All About Pocket Knives

Hi, I recently bought this miniature knife. It measures 1 1/4" long and has 52 tiny blades. The blades measure a tiny 5/16" long opened. The scales are tortoise with silver pique' pin work. I made the case for it. My question is does anyone have an idea of the country or origin and approximate date. My guess is mid 1800's and possibly English.

Thank you for your time.
David French

I don't know anything about it, but that is one unique looking little instrument.

Wow...Sorry, I'm no help for your questions. I've not seen one like that. Super cool!!!
Welcome to AAPK!

What a beautiful little knife!
Could it have been used like a salesman sample to show the different types of blades offered?

antiqueicollect wrote: ↑Fri Jan 10, 2020 7:10 pm Hi, I recently bought this miniature knife. It measures 1 1/4" long and has 52 tiny blades. The blades measure a tiny 5/16" long opened. The scales are tortoise with silver pique' pin work. I made the case for it. My question is does anyone have an idea of the country or origin and approximate date. My guess is mid 1800's and possibly English.

Thank you for your time.
David French

I suspect that your knife was likely made in Nixdorf, Bohemia (now known as Mikulášovice, in the Czech Republic). An internet image search using the search string “miniature multi-blade knife Nixdorf Bohemia” will produce images of similar multi-blade knives. They were made in various sizes ranging from giant display knives to miniatures such as yours. My best guess is that your knife is approximately 120 years old (ca 1900).

Spectacular little knife!! I think Nixdorf is a good possibility.

Really cool!

Yes, that is something I have never seen before. Really unique.

Beautiful knife, sometimes cutlery masters made knives like this to show their skill.

Remarkable little knife. Fine work on the case!

Welcome to AAPK David.
I can't help with the date or mfg.
I would enjoy observing other knives he made though.
Museum quality.

David, a miniature and with so many blades is extremely rare and it seems to be in 'perfect' condition. Every one of those tiny blades was ground by hand using only hand tools. Boggles my mind trying to picture a big finger & thumb holding a tiny piece of steel at just the right angle. Then trying to assemble it all and with every blade having just the right spring tension for proper snap.
It is the most amazing knife i have seen.
Do you have any other knives ? I/we would love to see them.
kj

Thank you all for your opinions and comments for this little miniature multi blade knife. I'm sure someone out there has seen something similar that would be able to shed some additional information for all of us to learn from.

All the best, David

Attached is one knife that I found that is similar but not a miniature. Sheffield made.

kootenay joe wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2020 2:23 am David, a miniature and with so many blades is extremely rare and it seems to be in 'perfect' condition. Every one of those tiny blades was ground by hand using only hand tools. Boggles my mind trying to picture a big finger & thumb holding a tiny piece of steel at just the right angle. Then trying to assemble it all and with every blade having just the right spring tension for proper snap.
It is the most amazing knife i have seen.
Do you have any other knives ? I/we would love to see them.
kj

Hi Joe,

I have several knives. Photos of them are on my site. https://www.antiquesicollect.com
Thanks for your opinion.

David

Wow David, what a web site!!!

David, you have a World Class knife collection, in addition to other remarkable collections. It looks like more than one lifetime of dedicated work to collect so many fine and rare knives.
Every AAPK'er would love to visit your site but only a few will see your posts in this forum, even though it is the correct forum.
Would you be o.k. with me posting a link to your site in the 'General Knife Discussion' forum ?
Thank you for posting here. We all could learn much from you so i hope you will post more of your knives and tell us what you know about the knife and the pattern.
kj

Hi, I just saw your message.
Yes, you may link to my website. https://antiquesicollect.com

All the best,
David

Dave—I’m fairly new to this website also but .. I’ve made many new friends in a few months I’ve been on AAPK. I checked out your website, you have some really really really nice items.. not some, they’re all awesome! Welcome again.

Thank you!

Two very interesting knives, thanks for posting them. If the mini had a small pin-fire revolver I'd flip my lid.