All About Pocket Knives

One particular appealing knife pattern to my eyes are Wharncliffes – be it a jack (like a farmer’s jack or Wharncliffe frame used for a 2-blade jack), pen or half whittler, whittler - to me there is something about the combination of the high arched blade shape and serpentine frame that catches my eye…. My only issue is that I can’t find enough of them in acceptable condition within my focus of collecting …

The background to the Wharncliffe and where it originated in Sheffield dates it to the early 1800s… The most common historical background you will find suggests that Lord Wharncliffe was a patron of Joseph Rodgers & Sons “Cutlers to Her Majesty” and presumably the blade was produced through that arrangement - but there is not any solid evidence of that knife. Nonetheless this occurred no earlier than 1826 which was the year James Stuart-Wortley-Mackenzie became the first Lord Wharncliffe. Notably multiple Lord Wharncliffes lived in the 1800s all of which were related on a family tree. The first Lord Wharncliffe as noted above lived northwest of Sheffield (in the village of Wortley; in the parish of Tankersley). However there were 2-3 more generations in the 1800s all highly affluent and involved in multiple businesses such as the railroad or cotton industry while another Lord Wharncliffe was involved in politics and supposedly served in Parliment… When Wharncliffe blades and accordingly knives were first sold and used extensively is unclear but I have seen an 1850s era Unwin and Rodgers advertisement which showed a Wharncliffe whittler configuration and have seen a few early Rodgers Wharncliffes but the date of manufacture for them was unknown. No doubt the pattern became popular and was made through the 1800s (multiple companies in Sheffield and the USA - perhaps in other countries as well but I am not familiar with them), survived the 1900s (eg., Case Seahorse) and has remained even popular today as evidenced by GEC, for example, which is just one modern company that makes traditional patterns. The blade is considered a strong blade for wood cuts but generally good for many uses, and importantly as originally designed it was to be extra heavy with a thick arched spine for strength.

Empire Wharncliffe Pen (Empire Winsted CT 1856-1930) - MOP - 3 & 5/16” closed

Miller Bros Wharncliffe Pen (Miller Bros Cut Co 1876-1926) - Jigged Bone - 3 & 1/8” (and the shield almost looks abit elongated to me which fits the pattern style in my eyes)
Be great to see others post their favorite Wharncliffe knives - any other info etc – any style – old and new knives welcome

_________________

Lee

I'm a wharncliffe fan myself. I've always been bothered by so few offerings. I have a 1990 Case Wharncliffe Trapper which is one of my fave's. My dream pattern is a basic clip blade with a wharncliffe on the opposite end - I've never seen one in the wild (something similar to a Case Copperhead) ...

Only have a few;a couple in horrible shape(the W.T.Staniforth and the Carrier)but thought I'd post them anyway. The Empire is in great shape and came with a purse and the G& J Allen;kudging by the pique work dates to around 1840-1850.

Nothing vintage but these two have wharncliffe blades.

Beautiful knives Lee, really like them both! Good bit of anecdotal history as well. Knife7knut, very nice Empire and that old Allen with the pique work is great! Nice Case's, steve, I like the bone on the first one.
I only have one Wharncliff pattern knife, an IXL George Wostenholm.
Dan

The flow of the Wharncliffe frame with the Wharncliffe blade is an example of "Art". The shapes come together to create a new and visually appealing 'whole'. It's "Art" because most people find it instantly appealing.
To me this is what is so special about Traditional style knives. The old Sheffield cutlers figured out the exact dimensions, proportions, & curves to create a 'whole' that is truly beautiful for every one of the vintage patterns. In addition their designs place the handle and the blade in just the right position to be natural in hand with the blade in position ready to cut.
Custom knifemakers can tweak these patterns but they are not improving them, just changing it in minor ways making at best, an equally 'right on' knife.
I collected thousands of folding knives before this understanding of vintage Sheffield cutlery became obvious.
kj

Here is an example of a Wharncliffe pen knife made by Joel Chamblin and true to vintage Sheffield:

danno50 wrote:I only have one Wharncliff pattern knife, an IXL George Wostenholm.

