unknown tang stamp

[Dave T]

Can anyone please identify this tang mark on a single blade 3.5 inch pocket knife?

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

I doubt that is a commercial tang stamp. The knife could be homemade, or that is simply the owner's name. Could the knife be from Eastern Europe?

[danno50]

With the square kick, that looks like an old one, Dave. Could we see more pics, please. We like to see the whole knife from a variety of views.

[Dave T]

This is the only other picture I have
Dave

[Eustace]

The knife is cool. I couldn't find anything about the stamp, but the shape of the bolsters and the ricasso, and the overall broadcasting speaks to me very much about French production. Of course, I could be wrong

[knife7knut]

It appears to say,"CROUCH" on the ricasso.Seems to me there was a thread awhile back on single blade jack knives that were stamped on the blade with that name.

[TwoFlowersLuggage]

Is this the Crouch thread you remember? The "Jess Crouch" blade stamp doesn't look anything like this one.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=14228

[Dave T]

Thank you. I believe you are correct in reading it as CROUCH. I had not thought of that, but once you said it it becomes obvious.
It must be Joseph Crouch, Spring knife cutler of Sheffield 1816-1880.
Once again, thank you
Dave

[Doc B]

Cool knife! It looks like it could be 130+ years old

[LongBlade]

Very cool old knife Dave ... I'd say Joseph Crouch may be correct - Given no Sheffield on stamp it is possible it is pre-1830 ... The stovepipe kick also suggests old... Are the liners and bolsters integral, ie one piece??

Reminds me of the knives recovered from the Arabia Steamboat which sank in the Missouri River in 1856. There is an Arabia Steamboat Museum that has them on display among other recovered items..

[Dave T]

Long blade, very observant. This knife is part of the Arabiia collection so it was made in 1856, or just possibly the year before. I cannot definitively answer your question about the bolsters because I do not have the knife. However based on the history of Joseph Crouch and his father I would expect that they are integral.
Dave

[LongBlade]

Thanks Dave - the knife just had that look to it... I would bet the liners bolsters were integral as it was much more common pre-1860 ...

The Arabia Steamboat Museum is on my bucket list... maybe someday ...