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Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:14 pm
by Tulacat
This pocket knife signed J. Nowill & Sons Sheffield Stainless has several features that have me baffled as to its end use. It has 2 knife blades (one is so short, I’m thinking it was broken at one time and repurposed), 2 long sharp picks, scissors, and an end cap that moves from covering the end to one side. Maybe it covered the 2 small “compartments on the end, but I am not certain. The sides are checkered wood. Any help would be appreciated as to identifying its purpose. Thank you in advance.
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:54 pm
by beresman
Could the picks be used for cleaning out a pipe--and the button on the end used for tamping down the tobacco before lighting? I never smoked a pipe, but I remember my dad doing it. He didn't have a knife like this, but used separate tools to achieve the same end.
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:56 pm
by Tulacat
Thank you Beresman! That makes perfect sense.
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 5:03 pm
by Waukonda
Tulacat wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:56 pm
Thank you Beresman! That makes perfect sense.
What does it say on the master blade? I can't make it out. Also, what does the tang stamp look like? I have a J Nowill, don't remember the pattern, but it seems like it has a nice stamp.....I will have to look it up.
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 5:39 pm
by Tulacat
Here are 4 photos of the marks on both sides of the large and small blades.
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 5:42 pm
by Tulacat
Another better photo of the stamp
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 5:53 pm
by Waukonda
Oh yeah, the D and *, and the keys crossed, thank you! Nice knife!
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 7:46 pm
by djknife13
The small blade might be for scraping/reaming out the pipe bowl and may have started out that size, or not.____Dave
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2024 11:41 pm
by Miller Bro's
Tulacat wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2024 4:14 pm
This pocket knife signed J. Nowill & Sons Sheffield Stainless has several features that have me baffled as to its end use. It has 2 knife blades (one is so short, I’m thinking it was broken at one time and repurposed), 2 long sharp picks, scissors, and an end cap that moves from covering the end to one side. Maybe it covered the 2 small “compartments on the end, but I am not certain. The sides are checkered wood. Any help would be appreciated as to identifying its purpose. Thank you in advance.
It's a smokers knife. The pen blade has been broken off and reshaped, the handles are horn not wood. If there is a blade missing, it was a folding cigar fork for holding a small piece of a cigar. Disc on the end is for tamping tobacco down in the bowl, long thin rod is for clearing the pipe stem. Scissors for opening pouches of tobacco.
A premium knife in its day, too bad it's damaged.
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 2:43 am
by ea42
Here's a very similar one from Brookes and Crookes:
Eric
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 11:46 am
by Waukonda
ea42 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 26, 2024 2:43 am
Here's a very similar one from Brookes and Crookes:
Brookes and Crookes Smoker's Knife 2.jpg
Brookes and Crookes Smoker's Knife.jpg
Eric
Beautiful example, Eric!
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 2:19 pm
by Tulacat
Great information! I really appreciate everything. I will check to see if there is a blade missing.
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 11:47 pm
by wlf
Love the checkered handles and I agree horn. I wonder if they were all pressed?
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 1:10 am
by rustyoldknife
ea42 wrote: ↑Mon Aug 26, 2024 2:43 am
Here's a very similar one from Brookes and Crookes:
Brookes and Crookes Smoker's Knife 2.jpg
Brookes and Crookes Smoker's Knife.jpg
Eric
Eric, that's a beauty, my Dad carried a pipe knife but nothing that fancy
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 3:25 pm
by ea42
David unfortunately it's not mine. I found that pic on the internet when searching for similar knives to Tulacats. It certainly looks amazing. I've got a couple of the Schrade Walden pipe smoker's knives, definitely not that fancy.
Eric
Re: Nowill & Son Pocket Knife Question
Posted: Thu Aug 29, 2024 4:53 pm
by Tulacat
I did look for a spot that may have held a “fork” for holding cigars. There was no place for it. The scissors appear to be in a spot that would have held a “fork”.