All About Pocket Knives

This is an unusaul knife with a thin flexible spatula. It might be for spreading some sort of paste or goo (technical term) perhaps for filling cracks. I could be way-off track though. Anyone heard of this before? I have not had much luck with the search sofar.

It was a tong depressor and not cleaned after each usage.

S-K,
Very interesting.
Goins' has this:
Needham Bros. Sheffield England c 1860-1953
Sidney Street, Sheffield, England

He shows Repeat as a brand name for them. Not much to go on, but perhaps it will assist you in searching there in the UK.

It looks like a spatula in a doctor's knife. Perhaps a knife for a ship's Surgeon. but one would think that if that was the case, it would have a pill crusher bolster. So, I don't think that is the answer.

Let us know if you find out what it is for.

BTW, it is a nice looking knife.
Dale

OK S-K...

Here is my WAG, for what it's worth. I believe Ship's Composition refers to treating the wood, that isn't painted, for protection. So, possibly an advertising slogan for a brand named Wood's? Continuing with more WAG...maybe for using exactly in the manner you described for working small areas or filling holes/cracks?

Here is something I found whilst exploring that may ...or may not ...support my WAG (s)...

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/USR ... _1897.html

Nice knife by the way.

Bill (reaching?)

Let me acknowledge no ability in being able to help answer your question but that is one great looking knife.

Sunburst

Thanks everyone . I think El lobo is on the right track with the wood treatment theory. Thanks for the link. The blade is much more flexible than that on a traditional doctor's knife and, as you suggested Dale, it does not possess the other characteristics associated with Doctor's knives. Much appreciated. s-k

Hey Lobo,S-K:
If it were for working a caulk or dough composition would the blade be
flexible? The most of that stuff is of a pretty heavy consistency. Just a
thought.
wb

from brl3 -

needham bros. repeat(wiebusch import) sheffield, eng. mfr. c1860-1900

it's in great shape for a 100+ year old knife.

Maybe it's for filleting?













Bill

jonet143 wrote:from brl3 -

needham bros. repeat(wiebusch import) sheffield, eng. mfr. c1860-1900

it's in great shape for a 100+ year old knife.

Thanks for the information jonet143. That would be great. According to my sources, Needham Bros were in business for about 100 years... 1850s-1950s. The seller claimed 1930s but I have no info at the moment to confirm/deny this. s-k

hey s-k, i checked some other sources and came up with c1851-1940s

Something like this was called a pallette knife. Could it mean ship's composition in a painting.
wb

mmmmm... very interesting mossdancer . Thanks for the alternative perspective. s-k