All About Pocket Knives

My most recent acquisition. This knife was made by Prescott and Milner Sheffield. I has stainless blades so likely from the 1920s-30s. In its time this was a luxury item with milled brass liners. Somewhat unusual is the fancy main backspring for the scissors in the middle of three layers. The other blades and attachments have internal springs as usually found with a lobster pattern. . s-k

Very nice one, SK

I'm thinking that would make a fine caponizer, s-k. With the hook on one end and the blade on the other, ya know ?

Of course, I guess this one would be a "gentleman's caponizer" !

Nice one,

JR

Thanks for the replies Paladin and Ringmaster . It would make a fine caponisier JR s-k.

Yes, and with a fork for the oysters !

Nice one S.K. .........And just where is your flea market ?

Fran

Thanks for that response Fran Here is a pic of the bottom of the knife. The main spring supports the scissors in the middle layer and has fancy file work. It also appears to have remnants of some gold or brass coating as seen in the grooves. I think that is a match striker on the outside of the file attachment. s-k

That is some fine looking file work. Be a good pattern for one of our craftsmen to try. How 'bout that on a double backspring knife ?

Fran

Nice looking little knife! Actually I believe it a gentleman's smoker's knife.The mini fork is for holding cigars and the thin spike next to the file blade is for punching a hole in a cigar.The button hook is essentially for closing up ladies' gloves and vest buttons on gentlemen.Larger ones were for buttons on shoes.

The groove on the back of the file is actually for fingernails.It makes it easier to file them by riding in the groove.Love the filework on the backspring! I have quite a few pearl handled gentlemen's knives;a lot with milled liners and some with fancy filework on the file blades but none on springs.

Everything intact, right down to the scissor spring. A product of quality.
And with a special pouch for carrying, the manufacturer obviously took pride in his work.
I bet he never guessed his efforts would draw such admiration and appreciation.
Nice one s-k.

Thanks very much for your comments knife7knut and edgewise . I am continually amazed by these works of art. s-k

Here's some pictures of multiblades I own.The group shot shows a W.H.Morley,3 A.Kastor and Brothers,a Tyler Celebrated Cutlery(also marked,"Austrian Cutlery Works" on the nail file)and an unarked one with horn handles.They aren't in the greatest of shape(cracked scales,rusted and broken blades)but still interesting examples of the cutler's art.None are longer than 3 inches closed.

smiling-knife wrote:My most recent acquisition. This knife was made by Prescott and Milner Sheffield. I has stainless blades so likely from the 1920s-30s. In its time this was a luxury item with milled brass liners. Somewhat unusual is the fancy main backspring for the scissors in the middle of three layers. The other blades and attachments have internal springs as usually found with a lobster pattern. . s-k

Nice SK, I love it that it still has the purse with it

Thanks 4ever3. That's an interesting selection of multi-tools knife7knut. The corkscrews on the sub 3 inch folders, especially the ones at the end of the handle as in your Morley and A. Tyler, were made for opening perfume and medicine bottles. s-k

smiling-knife wrote:Thanks 4ever3. That's an interesting selection of multi-tools knife7knut. The corkscrews on the sub 3 inch folders, especially the ones at the end of the handle as in your Morley and A. Tyler, were made for opening perfume and medicine bottles. s-k

Thanks for the kind words S-K. Actually when those knives were produced,most glass bottles were sealed by cork.I don't believe screw tops or press on caps were available then. I have a 1920's era sign painter's tool kit that has several bottles of chemicals inside and only one of them has a screw on lid;the rest have corks.

Here's a few more from my collection:

An 8 blade knife with intricate engraving on the scales and what looks like British military marks on the blades combined with possibly Arabic lettering.Looks to be a cheap knife at first until you examine where the blades contact the back springs when open:they are at different angles and when fit together it is almost impossible to see the seam.

An Aitor stag scaled multi-blade.Nicely made but almost impossible to open(strong back springs).

An Italian multi-blade I got from my friend Bob.Probably about 20 years old.Must have been a display piece as it is way too heavy to carry.It came in a pouch made for a cigarette package.

An unusual brass handled Japanese knife.No info about it other than it was an e-Bay purchase.

A miniature sterling handled Japanese multi-blade.

A Syracuse Knife Co. Poland multi-blade.

A Tonerini Scarperia stag multi-blade with shot shell extractor bolsters.

An old Westby-Levick smokers knife with tortoise scales.

Another great set . Thanks. I really like the tortishell smoker's knife with the cigar cutter . If possible, please show a close-up of the marks that you mentioned on the first knife. s-k

smiling-knife wrote:Another great set . Thanks. I really like the tortishell smoker's knife with the cigar cutter . If possible, please show a close-up of the marks that you mentioned on the first knife. s-k

The smoker's knife is one that I can find no history of the company.It appears to be English and around the turn of the century(1900)or possibly earlier.The blades have square stops and the liners are milled.

The other knife is a total mystery.Some people I have shown it to think it might possibly be Indian when that country was part of the British Empire although the cyphers appear to be more Arabic than anything else.Here are some close-ups of different blades.Any info would be greatly appreciated.

knife7knut wrote:
The smoker's knife is one that I can find no history of the company.It appears to be English and around the turn of the century(1900)or possibly earlier.The blades have square stops and the liners are milled.

Yes. Joseph Westby, Leveric & Co first appeared in Sheffield around 1893. Jos Westby learned his trade with the famous Brookes & Crookes before striking out on his own. I believe you are correct in estimating its age around 1900 or very shortly thereafter. s-k

Here are some photos of a Christopher Johnson Western Works Smoker's knife c 1890s. Very similar with the cigar cutter.

That C-J is one beautiful little knife S-K! I have quite a few smoker's knives and this one is the most unique one I've seen to date.The scales appear to be ivory;the blade and cigar punch extremely thin;and the best part is the tobacco tamping device.It folds and slides into the side of the knife.Tang stamped,"Brookes and Crooks" and the blade stamped,"Royston's Halifax" which I assume was probably a tobacconist.

In a similar vein,this knife is marked,"ASBRO Germany".What is unusual about it is the lock mechanism: It is an early version of the Neeley Lock in that once the blades are fully extended,a slight push to the rear locks them in place.The Neeley system does this via a spring whereas this is a manual operation.Not sure if it is a smoker's knife;more like a miniature sailor's knife.

More great knives . That ivory Brookes and Crookes is very cool . I have not seen the folding tamper like that before. Thanks for showing it. The German knife is also unusual. Are the scales faux ivory on that one? s-k