All About Pocket Knives

I couldn't find a thread on Sheffield knives to put this into. My brother-in-law sent me a box of knives with this one in it. A small (blade length 5") dagger stamped "D C over Pacific over Cutlery Co over Sheffield". Tweedale's does not have any reference to a Pacific Cutlery Co; Goins lists a Pacific Cutlery Co (also called Balisong) in Los Angeles from 1982 to 1987; and Levine lists a Pacific Cutlery Co in Sheffield c.1890. He also says they used a trademark "D Cx" and lists them as an export brand. This knife has the D C, but no sign of any x after that. The knife does not to look to be well enough made to be made in Sheffield in the late 1800's? The brass guard is poorly fitted around the blade and the stag is poorly hafted around the guard. Also don't believe the sheath is original as it looks too new and the blade is too long for the sheath, the tip sticks out the bottom of the sheath.
Dan

Not my bailiwick, but if real, that guard has had a hundred-plus years to work its way loose. It might be poorly fitted now, but was it when it left the factory?

Charlie Noyes

Looks OK to me.I have an 1880's era Joseph Rodgers bowie and the guard slides back and forth about 3/16ths of an inch and it has never been apart.It also has it's ortiginal sheath that has never seen a belt.
Yours likely has had the sheath replaced but the rest of the knife looks good.

danno50 wrote:The knife does not to look to be well enough made to be made in Sheffield in the late 1800's? The brass guard is poorly fitted around the blade and the stag is poorly hafted around the guard.

These were not perfect to begin with, as has already been said add 100 years of use, shrinking of the bone, etc. and they are often found with loose guards.


The guard is nickle silver not brass

Nice K7K

thanks for the comments guys, makes this the oldest knife I have. MB, interested to know how you identify the guard as nickel silver?
Thanks
Dan

Definitely looks turn of the century. I wouldn't doubt this to be the Pacific Cutlery Co. import "D Cx" Levine lists. Could be the X was there originally. The stamp looks pretty poor in the area where the "x" would be. Possibly the produxt of wear and a poor stamp to begin with. Without the country of origin"England" incorporated in the stamp would indicate a pre-1891 date.

The sheath is a replacement most likely made out of necessity for using the knife. It appears to have some significant age to it as well.

The guard is and should be nickle silver. Brass would indicate a newer knife. Nickle silver is a common alloy for guards on knives of this period.

Nice old knife! Looks like you have a real keeper there. Your brother-in-law's stock should be going up!

thanks for the kind comments btwtr. I live in Canada, so no England on the tang stamp does not necessarily mean a pre 1891 date, I think.
Dan