Very nice, what is stamped on the blade face?

Lee, you have some real treasures there

Do an internet web search for Wharncliffe knives and see how many results you get that are authentic period made pocket knives, you wont find very many

If you collect these this is what you are looking for:

Some Robesons. First three are mine, last one with the etch is not.

The stag 008 whittler has "birdseye" rivets.

Robeson did not start using pattern numbers until shortly after 1900, and when they did they gave this pattern the number 008, the 8th knife pattern to receive a pattern number, so they were making these early on.

The black handled knife, I bought off Ebay, but never made my own scans.

I tried to buy the A. Munson & Son knife, but was outbid in a big way.

Charlie

How about this 2009 "Happy Halloween" CASE that I have.

Beautiful knives kootenay joe and Charlie. Enjoyed, and agree with, your words on the ART of traditional knives, joe.
Dimitri, the blade is stamped "CIVIL SERVICE CAN....", I assume it used to read CANADA and the ADA is worn off or was unevenly stamped in the first place. That is definitely a Wharncliffe knife, tj.
Dan

Thanks all

K7Knut - nice additions - that Empire is indeed awesome!! (and that H&B equal end jack got my attention too

Steve - nice Case additions!! and no doubt one company that made that blade style over many years from my understanding...

Dan - that is a super nice Wostenholm - a whittler with stag and the swedge is sooo nice ... thats one beauty!!

KJ - agree with you on the artistic flare which no doubt gives those knives curb appeal - and that Chamblin is gorgeous - what is the closed length? That blade no doubt has that nice extra heavy look as well...

Dimitri - Thanks no doubt thats my experience - I'm not seeing many early or mid 1800s versions from Sheffield at all (and not many but a few examples of pre-1900 American cutleries) at least through the internet... Thanks for posting that illustration of really old Sheffield Wharncliffes - if I did find any of those on the hunt (& especially the 2 and 3 blade pens towards the right side ) I think they may have to jump start my heart ...

Charlie - Robeson made some super Wharncliffes - nice knives ... thanks for posting those great Robeson examples!!

TJ - Probably the most unique Wharncliffe one would find in the whole history of that blade style - Cool !!!

Thanks - keep 'em coming if you have them...
Lee

I love Wharncliffe blades.
Here is an I*XL I removed the plastic handles and put some stag on it.

That is one nice knife Dale ... nice job on the rehandling to stag too!!!

Finally getting around to posting these three knives.
Thanks.

Top to bottom: Miller Bros.
Southington
Northfield

Nice rehandle job on that one, Dale, looks like a great user. Joe, those three are beauts! Really like the Miller Bros., nice swedge.
Dan

Umm Ummm,do I admire the lines and curves.

Too many gorgeous knives to comment on all.BEAUTIES...

Lennox Cutlery Co Germany early jigging. Split spring whittler

That is a nice one, Lyle. Looked it up in Goins, it is an old one as well.
Dan

Most of the Lenox knives I've seen were small pen knives. Goins says c. 1909-1914.

That Wharncliffe is a beauty Lyle!

Wayne

Very nice, Lyle!

Thanks fellas,Wayne there is no substitute for experience. I guess you surmised it was a somewhat larger knife by just being a split spring whittler and not a pen?

It is a very large whittler at 4". You're good. I grin.

Most I know also call these Wharncliffe frames without the Wharncliffe blade.

A very nice 4" knife, Lyle. I hope to remember that jigging style.

Joe - nice Wharncliffes and that MB looks like the big brother of mine

Lyle - I knew you would post something sooner than later - afterall those farmer jacks have that Wharncliffe frame That Lenox is awesome and extra special to me at 4"

Thanks, Lee.

wlf wrote:Umm Ummm,do I admire the lines and curves.

Too many gorgeous knives to comment on all.BEAUTIES...

Lennox Cutlery Co Germany early jigging. Split spring whittler

....wlf, that one has done flung a cravin' on me!!!!........... ....................