Joseph Rodgers odd blade

[Canadian collector]

Just picked this knife up was thinking its a corn knife? Any help would be appreciated thanks.

[doglegg]

That is different, hope someone comes along with an answer.

[danno50]

Very nice old knife, Canadian collector. Levine calls that a scalpel or spey blade. There is a picture on pg 204 of LGIV of a physician's knife with that as a secondary blade. He calls the knife a "veterinary operating knife".

[kootenay joe]

Very nice old knife, Canadian collector. Levine calls that a scalpel or spey blade. There is a picture on pg 204 of LGIV of a physician's knife with that as a secondary blade. He calls the knife a "veterinary operating knife".

Really ? I cannot see how that blade would be useful in surgery. The curved section, closer to handle, is it thin and sharp ? Does not look to be.
I have seen a somewhat similar blade and the curved part of blade was for cutting off insulation from electrical wires.
kj

[Dan In MI]

I have seen a somewhat similar blade and the curved part of blade was for cutting off insulation from electrical wires.

That's where my mind went, too. It looks like an electrician's blade combined with another type.

[JohnR]

That's a new one on me, looks to be very old, I would tend to agree some type of spey blade.

[knife7knut]

I think the OP was right the first time:it looks like this corn knife.

[danno50]

I am just relating the information given in Levine's guide. At the risk of copyright infringement I have posted the pic I am referring to.

[Mason]

danno50 is correct that this Rodgers OP knife is a veterinarian model, and used for speying animals. This particular folder is quite an old pattern for Joseph Rodgers which dates from as early as 1865 up until at least 1912 with the same model number of 333. Enclosed is a catalog illustration of the Rodgers knife along with a similar example of a knife offered from Jno. Baker from 1924 as shown in their veterinarian section of knives.

[knife7knut]

danno50 is correct that this Rodgers OP knife is a veterinarian model, and used for speying animals. This particular folder is quite an old pattern for Joseph Rodgers which dates from as early as 1865 up until at least 1912 with the same model number of 333. Enclosed is a catalog illustration of the Rodgers knife along with a similar example of a knife offered from Jno. Baker from 1924 as shown in their veterinarian section of knives.

Thanks for researching that and posting the catalog pic. I stand corrected.

[danno50]

Thanks for posting those catalog pics, Mason.

[kootenay joe]

Dan, i was not questioning your reporting of what Levine said, i was questioning 'is Levine correct'.
As Mason has posted the old Jos. Rodgers catalog pictures and text stating "Veterinarian knife" then Levine is correct.
I don't understand the purpose of this blade, i.e. what surgical 'thing' is it useful for ?
The proximal part of blade has a long concave area. Is this sharp ? or is the edge actually flat ?
A similar area on a Corn knife is used i believe to scrape off layers of dead skin from a corn or callous. Maybe on OP knife it is to scrape off dead areas on hooves ? I don't know if this is something that actually ever needs to be done but we do have a "sheepsfoot blade" so presumably hooves do need some cutting at times ? Someone here must have experience looking after hoofed animals so please post about this.
kj

[danno50]

No problem, Roland, I knew your were questioning Levine, not me.

[kootenay joe]

No problem, Roland, I knew your were questioning Levine, not me.

Thanks Dan. I hope someone will reply explaining what procedure this blade was intended for as i outline in my post above. Just saying "veterinarian use' does not explain it's function.
kj

[Canadian collector]

Thanks for all the info I can always count on aapk for help. The first part of the blade is not sharp at all and is quite thick.

[kootenay joe]

Thanks for all the info I can always count on aapk for help. The first part of the blade is not sharp at all and is quite thick.

As the proximal curved part of the blade is "thick" not sharp then likely it is for scraping a surface, like a callus or hoof ?
kj