Old Rope Knives

This forum is dedicated to the discussion and display of old knives. The rich history of all the many companies that made them through the early years will be found here as well as many fine examples of the cutlers art. Share pictures of your old knives and your knowledge here!
Post Reply
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Old Rope Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Thought I would start a thread on all old Rope knives.................

I have quite a few and have always liked them, mostly because they were a large knife with stag or jigged bone handles.

If you have any post them here ::tu::


This is an early Maher & Grosh rope knife, rat tail steel bolsters, brass liners and a flat brass butt cap, and attractive jigged bone handles.
Attachments
1.JPG
1.JPG (34.15 KiB) Viewed 16008 times
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
RobesonsRme.com
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 9903
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:44 pm
Location: The Heart of Dixie.
Contact:

Re: Rope Knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

MB;
Your knife has double rat-tailed bolsters! One big rat and one little rat drug their tails across those bolsters.

Here's a big Robeson 197 with bone handles, steel liners, butt cap and single rat-tailed bolsters.
Also Robeson's version of the WWI Navy issue knife.
Charlie Noyes
Attachments
8-611197.jpg
8-611197.jpg (34.33 KiB) Viewed 16001 times
TwoBlade11B.jpg
DE OPPRESSO LIBER

"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons ___but they are helpless against our prayers. "

Sidlow Baxter
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Charlie,

I like that Robeson 197 model! ::tu::

Never seen one of those before.

Here are some more early English made Rope Knives and a Case WWI issue knife.




M.B.
Attachments
2.JPG
2.JPG (46.87 KiB) Viewed 15985 times
case.JPG
case.JPG (36.25 KiB) Viewed 15985 times
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
RobesonsRme.com
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 9903
Joined: Wed Jan 28, 2009 3:44 pm
Location: The Heart of Dixie.
Contact:

Re: Rope Knives

Post by RobesonsRme.com »

MB;
Robeson 197's turn up on Ebay with some regularity. I'll try to let you know if a nice one shows up.
They made the knife with ebony handles, too. I wish I had one.

I like all those English knives. I suspect that just about every Sheffield firm made that pattern at one time or another. I especially like that snakey looking thing in the middle!
Charlie
DE OPPRESSO LIBER

"...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons ___but they are helpless against our prayers. "

Sidlow Baxter
knife7knut
Posts: 10119
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Rope Knives

Post by knife7knut »

A few from my collection.I'll try and post more tomorrow.

Buck;Camillus;Camillus USCG;Coricama;ECS;I*XL;JM;KB;and a Kutmaster.
Attachments
Buck315SailorsKnife.JPG
Buck315SailorsKnife.JPG (32.19 KiB) Viewed 15940 times
CamillusS702RopeKnife.JPG
CamillusS702RopeKnife.JPG (31.07 KiB) Viewed 15940 times
CamillusUSCGRopeKnife1.JPG
CamillusUSCGRopeKnife1.JPG (29.44 KiB) Viewed 15938 times
Coricama1.JPG
Coricama1.JPG (30.44 KiB) Viewed 15934 times
E.C.S.2000 5110.99.301.0801.JPG
E.C.S.2000 5110.99.301.0801.JPG (26.21 KiB) Viewed 15930 times
IXLSailorsKnife1.JPG
IXLSailorsKnife1.JPG (34.94 KiB) Viewed 15930 times
JMSailorsKnife1.JPG
JMSailorsKnife1.JPG (34.28 KiB) Viewed 15930 times
KABARRiggersKnife1.JPG
KABARRiggersKnife1.JPG (32.61 KiB) Viewed 15927 times
KutmasterRopeKnife.JPG
KutmasterRopeKnife.JPG (15.19 KiB) Viewed 15922 times
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
User avatar
Darksev
Posts: 759
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2008 6:07 pm
Location: NE Ohio
Contact:

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Darksev »

I always like the old stock Schrades with the big square ends :) I picked one up for a little love a year or so ago, lately I've had the urge to do another one. Sadly, I won't be doing anything for a while.

Schrade 163 rope, Madrone handles, soooooo nice.

Image
knife7knut
Posts: 10119
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Rope Knives

Post by knife7knut »

