Thanks for comment on Billhook - it is an oldie - some followup research indicates to me 1850 or later and most likely Italian in origin... though probably somehow imported and used here in the Northeast based on where and how it was found...kootenay joe wrote:Some fine very old knives being posted. Lee's Billhook is a fine survivor, could easily be a 200 yr old knife.
Here is one i just fopund in my basement. I put it there some years ago because the blade looks rusted beyond saving. But today it spoke to me so i took some pictures. "H & J.W. King Warranted 1869". King was an importer so this might have come from Germany. Liners & bolsters are integral. Note the big swell of handle towards the butt. Snaps are all very crisp, has a half stop and no play, solid in open position. Pretty good for 150 years old.
Any advice on getting the 'scale' off the blade ?
kj
KJ - That is an old pruner for sure
- I know you mention possibly Germany but I wouldn’t know - I haven’t seen too many German made Hawkbills but not ones I would collect ... I’m not familiar with that stamp at all... but in terms of cleaning that knife it is pretty far gone.. looks to be very deep pitting and corrosion - I think buffing it to death may not even work 
... personally I rather see it like this than a shiny and lousy facsimile of a knife!I’m still sticking to pre-1860 for integrated liners/bolsters as I still have not seen many later examples and certainly none after 1900 despite that conjecture in another thread ....
... Thanks for sharing it in this thread!!
... looks like a folding billhook (aka pruner) that has the handle open from a folding extension... pretty cool 
In fact, gypsies are always there, аnd sometimes they sell interesting things at reasonable prices.. Gone are serious sellers who offer quality things, but not for dollar.
though not for M&G. I know Millers Bros made knives for M&G but don't know if Miller Bros made pecan budders. 
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