All About Pocket Knives

Sometimes collectors tries to rank the oldtime Eskilstuna cutleries, just for fun. Who made the most well made knives? I myself have no opinion in that matter. High age dont always tell the truth about how the knife was when it was new. But it seems to me that one favourite is mentioned more than others;

C.O. Ryd.

Carl Otto Ryd

1872 - 1918.

He is mentioned on several pages and held in very high regard in Arne Marmérs dictionary about E-tuna cuttleries; "Knivar från Eskistuna", as well as among other collectors.

Here is three examples of Ryd knives.
Old, beaten up by perhaps several generations, some need attention and perhaps even restoration. But if one likes the kind, they have a certain magic nevertheless that dont wear, for me that is. In the eye of the beholder, and so on...

One of them have a considerable wobble in one blade,think a pin is broken, or at least damaged. Would like to fix that but I dont know of any knifemechanics in Sweden. Thinking about to send it abroad for maintenance if I find someone willing to do the job. Haven´t done anything with them yet, not even cleaned them. But I will, in time.

(If not porterhook so at least corkscrew was almost an obligatorium. Some kind of survival equipment; you should in all circumstances always be able to take your medicin, no matter what . One time a cutler got an order of a knife with four corkscrews;. Four corkscrews had to be great status and respect. It was immediately made and sent to the eagerly waiting customer who paid a whole lot for the special order.
I guess he was happy when he recieved it.)

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First one is a pearl knife, rather large and heavy. 96 millimeter and with s.c. porterhook. 1880 - 90´s is a fair guess. This is an ivory four blade, or three depending on if you count the porterhook as a blade. 90 mm. Age about the same as the above.The above is a two blade knife with french ivory or ivorine from around 1900 to 1918, I think.
(My ftp-program dont work like it should so I have to use the upload attachment, hope it works.) [/color]

Beautiful images Arne, thanks for sharing them

Terrific pictures, Arne

I think those are the first Ryd knives I've ever seen... I sure don't remember them, from before. I really like the frame, on that pearl knife.

Thanks,
JR

Thanks,
yes, the pearl knife have a rather special design. Seen one similar and that one was made by J.A. Eilitz who were in buissiness between 1875 and 1895, before he disappeared in North America, at least that is what is told. But perhaps several have made that model, it´s unusual though.

I really like knives with corkscrews and those are fantastic examples Thanks for showing them and for the information s-k

Beautiful knives Arne! You speak of a knife with 4 corkscrews;there was one on e-Bay awhile back.Don't remember what it went for(a lot more than I could afford)but it was made in Eskilstuna.Here are a couple of pictures I saved of it.Might be the same knife you are referring to.

knife7knut wrote:You speak of a knife with 4 corkscrews;there was one on e-Bay awhile back.Don't remember what it went for(a lot more than I could afford)but it was made in Eskilstuna.Here are a couple of pictures I saved of it.Might be the same knife you are referring to.

Wow! Yes, it very well could be.
Can´t have been many made of these. Very rare.. special order for sure. thanks for showing it.
Not sure of the text below "Eskilstuna" but I think its L&M ?
Ljungkvist & Morell 1920 -1941.

what is the reason to have four corkscrews on one knife besides the obvious to remove corks?




Don__________

Who knows what the reason is to have four corkscrews on one knife.

Perhaps as a back up if three breaks or get worn.
Or perhaps just for fun, something nobody else has or someone considered it having an impressive look or gave the owner some kind of status.
It´s not to odd i comparison;
whats the reason to use f.ex. pearl or stag when there are delrin. Why have a shield on a knife, completely unnecessary. Why have bone jigged. Why have a blade highly polished, it would have filled the purpose as a blade anyway, and so on.. or another reason at least I cant come to think of.

Is there such thing as a corkscrew fetish?
Or maybe just a very thirsty man!

In any case a very special item!

islander wrote:what is the reason to have four corkscrews on one knife besides the obvious to remove corks?




Don__________

Perhaps it was for a headwaiter at a large table, so he could take the corks out of 4 bottles more quickly?

Just someone having a little fun I supsect. One could not possibly uses all the corkscrews at once. Corkscrews at the end of a knife typically are not very practical for opening wine as they do not allow a good grip for the pulling force necessary. Two worms are left-handed and two right-handed. That is useful depending on the preference of the user. An interesting knife.... thanks for showing it s-k

p.s. Froggyedge.... if there is a corkscrew 'fetish' I think I may have one . I have a few hundred corkscrews.