A few more:
A Joseph Rodgers made for Abercrombie&Fitch which has a pair of scissors,a folding fish weighing scale,a pair of tweezers and a hook disgorger that slide into the checkered horn handles;a Schrade riggers knife;a Schrade Bosun's mate;a couple of Schrade Walden rope knives;one marked Stainless Steel;a Taylor's Eye Witness marked 1939;a Warriss marked 1940;a Whittingslowe Adelaide;and an unmarked yachtsman's knife.
Attachments
RodgersAandFFishKnife1.JPG
RodgersAandFFishKnife1.JPG (33.1 KiB) Viewed 15906 times
Schrade735RiggersKnife.JPG
Schrade735RiggersKnife.JPG (32.09 KiB) Viewed 15905 times
SchradeBosunsMate.JPG
SchradeBosunsMate.JPG (27.62 KiB) Viewed 15906 times
SchradeWalden163RopeKnife.JPG
SchradeWalden163RopeKnife.JPG (25.87 KiB) Viewed 15902 times
SchradeWaldenRopeKnife.JPG
SchradeWaldenRopeKnife.JPG (26.37 KiB) Viewed 15898 times
StainlessSteel68.JPG
StainlessSteel68.JPG (24.75 KiB) Viewed 15897 times
TaylorsEyeWitness1.JPG
TaylorsEyeWitness1.JPG (27.19 KiB) Viewed 15897 times
WarrissSheffield1940 1.JPG
WarrissSheffield1940 1.JPG (28.84 KiB) Viewed 15893 times
Whittingslowe Adelaide.JPG
Whittingslowe Adelaide.JPG (31.4 KiB) Viewed 15891 times
YachtsmansKnife2.jpg
YachtsmansKnife2.jpg (34.88 KiB) Viewed 15891 times
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
tmwsiy
Posts: 111
Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2008 2:06 pm

Re: Rope Knives

Post by tmwsiy »

Miller Bros


Image
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Tmwsiy,

My favorite brand! :D :wink: ::tu::

Here are a couple more oldies.

First one is a Holley.

Second one is a Thomas Fenton, early U.S. Navy knife. Deeply stamped blade with some gnarly stag!

M.B.
Attachments
2.JPG
2.JPG (49.92 KiB) Viewed 15850 times
3.JPG
3.JPG (34.13 KiB) Viewed 15850 times
AAPK Janitor
369
trail
Posts: 1325
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:14 am

Re: Rope Knives

Post by trail »

Here's a modern example of the genre - a Myerchin Offshore Crew.
Attachments
myerchin.jpg
knife7knut
Posts: 10119
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:02 pm
Location: Tecumseh,Michigan

Re: Rope Knives

Post by knife7knut »

Here are a few more:
First is a 4-blade knife with a sheepfoot master blade,saw blade with a pierced nail mark,a marlinspike and a screwdriver blade on the spine.Only markings are a gemstone(diamond?)on the master blade and what looks like 2 letter H's hooked together within a square(may be an Asian cypher).
Next is a Jet-Aer yachtsman's knife.
Next is another KA-BAR rigger's knife.
Next are 2 Klein miniature rope knives.
Next is a Schatt&Morgan mini.I also have a Case Bradford that is the identical knife but the master blade is ground into a spear point.
The last two are broken but unusual enough that I keep them around.
The first is marked,"ECK"and all the parts are numbered.The one piece handle is hard wood with nickel silver liners and held together with screws.
The last one is marked,"Henri Renaud Paris" and has a one piece horn handle.The finish is absolutely first class but unfortunately the lock spring is broken.One of these days I'll get around to repairing it.The guy I got it from also had a Schrade double end switchblade with butter and molasses handles and a clip master blade instead of a spear with the original leather purse.It belonged to his grandmother who kept it in her sewing basket and used it to cut thread.The edge was flattened from years of use and there are grooves worn into the handles from thread being rubbed across them.I left it exactly as I got it and will likely never sharpen it.Too much history!
Attachments
4BladeUtilityKnife2.JPG
4BladeUtilityKnife2.JPG (19.94 KiB) Viewed 15812 times
JetAerMSpike.JPG
JetAerMSpike.JPG (22 KiB) Viewed 15809 times
KABARRiggersKnife2.JPG
KABARRiggersKnife2.JPG (33.09 KiB) Viewed 15809 times
KleinMini1.JPG
KleinMini1.JPG (19.08 KiB) Viewed 15807 times
KleinMini2.JPG
KleinMini2.JPG (20.26 KiB) Viewed 15807 times
Schatt&Morgan1.JPG
Schatt&Morgan1.JPG (19.62 KiB) Viewed 15806 times
ECKnife6.JPG
ECKnife6.JPG (21.39 KiB) Viewed 15806 times
ERenaud1.JPG
ERenaud1.JPG (27.01 KiB) Viewed 15806 times
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
User avatar
Owd Wullie
Posts: 3627
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:31 am
Location: Macomb, MO

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Owd Wullie »

The "IXL Sailor's Knife" pictured above is actually a soldier's knife. Pre 1939 I believe. I was given a slightly later model by Watts of Sheffield.

Image

Image

I found the story on this type knife over at britishblades.com posted by our good friend S-K.
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/sho ... hp?t=63126
Member of The West Texas Chapter Of Gun Ownin', Pickup Truck Drivin', Jingoistic, Right Wing, History Changin', Huge Carbon Footprint Leavin' Conspirators.
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

More old Rope knives..........................






