All About Pocket Knives

My fascination with old cutlery has lead me in many directions over the years but I have always had interest in the unusual. Tiny little knives have always fascinated me. The quality of craft displayed in some of these little jewels is nothing short of remarkable. Any custom knife maker can tell you that building a big folding hunter isn't nearly the challenge of making a folding knife that is in the sub 2 1/2" range. Springs still have to be tempered correctly and you still and to have that walk and talk working.

Along the way I have picked a few little knives that I really like. Here are a few of them. Henckels, Shapleigh Diamond Edge, a D. Peres that has all the U.S. Presidents names along with their year taking office though 1929 and H. Hoover (I need a loupe to read any of it), a working switch, little pearls and tortoise shell handles. All but the tiny folding "Intercast" pictured are actually working knives that do walk and talk.

I invite others to show them here.

Wayne

Here's a little H. Boker & Co's watch fob knife that's 1.5" when closed. The blade, file, corkscrew & ring are all gold plated. I don't know what the initials on the blade stand for. It also has June 1899 on the back-side of the blade.

Though not a knife, this H. Boker's Improved Cutlery button hook is small. It's 1 & 5/8" closed.

Greedygulo you always post some winners and those little Bokers are no exception. How old do you think the little corkscrew knife is? That's a fine gem there.

Wayne

Here are some that I have:

A few more:

Nice ones Wayne.

I have a bunch of them posted here;

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 35&t=39880

Made in Japan.

A few Robesons.

The little equal-end swell-center is only 1 7/8" long.

The gunstock whittler is 2 1/2" long.

The two little four blade lobsters are 2 1/2".

Charlie Noyes

Great posts all. Some really nice examples. Dimitri, I had seen the link you posted but forgotten it. Some outrageous posts there.

Here are a couple boards that should fit in. TOM THUMB with risque celluloid handles and MIDGET CHARM Knives marked only U.S.A. and most likely from Colonial.

Wayne

Nice knives everyone!

btrwtr: The knife does have Germany stamped on its tang, so it's 1891 or later. My guess is the late 1800's. Though I don't have a picture of it, it has June 1899 on the back-side of the blade.

Some more.Three of my favorites are:
Waterville Mfg Co w/nickel silver scales.
Joseph Rodgers scissors w/a knife blade in each handle.The amazing part of the scissors is that each side is crafted of a single piece of metal(except the back spring).
The 4 blade pen marked Silver Steel w/an owl on the reverse.Half stops and a fit and finish second to none.

A few more with some fixed blades thrown in for good measure.

Really great stuff guys! If you look at my signature, mine are right there to the left.

A few more for the thread.
The bottom 2 cards belong to a friend.

Joe

Hey Joe, these are great to see! Your friend has a couple nice cards too! that black and white MIDGET card is awesome!

K7K thanks for all the posts, I especially like the little customs and the Waterville. Joe I love the colors on the displays. Charlie the 4 blade lobsters are fine, never seen them before.

Wayne

Great knives! The detail in these little guys always amazes me as well. The mini stiletto with the lever is a rare one. Here is a couple of mine. Check out the gnarly stag on the rear scale.

Otis those little autos are fine! Thanks for showing.

Wayne

Man, do I love that nasty stag on that lil auto!

Here's a couple more.

The toothpick card I've had for years and
can't remember where in the world I found it... ?

The little auto was a kit I got from SharperDeals years ago.
I had plans on making new handles as soon as I got it - well
ya see the progress I made with that idea.

Joe

Fun topic. The pearl corkscrew knife greedygulo has has my undivided attention.. Those corkscrews seem to be forged. Does anybody know the time frame for that proccess? I really enjoy collecting knives that have this feature. Also it's only a guess on my part that they are forged in the first place? I thought they where all done in the 1800's but I have a bartenders knife/tool with a forged corkscrew that looks like it was built between the Wars .

These knives are a bit outside the parameters of the original poster's size but not by a whole lot. I thought I would include them here due to their relatively small size,decorativeness(is that even a word?) and multiplicity of blades. If not feel free to delete them.

K7K those little multiblades are sweet! Love the little mustache comb!

Wayne

Man, there's just to many awesome knives to comment on them all. Fantastic minis, everyone!

Great little knives, k7k!

Here's one more in the box... "With Genuine Vinyl Sheath."

Joe