Lobster and,"sorta lobster"pattern knives.......

[knife7knut]

For the past several months I have been going through and re-photographing much of my accumulation of knives trying to update information and get better pictures using some newly acquired techniques and tools. While in pursuit of this I chanced upon a pattern loosely termed a,"lobster" pattern.
While the normal definition of a lobster pattern knife is one that has a blade(or blades)at either end and opens to the opposite direction giving the vague impression of an open lobster claw.To my way of thinking it looks absolutely nothing like a lobster claw(and growing up on the Massachusetts coastline I have seen more than a few of them),but that is a moot point.
I have noticed that many patterns of knives have blades that open in a similar fashion but have different names and so I am including them in this particular posting. These could include Swiss Army style multi-blades;pipe knives;knives that incorporate corkscrews, and gentleman's multi-blade pocket and watch fob knives.
Most true lobster pattern knives are fairly small in overall size and have just two blades so those will be the main thrust of this post but I reserve the right to include others as well. Please feel free to comment and/or add pictures of any you might possess.
First up is an unusual little knife by Asbro Germany that has a marlin spike(or likely a cigar punch)as a secondary blade. What is unusual about this knife is the blades lock open by sldiing them slightly back when extended to engage a pin.To close pull slightly forward and fold. The only other knife I have ever seen that has a similar operation is a Timberlite folder.
Second is a Brookes & Crookes pipe knife that has a pipe tamping tool that folds and slides into the side of the ivory handle. It has an ad etched into the blade for a company named Royston's(which I assume is a tobacconist)in Halifax(England;Nova Scotia?) Blade is thin and long enough to clean the inside of a pipe stem.
Third & fourth pics are a Colonial knife that doubles as a money clip.
Fifth is a small pearl handled lobster etched "Craftsman" and possibly made by Schrade.
Sixth is a couple of Imperial lobsters;one of which has a ball point pen as a secondary blade.
Seventh is a J.Dunlap Germany with French ivory handles and a button hook as a secondary blade.
Eighth is a Judson Cutlery Germany pearl handled double lobster(or are they mating?)with two blades;a file,and a pair of tiny scissors. Are these true lobsters?
Ninth is another questionable one:a four blade pipe knife that has all blades at one end.Is this a true lobster?
Last one for now is also a questionable one;a J.Mongin yachtsman's knife that features a highly polished sheepfoot master blade;a hollow marlin spike;and a shackle key built into the polished horn handle. Could this also be construed as a lobster pattern? I have many more but have to leave to drive my wife to a doctor's appointment. I SHALL RETURN!

[kootenay joe]

Thanks for starting this thread Ray. I have been sorting through what remains of my knife collection and came across 4 small sleeveboard lobster knives that i had grouped together some time in the past. I put these 4 together because i really like them. There is something about this pattern in these sizes that i find compelling. All are well made and likely were a more expensive knife than the manufacturer's best jack knives.
From the top down:
2 3/4" "W.H./Morely/& Sons/Germany" tortoise shell handles
2 3/4" "Wyeth/Warranted/Cutlery" jigged bone handles
2 1/2" "Eagleton/Knife Co" ivory handles
2 1/4" "Challenge/Cut Co/Bridgeport/Conn" ivory handles. This knife has an interesting bolster at the wide end. Anyone know a name for this bolster design ?

kj

[LongBlade]