M.B.
Attachments
G. Wostenholm.
G. Wostenholm.
3.JPG (50.01 KiB) Viewed 15758 times
IXL G. Wostenholm, Military issue
IXL G. Wostenholm, Military issue
4.JPG (47.2 KiB) Viewed 15757 times
Imperial knife Co.
Imperial knife Co.
5.JPG (42.52 KiB) Viewed 15756 times
Schrade
Schrade
6.JPG (45.92 KiB) Viewed 15757 times
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
muskrat man
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 5667
Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:04 am
Location: Ohio
Contact:

Re: Rope Knives

Post by muskrat man »

all the knives exhibited here are quite nice. I have a few rope knives myself that i'll show later on.
But M-B the stag on that last wostenholm riggers is absolutely stunning. thats the way stag should look ::tu::
Custom knives, repair, restoration & embellishment
Certified Hubertus, Taylor, & Schrade repairman past and present
http://www.muskratmanknives.com
https://www.facebook.com/Muskratmanknives
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

muskrat man wrote:the stag on that last wostenholm riggers is absolutely stunning. thats the way stag should look
M-M,

That stag on the Wostenholm Riggers knife is some of the nicest I have ever seen on and old knife.

I would like to see more stag handles like those on knives! ::nod::




M.B.
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

A Few More.................................................................
Attachments
Keen Kutter
Keen Kutter
7.JPG (31.3 KiB) Viewed 6853 times
T. Turner & Co, Military Issue
T. Turner & Co, Military Issue
8.JPG (27.77 KiB) Viewed 6852 times
Kutmaster, U.S.C.G., 1944, Military Issue
Kutmaster, U.S.C.G., 1944, Military Issue
9.JPG (45.5 KiB) Viewed 6852 times
AAPK Janitor
369
jljr1944
Posts: 407
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:14 pm

Re: Rope Knives

Post by jljr1944 »

I only have two rope knives.They are both Miller brothers and I am especially proud of the smaller one. Jim Sargent looked at it and told me it was the best example of this pattern that he had seen. The lanyard is original to the knife although it has been cut.
Attachments
mrope 006.jpg
miller 004.jpg
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Jljr1944,

Well, if you are only going to have two rope knives, then you picked two real beauties! :)

I see more Miller Bro`s rope knives than any other single patten they made, and they made just about everything. They made two sizes as shown here, the large model 4 7/8" closed and the rarer smaller one which is 4 1/4". Miller also made a gravity knife for the U.S. government on contract during the Spanish American War era. I am sure they also sold the Navy folders as well. The gravity knives were deeply acid etched "U.S. NAVY", these also came in two sizes.

The handles were jigged bone, some were ebony wood. Occasionally you will see the gravity knives turn up for sale, but not very often. I have seen the folding rope knives with the blade acid etched "U.S. NAVY".
AAPK Janitor
369
trail
Posts: 1325
Joined: Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:14 am

Re: Rope Knives

Post by trail »

Another Kabar
Attachments
kabar_rope_3.jpg
kabar_rope_3.jpg (80.32 KiB) Viewed 6725 times
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Unused G. Ibberson sheffield Rope knife...........................



M.B.
Attachments
G. Ibberson, Sheffield England
G. Ibberson, Sheffield England
3.JPG (37.94 KiB) Viewed 6717 times
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Here is the largest old rope knife I have ever seen or owned. :shock:


Length: 5"
Width: 1 1/4"
Weighs: 14 oz.
Blade Thickness: 5/16"

The knife has integeral steel bolsters/liners. The handles are 1/4" thick Rosewood slabs secured with 5 brass pins on each side.

No makers mark can be found. Tremendous blade snap, don`t get your fingers in the way of this blade when closing it!

I have shown it next to the WWI Case rope knife for comparison in size.


M.B.
Attachments
Massive Rope knife
Massive Rope knife
4.JPG (42.4 KiB) Viewed 6707 times
5.JPG
5.JPG (36.69 KiB) Viewed 6707 times
AAPK Janitor
369
tmwsiy
Posts: 111
Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2008 2:06 pm

Re: Rope Knives

Post by tmwsiy »

some more miller bros

Image

Image

a small one thats been re-shaped

Image
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Tmwsiy,

Those are some nice old rope knives you have there! ::tu::

I like the nice early tang stamp on the first one.

Also it has the early jigged bone, the second one has the later jigged bone.

Different patterns but very attractive. ::nod::


M.B.
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
Owd Wullie
Posts: 3627
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:31 am
Location: Macomb, MO

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Owd Wullie »

Yeah, what M.B. said. Those are beautiful.

M.B.!! That big, whackin', monster of rope knife looks pretty dangerous. probably ought to send that to Texas so it don't explode and take out the southern half of that beautiful state you live in. ::tounge::

Just kidding. :mrgreen:

You gents have some awesome knives. ::tu:: ::tu:: ::tu::
Member of The West Texas Chapter Of Gun Ownin', Pickup Truck Drivin', Jingoistic, Right Wing, History Changin', Huge Carbon Footprint Leavin' Conspirators.
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11645
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Rope Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Owd Wullie wrote:M.B.!! That big, whackin', monster of rope knife looks pretty dangerous. probably ought to send that to Texas so it don't explode and take out the southern half of that beautiful state you live in.
Willie,

No need to open this knife for self-defense!! :lol:

As far as shipping it to Texas, you will have to hire the tractor trailer and pay the freight charges! :mrgreen:

M.B.
AAPK Janitor
369
Post Reply

Return to “Knife Lore - Traditional Knives From the Old Days”