C.Johnson, Western Works, Sheffield Ettrick pocketknife
Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2022 9:09 am
C. JOHNSON, WESTERN WORKS, SHEFFIELD ETTRICK POCKETKNIFE
Here is a recent acquisition that only called for some oil and metal polish. It is a well-made knife, the metal buffed to a mirror finish. It walks and talks with a loud snap and is easy to open without breaking a fingernail. Stag horn scales and 'Ettrick C.J. knife' etched on the blade add to the picture of quality.
The square bolster makes this knife very compact and less prone to dirt getting between the mating faces of the joint. However, the sharp corners of the bolster make it unfriendly to one's pocket lining. I may round them off very slightly. I prefer semi-circular bolsters but this knife is different and a worthwhile addition to my collection. I also prefer the look of nickel or yellow metal bolsters but one can't argue with the strength of steel. This knife was made for work.
One side of the tang bears the maker's marks with CJ on a flag, their trademark. The reverse says 'Hand Forged'. I doubt that this means very much as I suspect that most small quantities of crucible steel were hand forged. Johnson had a sister firm, a steel works.
The C. Johnson firm closed in 1955 and the knife having an unsharpened edge it has never been used. There is a stain on one side of the blade where it has been touching the lining for many years, a genuine sleeper, a thing of beauty and when honed of utility.
There are several explanations for the origin of 'Ettrick Knife' on the Internet. All one can be sure of is that Ettrick is a parish in the Scottish Borders sheep country. It is the sort of practical style of knife a shepherd might have carried but being lowly paid he would have been lucky to possess an example of this quality. Johnson knew what they were doing using stag horn scales. They would have had particular appeal to a Scottish farmer and those wanting a souvenir of Scotland.
22 March 2022
Here is a recent acquisition that only called for some oil and metal polish. It is a well-made knife, the metal buffed to a mirror finish. It walks and talks with a loud snap and is easy to open without breaking a fingernail. Stag horn scales and 'Ettrick C.J. knife' etched on the blade add to the picture of quality.
The square bolster makes this knife very compact and less prone to dirt getting between the mating faces of the joint. However, the sharp corners of the bolster make it unfriendly to one's pocket lining. I may round them off very slightly. I prefer semi-circular bolsters but this knife is different and a worthwhile addition to my collection. I also prefer the look of nickel or yellow metal bolsters but one can't argue with the strength of steel. This knife was made for work.
One side of the tang bears the maker's marks with CJ on a flag, their trademark. The reverse says 'Hand Forged'. I doubt that this means very much as I suspect that most small quantities of crucible steel were hand forged. Johnson had a sister firm, a steel works.
The C. Johnson firm closed in 1955 and the knife having an unsharpened edge it has never been used. There is a stain on one side of the blade where it has been touching the lining for many years, a genuine sleeper, a thing of beauty and when honed of utility.
There are several explanations for the origin of 'Ettrick Knife' on the Internet. All one can be sure of is that Ettrick is a parish in the Scottish Borders sheep country. It is the sort of practical style of knife a shepherd might have carried but being lowly paid he would have been lucky to possess an example of this quality. Johnson knew what they were doing using stag horn scales. They would have had particular appeal to a Scottish farmer and those wanting a souvenir of Scotland.
22 March 2022
to AAPK, R.S.! 
That IS an interesting knife, thanks for showing us! 