For the past several months I have been going through and re-photographing much of my accumulation of knives trying to update information and get better pictures using some newly acquired techniques and tools. While in pursuit of this I chanced upon a pattern loosely termed a,"lobster" pattern.
While the normal definition of a lobster pattern knife is one that has a blade(or blades)at either end and opens to the opposite direction giving the vague impression of an open lobster claw.To my way of thinking it looks absolutely nothing like a lobster claw(and growing up on the Massachusetts coastline I have seen more than a few of them),but that is a moot point.
I have noticed that many patterns of knives have blades that open in a similar fashion but have different names and so I am including them in this particular posting. These could include Swiss Army style multi-blades;pipe knives;knives that incorporate corkscrews, and gentleman's multi-blade pocket and watch fob knives.
Most true lobster pattern knives are fairly small in overall size and have just two blades so those will be the main thrust of this post but I reserve the right to include others as well. Please feel free to comment and/or add pictures of any you might possess.
First up is an unusual little knife by Asbro Germany that has a marlin spike(or likely a cigar punch)as a secondary blade. What is unusual about this knife is the blades lock open by sldiing them slightly back when extended to engage a pin.To close pull slightly forward and fold. The only other knife I have ever seen that has a similar operation is a Timberlite folder.
Second is a Brookes & Crookes pipe knife that has a pipe tamping tool that folds and slides into the side of the ivory handle. It has an ad etched into the blade for a company named Royston's(which I assume is a tobacconist)in Halifax(England;Nova Scotia?) Blade is thin and long enough to clean the inside of a pipe stem.
Third & fourth pics are a Colonial knife that doubles as a money clip.
Fifth is a small pearl handled lobster etched "Craftsman" and possibly made by Schrade.
Sixth is a couple of Imperial lobsters;one of which has a ball point pen as a secondary blade.
Seventh is a J.Dunlap Germany with French ivory handles and a button hook as a secondary blade.
Eighth is a Judson Cutlery Germany pearl handled double lobster(or are they mating?)with two blades;a file,and a pair of tiny scissors. Are these true lobsters?
Ninth is another questionable one:a four blade pipe knife that has all blades at one end.Is this a true lobster?
Last one for now is also a questionable one;a J.Mongin yachtsman's knife that features a highly polished sheepfoot master blade;a hollow marlin spike;and a shackle key built into the polished horn handle. Could this also be construed as a lobster pattern? I have many more but have to leave to drive my wife to a doctor's appointment. I SHALL RETURN!

All nice examples Ray and KJ ..

I really like the Brookes and Crookes Pipe knife Ray

Thanks for starting this thread Ray. I have been sorting through what remains of my knife collection and came across 4 small sleeveboard lobster knives that i had grouped together some time in the past. I put these 4 together because i really like them. There is something about this pattern in these sizes that i find compelling. All are well made and likely were a more expensive knife than the manufacturer's best jack knives.
From the top down:
2 3/4" "W.H./Morely/& Sons/Germany" tortoise shell handles
2 3/4" "Wyeth/Warranted/Cutlery" jigged bone handles
2 1/2" "Eagleton/Knife Co" ivory handles
2 1/4" "Challenge/Cut Co/Bridgeport/Conn" ivory handles. This knife has an interesting bolster at the wide end. Anyone know a name for this bolster design ?

kj

KJ - the Challenge is a very appealing knife (and don't see many Challenge knives in ivory in addition to the unique bolster which looks to accommodate the manicure implement to perhaps open fully ... Is the manicure file full length on the knife? Looks like it maybe was tipped which is ashame...


Interesting thread Ray ... I think lobster patterns are cool in terms of the variety ... Levine lists 12 different patterns (egs, equal-end, sleeveboard, serpentine dolphin, sunfish, orange blossom etc) and than there are variations even off some of the patterns...

I have a few to share with more to come -

Empire Winsted Conn - Sleeveboard lobster in sterling silver handles and at 2 & 1/8" closed .. This is one of my favorites...

LF&C New Britain Conn - WaterFall celluloid - Candle-End Serpentine Lobster..

[kootenay joe]

Yes i thnk the Challenge manicure blade is short. The end has been 're-finished' so that tip is correct for cleaning fingernails. Note that every one of the 4 has an ease out for the manicure blade.
kj

[BWT]

Roland,I had a knife like your Challenge a couple years ago and the previous owner called it a dog bone bolster . Really good showing of knives Ray,Lee and you too Roland.

[LongBlade]

Thanks Bill ...

Here's a Remington Orange Blossom -

[LongBlade]

This thread is fading fast ...

Here's a Miller Bros Oval Lobster - gold plated and was made to hang from a gold chain from the vest or suit ...

[danno50]

Good thread, Ray, and very nice knives! I am especially partial to the Judson Cutlery! Is it a true lobster?, I don't know?
Four lovely lobsters, Roland! Nice handles on all of them. I really like tortoise shell handles. They appear to have the same nail file as the Sheffield knife below.
Great knives, Lee! I really like the Empire silver handled one and the Remington orange blossom.
Below is a Sheffield made one, 3 3/8", stamped "Carrick Bros/237 Argyle St/Glasgow" on the three cutting blades and "Sheffield/Made" on the pile side of the master blade. I am going to post additional photos of this one in the European and Foreign Knives forum.

[bladecollectorr]

I too really enjoy lobster knives. Thanks to those who've posted in this thread.

I've sporadically posted all these before but here's my current pod of old lobsters.

NYKC:

Forestier a Geneve:

Schrade:

[bladecollectorr]

Last three (also Schrade).