All About Pocket Knives

Hello,

I need a model # identification and manufacturing date of an old 'toothpick-style?' John Primble pocketknife with two opposing blades. The larger blade has 'India' etched on it and the darker wood scales appear to be a brown reddish color.

Some old timers say it is from the late 20s or even from the post 1890 era but have no evidence to back that up. I hope AAPK members would enjoy seeing and clarifying this tiny pocket knife.

If any on-line or printed material exist with photos or related verbiage, please provide a URL or source location.

What makes me think that this thing is very old is the fact that it carries no Primble shield on the scales. Does anyone happen to know if Primble ever produced pocketknives without any shields or when they initially began to identify their pocketknives with some sort of shield on the scales?

On a personal observation I have never felt a snap so strong or crisp for both blades on any other similar style knife that I've ever opened/closed: maybe only Case.

I'm almost tempted to do a YouTube on this aspect alone but later thought that it might be a bit too much for the purposes of this thread...

I'm posting these final two shots that may help to better classify this knife.

The length of this knife with both blades (closed) is 2 3/4".

The length with both blades (open) is 5 5/8".

The max. scale width at the apex of the scale is 5/16" near the center pin.

The wood scales are replacements.

So why would they not place a shield on these wooden scales?

How does one tell the year of manufacture for this pk?

AAPK does an excellent job with the interactive retail pricing tool for Case knives, for example. But how would someone determine the retail price for this Primble knife since the AAPK tool seems not to apply for this example?

AAPK member Leroy Roarke has written an excellent article on the Primble knives.

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/co ... -hardware/

I wonder if the reason you haven't got much response is because no one wants to hurt your feelings. Your knife has little value to a collector. The handles have been replaced and the most likely reason it doesn't have a shield is because it is much harder to inlay a shield than it is to replace the handles That is much more advanced and takes more practice.
So far as pattern name goes that subject is like beauty and is often in the eye of the beholder. Different people will call that knife by different names and none of them will be wrong. Half congress & senator are only two. Go to Ebay and search for half-congress knife and look at the knives that come up. This is only one - there are others. Does this match yours?


https://www.ebay.com/itm/304050731328?h ... SwnTdg3Gf2

Also learn to use the Ebay search to get a ballpark estimate on the value of any knife. Price guides become obsolete almost as soon as they leave the printing press. The most authoritative source for current value is Ebay and that is a free resource. Learn to use the completed listings to see the actual selling price of knives. A lot of shenanigans go on there so be beware. If you see a knife like yours that sells for $40 it doesn't mean you have a $40 knife it just means you are in that ballpark.
I'm in hopes that maybe Steve, Wayne or one of the other truly knowledgeable members will provide you additional information on your knife. Welcome to AAPK.