elsewhere in AAPK about early blade locks.
wb

Some cool knives.

Charlie you must have a bottomless chest of very cool older knives.

Bill

P.S.
Does this one qualify?

Depends, Bill! Does it hold an edge???

Here are three versions of that Scagel re-issue that look like daddy barlows, but we all know are English Jacks!!

Page 89, 1911 Schatt & Morgan Catalog No. 2 and four that I have in my collection, three Schatts and one Queen City. The English Jack is one of my favorites.

nifbuf wrote:Page 89, 1911 Schatt & Morgan Catalog No. 2 and four that I have in my collection, three Schatts and one Queen City. The English Jack is one of my favorites.

Great looking knives nifbuf...OUTSTANDING !!!!

Here are my additions to this great page...Please tell me what does or doesn't belong in the English Jack page.. And by the way the Robeson Demontrators are 5" closed..

Beautiful knives guys!
Those must be the best Schatts around, David!
Keep them coming everyone!

Unfortunately, I don't own any of these but some good e.g.s from Jos Rodgers & Sons 1910 catalogue. s-k

you need to expand to full page and the click on expand arrows bottom right of photo to get a clear view. That's the best I can do.

It would be nice to find a few of those, in the flesh so to speak!!
Thanks for the pages s-k. They enlarge to nice detail.

sunburst I think it's the nice bolsters with the company name in black
that makes me love the knife. Sorry I can't help it.
Looking at that Robeson it makes me fell like its a Rolls Royce Brand knife.

Does any one eles like that look??

Just acquired this English Jack. it is 4.5 inches closed. Taylors & the Eye trademark date back to the 1820-30s. However, by 1850s Taylors was taken over by Thomas Needham. He subsequently joined forces with Messrs Veal & Tyzack and they continued to produce Taylors Eyewitness brand knives well into the 20th cent. This one has the square/flush tang & bolster construction shown in another thread. I think this one dates from the late 1800s or very early 1900s. s-k

Most excellent knife there S-K...

Bill

Beautiful knife S-K! Thanks for sharing!

i like it again!

Great oldie, s-k! Wonderful vintage stag, and stamped blade; makes my knife lovin' heart go pit-a-pat!!