All About Pocket Knives

Hi everyone - I hope you are all well and keeping safe. I have this nice old knife and was wondering about its age and whether it had a specific name?
It has a spike tool, a button hook, a corkscrew and three different sized knife blades. It is only under 2 inches long and I would welcome any info about the tools, history etc. The outer part is bone and it seems about 100 years old with very nice steel blades with no markings.
Many thanks

No tang stamp? No identifying marks on it anywhere? If it does have marks, pictures would be helpful.

Hi - no markings at all - I have checked it thoroughly.

Probably from around the turn of the 19th century plus/minus 20 years. Button hook closures were in style for women's clothes and shoes at that time so the hook was used for those buttons. The corkscrew was used for perfume and patent medicines which came in small bottles with cork stoppers. Possibly carried in a woman's purse.

I'm not able to access my computer at the moment so going by what little I can see on my phone.

Ken

German made knife?

Harold

I think these are known as a farriers pocket knife or sportsman knife ?

Hi thanks very much, I thought it was quite feminine in design and with a little loop too. The dating seems about right too - the steel is very nice quality and pretty heavy and strong - what do you think the spike item was for?
Many thanks

Without stamps, the identification and dating is a product of the subjective inner feelings of long-time collectors. Without claiming to be, I would assume the end of the 19th century, German or Russian production.
The main reason for writing in the topic is to congratulate you on the presentation of the knife. Very cool!

The pattern is called "Sportsmans knife". Handles are probably ivory and origin is almost certainly British. They were made in a variety of sizes and yours is the smallest. I have at least one that is similar.
If you have Levines Guide to Knives, 4th Ed., on page 268 there is a similar knife made by Jos. Rodgers in Sheffield, England.
Age is likely early 1900's up to about 1920.
kj

Thank you everyone, you always are so helpful and knowledgeable and it is very much appreciated.
Best wishes

What makes that a button hook? Maybe it’s a gut hook for bird hunting?

That fits with KJ’s assessment that it’s a sportsman’s knife.

Roland, the knife is under 2" in length. Does that still qualify it as a sportsman's knife? I agree, it looks like ivory.

danno50 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 2:44 pm Roland, the knife is under 2" in length. Does that still qualify it as a sportsman's knife? I agree, it looks like ivory.

It is the same pattern but in a 'miniature' size. These just under 2" multiblade folders were popular late 1800's to very early 1900's. I have a few, all British. But it is not an official "Miniature" as usually defined by Miniature collectors. I think knife has to be under 1 1/2" ?
I see this knife as still being in the "Sportsman" group. The full size (~ 3 1/2") Sportsman were made with a variety and number of blades, and sizes.
kj

Thanks Roland.

It's not a farrier's or horseman's knife, as it has no hoof pick, extended liner screwdriver or file.

I think the button hook has been broken on its tip. Could be a bird hook; not sure I've ever seen a definitive discussion differentiating the two.

I also think it has a pipe bowl scrapper next to the awl, so I agree with Roland, sportsman's or gentleman's knife.

The handles may well be ivory, but they are awfully white to be one hundred years old, if that is the case.

Interesting that there are no implements nested under the handles.

There is, however, a beautiful, long brunette hair in the second photo.

Charlie

RobesonsRme.com wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 8:38 pm It's not a farrier's or horseman's knife, as it has no hoof pick, extended liner screwdriver or file.

I think the button hook has been broken on its tip. Could be a bird hook; not sure I've ever seen a definitive discussion differentiating the two.

I also think it has a pipe bowl scrapper next to the awl, so I agree with Roland, sportsman's or gentleman's knife.

The handles may well be ivory, but they are awfully white to be one hundred years old, if that is the case.

Interesting that there are no implements nested under the handles.

There is, however, a beautiful, long brunette hair in the second photo.

Charlie

It's in the 1st one too Charlie.

My first thought was that it might be of mid-twentieth century Russian origin as some of the knives of that era were a bit crude. I then noticed the steel pivot pin and thought it could be of German or Austrian origin but most of the early knives from there have a corkscrew with a groove cut along the axis.The corkscrew looks to be hand twisted versus a machine twist.This could be indicative of an early English knife as well as the steel(or iron)pin.
The handles definitely look to be ivory.If you look at a couple of the pictures you can see a light yellowish tint running along the handles and a hint of a straight grain to them.
Charlie;the straight blade next to the awl I believe is a screw driver.From the size of the knife I believe it was meant to be a display of the cutler's art or possibly a piece that was made by an apprentice which would justify the absence of a stamp.
I think it would be called a multi-blade rather than a sportsman's knife due to the absence of the hoof pick and extended center liner acting as a screw driver.
I have several multi-blade knives of this size(but not pattern)and they are fascinating examples of the knifemaker's skills.Whatever the case it is a beautiful little knife!

Hi - you are right, the button hook is snapped at the end, thanks for your input.
And the brunette, long or otherwise is me.

“And the brunette, long or otherwise is me.”

Hence my “beautiful” descriptor.

Charlie

Here are 3 examples i have of this pattern. All are vintage Sheffield. I did have others but sold them a couple of months ago.
It is interesting to note that over about 90% of these that you see have been heavily used, blades worn down from repeated sharpenings and handle pieces cracked or missing from being dropped. i.e. there was a period of time (circa 1900 ?) when people really did carry and use these mutliblade knives and particularly true for those with ivory handles.
Size range for these 3: 2" - 3 3/8".
kj