All About Pocket Knives

I don`t think this has ever been done before, a thread dedicated to old photos of people holding knives or a knife in a picture from the old days. It can be a hardware store with knives in the background, a military photo with a knife shown on a soldier, etc. Just post what you have I think it would be very interesting to see them!

This first photo I found whilst searching the web, I personally find it fascinating, I think you will too!

It looks like the man in the wheelchair carves wood models in his spare time, look closely and you will see four pen knives of varying sizes stuck into the wood handle and right in front of it is a very large two blade knife!

Give your opinion of what is going on in this photo, a lot to look at

Great idea for a thread Dimitiri!!

Awesome pic!

That 2-bladed knife is quite a HAWG of a knife.

Here are a few.

The first may be a piece of art and not a photograph. Do you suppose this is an African Prince or maybe King?

The good old days at Camp Keemosahbee in Woodstock Connecticut, Circa 1969

Unique idea for a thread MB!! Interesting photo you posted and while there is lots to look at in photo one can imagine many different scenarios as to what is going on... nonetheless those were some nice knives he had sticking in his wheelchair... and a selection of various knives to get the job done as well... If he carved those miniature spinning looms I am truly impressed!

Nice additions Jerry!! Bestgear - Woodstock is not too far from me - cool!! Sadly lots of these type of camps in CT are no longer functioning...

These aren't my photos but some of my favorite old photos were from the Civil War period with soldiers toting Bowies... There are lots of these photos around on the internet and Flayderman's book has a good deal as well

Yea, Camp Keemosahbee became Camp Nahaco (Nathan Hale Council) and about 10 years ago was sold to the town of Eastford. It was on Crystal Pond which was always described to me as "gin clear"; you could see the fish at out 20 feet down!

Sadly many BSA camps have closed in recent years due to the decline of Scouting. Hopefully they are landing in the hands of those that can keep some of the heritage alive.

Miller Bro`s wrote:I don`t think this has ever been done before, a thread dedicated to old photos of people holding knives or a knife in a picture from the old days. It can be a hardware store with knives in the background, a military photo with a knife shown on a soldier, etc. Just post what you have I think it would be very interesting to see them!

This first photo I found whilst searching the web, I personally find it fascinating, I think you will too!

It looks like the man in the wheelchair carves wood models in his spare time, look closely and you will see four pen knives of varying sizes stuck into the wood handle and right in front of it is a very large two blade knife!

Give your opinion of what is going on in this photo, a lot to look at

MB,I think the large knife may be a carving also.

Not sure if this would qualify as the "old days" but here is Neil Armstrong with a Case knife.

Dennis

TripleF wrote:Great idea for a thread Dimitiri!!

LongBlade wrote:Unique idea for a thread MB!!

Thanks guys, I try to keep this forum (Knife Lore) interesting

Great idea for a thread.

This could go on for a while.

I agree with Roger, I think the large knife is a wood carving, not an actual knife.

I've posted this first one before, a pic of a small boy sitting on a large cigar box with knife in hand, I snagged off Ebay. That looks like a good knife, too.

I copied and cropped these pics of the Patriotic one-armed cutlery salesman off Ebay, as well. I wondered at the time if it might have been August Vignos, founder of one of the picture handle knife companies, either Canton or Novelty, I forget which at the moment. Mr. Vignos lost an arm in The Civil War.

Look at that big knife next to the scissors.

Wouldn't you love to find that folding case with all those items still inside?

Boy Howdy.

I may have more. I'll search my files.

Charlie Noyes

BTW; Dimitri and I concluded, at the time, that it probably was not August Vignos.

I found a couple more.

I did post this young sporting enthusiast's photo on AAPK before, but it will certainly fit here.

And, this French postcard or cabinet card or book illustration, I copied off Ebay long ago. It's not a photograph, but the subject matter was intriguing.

Charlie

Great idea.

I believe this is August Vignos Novelty Knife Co.

Yes, it is and people have been searching high and low for that giant knife.

Probably outgassed and disintegrated by now.

Charlie

Great old photos Charlie ....

I believe the first photo is of a man with a disability,who carved to pass the time.

He carved until his disability became so severe that he was no longer able to carve
any more.

The spinning wheel,house and toys are just some of the things he carved,the knives
in the picture are the ones he use to carve with.

Any way thats just my opinion about the first posting,I really would like to hear what others
think.

Donald

I went back to the OP photo.

I was hoping Dimitri actually knew some detailed information, but if he does, he has yet to have been forthcoming to enlighten the rest of us.

I started looking more at the man than at the knives and the created articles.

Difficult to say how old he might be.

At first, given his body habitus and posture, I thought he might have had cerebral palsy, but then I noticed the deformity of his left hand.

I think he might have had infantile rheumatoid arthritis, a very crippling disease that I don't think we see as much of now, but which was prevalent and devastating at the time this man lived.

I knew a girl in my childhood, Margaret Pamplin, that went from a healthy, active vibrant pre-teen to a virtual vegetative state in a matter of months due to infantile rheumatoid arthritis.

Her parents took her all over the country to medical doctors, as well as faith healers, seeking to alleviate Margaret's suffering.

She remained bedridden and/or wheelchair bound for twenty-plus years. Then one day, she just started getting better. In a matter of months, she was back on her feet, although her limbs were still withered. Over a period of time, she returned to almost normal.

I lost contact and track of her, so I don't know what her situation is now.

Sorry to hijack the thread.

Charlie Noyes

Interesting thread

.........you would need a cart to carry it around!!!!................ ....................

Miller Bro`s wrote:
It looks like the man in the wheelchair carves wood models in his spare time, look closely and you will see four pen knives of varying sizes stuck into the wood handle and right in front of it is a very large two blade knife!

Give your opinion of what is going on in this photo, a lot to look at

It appears to me that the man in the chair is probably a victim of ALS(Lou Gehrig's Disease)and likely at the time was unable to carve anymore. The wheelchair probably dates to the turn of the twentieth century or a bit later. The knives look almost like the Eagle Pencil gravity knives(tubular handle activated by a push on the button while held point down).They came in various sizes and would have been relatively easy for him to open.

.

Ray, your knowledge and keen observation amazes me.

Hey, I have keen observation too. Did anyone else notice that gal wasn't wearing a bra?