All About Pocket Knives

Time for another mystery knife.

I acquired this knife last year in a larger group of mixed nuts. The good the bad and the ugly. I knew it was old and well worn and thought it was interesting enough to include it in the group I purchased even though I couldn't see a tang stamp. The blade was loose in the frame to the point that I regrettably had to remove and re-pin it with an over sized pin to return it to a functioning locking state. The bolsters had become unattached from the liners and required re-soldering to attach them.

It wasn't until I removed the blade that I could tell what manufacturer's name was on the knife tang. I was more than surprised to discover the who made it.

4 1/4" long closed. Stag handles. Missing the shield. Pick lock has to be lifted from the stud on the blade to open and close.

Any guesses?

I'll post a picture later of the removed blade so you can see the stamp.

Wayne thats a good looking knife. I am no expert but there are some barlows in the old barlow thread that have a stamp on the bolster with an anchor and what looks like an s on them that look likes the mark on the bolster of the OP knife. The barlows are washington cutlerly and I think your knife is too. MHO



Monte

Monte, Very good guess because of the anchors but it's not Washington. I have not been able to associate the anchors with the tang stamp.

Good looking old knife, Wayne. I don't know anything about those knives so I'll have to wait for the answer.

Albert Dorschel

Very good guess Dimitri and although I could not think of a better answer Albert Dorschel is not the blade mark.

I fully expected that if there was a tang stamp on this knife's blade that it would be German or possibly French.

I am as positive as I can be that the blade is original to the knife and was very surprised to see the tang stamp when I removed the blade. A lot of things went on in the cutlery world that will never be explained. This knife may be one of them.

Here is the blade and tang stamp. GEORGE WOSTENHOLM CELEBRATED IXL CUTLERY.

The marks on the bolsters are a trademark of Albert Dorschel, the pattern, bolsters, etc. say German made to me.

My bet is it was a blade replacement done a very long time ago, that is why it didn't lock up right.

Thanks for posting it, I like a good mystery

I would have guessed it was of French origin.See the 4th knife down;unmarked but definitely of French origin.

I think the knife may have had something to do with Dorshel. Could be some type of brother-in-law work. All four of the bolsters are marked with the anchor and rope insignia.

The knife was very well used to the point that I had to reattach the bolsters and re-pin the blade. I added the knife to the group I bought because I knew it was old. Bought it pretty much as a parts knife because of the condition it was in. Once re-pinned the blade locks up tight and the locking stud and all fit and line up nicely. I'ts hard for me to imagine the blade came from another knife given the work it would involve. Also hard to figure what type of knife the blade could have been from to be adapted to the pick lock frame.

It's a big question mark.

Great knife, Wayne.
Doesn't the word "celebrated" indicate an older stamp?

FRJ wrote:Great knife, Wayne.
Doesn't the word "celebrated" indicate an older stamp?

1890 or earlier.

Thanks Wayne.