Old pick bone

[KnifeSlinger#81]

I would like to know how far back does pick bone go in its use on pocket knives. Around when did it stop? Can knives with pick bone be approximately dated based on the bone?

[dlr110]

See if this helps.

viewtopic.php?t=24051

[FRJ]

Here is a Brantford Cutlery Co. that dates back to 1910-1930.
As per Goin's this stamp was used by Butler Bros., Chicago, during the 1910-1930 era.
Butler Bros. goes back even further to 1888 and apparently ending in 1940.
This knife is at least 90 years old. With "pickbone".
My guess is that pickbone goes back even further.

[richard]

here is a pick bone, made by the ulster knife co. for the wright & wilhelmy co. age not known?

[knife7knut]

I don't know if this could be called pick bone or peach seed;it looks like a little bit of both.Henry Wilton dogleg jack with threaded bolsters on both ends.Goins has the name but no info.

[Reverand]

Wow, Knife7knut, that knife is a beauty! That is the first one that I have seen.

[danno50]

Beautiful knife, Ray! I would probably not call it pick bone myself?

First post on page 49 of the Keen Kutter thread is a quill knife with really nice old pick bone.

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=25178&start=720

I also believe that the three below qualify as pick bone?

[Duffer]

Dan, yes three excellent examples of pick bone

[stockman]

Is this pick bone? Old HS&B.

Harold

[KnifeSlinger#81]

Is this pick bone? Old HS&B.

Harold

Looks like pick bone. Nice knife Harold.


Does anyone know the date range in which pick bone was used?

[knife7knut]

How about these five;yea or nay?
Cattaraugus Northfield New York Knife Co. Southington Wilbert Cutlery

[tongueriver]

When the covers on a jigged bone knife get really pocket-worn, they look more and more like 'picked bone.' Just sayin'. They don't always start out looking like that.

[Duffer]

Good point Cal

[1967redrider]

I think this Jack Knife Ben (Robeson) qualifies, and maybe these Keen Kutters. Maybe these hoof knives too?

[richard]

real nice horseman's knives you have there.

[Old Folder]

I believe all the below qualify.

Winchester Trademark Made in U.S.A.

Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. Little Valley N.Y. U.S.A.

Henry Sears & Son 1865 U.S.A.

New York Knife Co. Walden / Hammer Brand.

[Old Folder]

Barnett Tool HHH 1900-1915.

[Old Folder]

Maher & Grosh Antique Yellow Pick Bone Boys Knife.

Great-Eastern-Cutlery-15-SFO-Boys-Knife-Maher.jpg (35.85 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

[wiseguy]

For the most part certain brands can be dated by the bone, for example the second from the top would be considered early on in the lineage of the Press Button knife Co.s products as well as the smaller double end knife, later on the picked bone became more of a jigged type of look, here's some examples.

[danno50]

Another link which is pertinent. It is referenced in the link which dlr110 provided on page 1 of this thread. It also talks about the changes with pocket wear, as Tongueriver brought up on the previous page.

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... ne#p188614

New York Knife Co. and Schrade are also two other examples of the use of pick bone on early knives (In addition to Press Button, mentioned above by wiseguy).
I think it is generally acknowledged that NYK knives with pick bone are considered to be early in the life of NYKC. Most of the NYK knives posted on here have the very distinctive NYK jigging, which is not pick bone.
Pick bone was used on the earlier Schrade knives as well. The photos below show Charlie C's (Upnorth) ideas on the progression of Schrade jigging. I didn't ask, but don't think he will mind me posting these here (they are actually posted in this link http://allaboutpocketknives.com/knife_f ... one#p95400.

Top left - pick bone
Top right - divot
Bottom left - basket weave
Bottom right - peach seed

Left - pick; Right - divot

As I said previously, I have no idea how far back pick bone goes, but, I believe that it was not used after the early 1920s? Just my opinion

[Dinadan]

There are some nice knives shown on this thread. But I have to confess that I am somewhat confused about the definition of pick bone. The first two knives posted, Joe's Brantford Cutlery Co and Richard's Ulster, are more or less what I think of as pick bone. But if all the others are pick bone, then it seems to me that pick bone is just a synonym for jigged.

[wiseguy]

I think "picked" was done by hand and "jigged " by machine from what I gathered

[edge213]

I think "picked" was done by hand and "jigged " by machine from what I gathered

Not 100% sure that I'm correct, but this is also my understanding.

[Waukonda]

There are some really nice knives pictured here, and very informative posts, by all participants. Thanks!

[royal0014]

WOW !
y'all are killin' it with all these lovely knives


It seems the definition of 'pick bone' is as varied as the knives themselves ....