John Fale

[OLDE CUTLER]

I recently acquired this pen knife that has some interesting features. The tang stamp appears to be JOHN FALE. It is 2 and 7/8 inches overall closed, with bone handles. The interesting feature is how the spring fills the extra space in the blade well not occupied by the pen blade. Why not put in a longer blade if you're going to make the handle that long??? Must be some reason for it. None of my references show the name JOHN FALE or even JOHN FALZ. Anyone have any info on this pen knife?

[doglegg]

I recently acquired this pen knife that has some interesting features. The tang stamp appears to be JOHN FALE. It is 2 and 7/8 inches overall closed, with bone handles. The interesting feature is how the spring fills the extra space in the blade well not occupied by the pen blade. Why not put in a longer blade if you're going to make the handle that long??? Must be some reason for it. None of my references show the name JOHN FALE or even JOHN FALZ. Anyone have any info on this pen knife?
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Unusual little knife. And there must of been a reason but it does make you wonder.

[Miller Bro's]

It's a Quill knife, they're built that way.

[rea1eye]

Maybe the longer length of the knife gives better stability and you don't
need a long blade ( so this goes along with the quill knife use in
previous post)

Bob

[ThatWeirdKnifeGuy]

Id guess the spring and blade setup is just so dudes with big hands can use a little knife.

I wouldn't know, my hands are small, but maybe you big Ogres get jealous of the cool little pen knives.

[OLDE CUTLER]

Thanks for the info and explanation, makes sense now.

[Rookie]

Some of the old makers would use the same pattern frame (liners) to make a few varieties. Likely this was also sold as a 2 blade pen knife. Then when they wanted to offer a 1 blade version, they could use the same blade and liners, and just had to make a different spring to turn it from a 2-blade pattern into a 1-blade pattern.

[FRJ]

A very nice old quill. OLDE CUTLER.

A few old knives that are not John Fale to show the return spring.

We are all aware it was a different existence back in those days.

[OLDE CUTLER]

Just wondering if those of you who have examined the photos of this John Fale, think it could it be English?

[FRJ]

I looked in "Tweedale's Directory of Sheffield Cutlery Manufacturers 1740-2013" and
"The London Knife Book" and found no John Fale.

[OLDE CUTLER]

Shoot Joe, you just blew my theory. lol

[Rookie]

I also checked in my book on historic German Knife & Sword Makers, and didn't see any listings in their either.