All About Pocket Knives

I came across this and was of course intrigued, unfortunately upon closer examination it appears to be a counterfeit. There are a few issues...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Old-New-England ... 3f23d97eb8

1) The ill fitting scales on the mark side. There is quite a gap between the bolster and the scale.
2) The jigging does not look like any other Bridgeport Hatch I have seen.
3) The width of the countersinking on central pin seems to be inconsistent with old (pre-1900) new england cutlery.
4) The number on the back on the master blade "46", I have not come across another Hatch with a number, although they might be out there.
5) I think this knife would have a long pull and not a nail nick on the master blade.
6) I cant put my finger on it, but the master blade looks odd with the frame.
7) From what I can see from the tang stamp, it looks to be a modern stamping.

This is my two cents and I could well be wrong, judge for you self. Here is a link to a Hatch English Jack which I believe to be authentic.
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 2&start=15

Hope this helps to keep some money in your pocket!

I don't like the edge of the bolsters, where they meet the handles. They look bent - on both sides. This could be the lighting or the photography, but it looks like the edges have been re-worked, maybe to meet a thinner handle.

Most quality American knives from this period have a seamless look (or feel) to this junction of bolster and handle, and this one doesn't. Perhaps the gap let the wheel slip slightly into it when the knife was being buffed.

Maybe it's only been rehandled. I don't know enough about this brand to comment on the other issues.

Agreed Dragunski,
The bolster edges do appear to have been tampered with, maybe to make a more secure fit with smaller scales as you say. I would lean towards this knife having been pieced together and I doubt if it has any Hatch parts in it.

I would like to see closeup pictures of the tang stamps

Miller Bro`s wrote:I would like to see closeup pictures of the tang stamps

I as well, particularly on the master blade.

E-mail the seller and see if he will provide them.

There is something else weird here. If you look closely, it seems that the dings in the edge of the bolster line up with the jigging in the scales. Could it be possible that the jigging was done AFTER it was on the knife? Wow!

Then the guy tried to go back and smooth off the damage he'd done to the bolsters...

All that stuff would scare me right off.

Buffing the bolsters with the jigged bone in place causes the indentions. It kind of notches the bolster where the bone is lower.

I agree.

Good to know mumblypeg.

I've seen Case knives with bolster indents that match the jigging. Not saying I think this knife is legit though. Like Miller I'd want to see the tang stamps better.