Handle made from a BEAR CLAW....

[Knife Trading Post]

Thought I would share this cool and very old pocket knife. It could be the oldest one on here.

I thought the handle was made of wood at first but then noticed the grain curves along with the handle. Along with the curvature is a lighter area that flows down the middle with the curve. After looking at it closer I believe it is a bear claw. The underside of the claw has been carved out a little to make it smooth. The handle is all one piece that has a slit for the blade to rest in. All metal areas are hand forged.

Feel free to check out the pictures and hit me up if you think you may be interested in buying. Im not really sure of its value to be honest as it is a one off.

Thoughts and opinions welcome.

[1967redrider]

Thought I would share this cool and very old pocket knife. It could be the oldest one on here.

I thought the handle was made of wood at first but then noticed the grain curves along with the handle. Along with the curvature is a lighter area that flows down the middle with the curve. After looking at it closer I believe it is a bear claw. The underside of the claw has been carved out a little to make it smooth. The handle is all one piece that has a slit for the blade to rest in. All metal areas are hand forged.

Feel free to check out the pictures and hit me up if you think you may be interested in buying. Im not really sure of its value to be honest as it is a one off.

Thoughts and opinions welcome.

Very interesting and a definite conversation piece. What's the closed length?

[Knife Trading Post]

It is 4" closed and 7 1/2" when fully open.

[Mumbleypeg]

Interesting old clasp knife. The handle is horn.

Ken

[SwedgeHead]

I was curious for myself so I started googling. Seems Grizzlies are the only bears with claws nearing 4+ inches but most have more curvature, still I saw a couple that looked pretty similar. I was leaning towards horn too after it all, now curious if we have a bear expert in da house

thanks for sharing, its got a cool look to it!

[Knife Trading Post]

Could be horn but sure looks just like what is pictured...

[Mumbleypeg]

Let's THINK about it. The knife is an agricultural tool, for pruning and harvesting crops. What animals are typically found around agriculture? If you said "cows" you win the prize. If you said "dairy cows" even better. If you said "bears",

The construction described, a hollowed out slit into which the blade closes, is typical of clasp knives. They used horns, often cow horns, to make the handles.

Ken

[Lars0729]

Oh this is so cool...because I have one too!! Mine came from France via Mexico. Mine is certainly horn, with a partial "AG" scribed on the blade. Haven't seen one like until this posting. Awesome!!

Pruning Knife 1-4.jpg (98.97 KiB) Viewed 234 times

Pruning Knife 1-7.jpg (82.65 KiB) Viewed 234 times

Pruning Knife 1-6.jpg (61.41 KiB) Viewed 234 times

Pruning Knife 1-5.jpg (57.81 KiB) Viewed 234 times

[SwedgeHead]

sweet! Looks like you may each have similar markings on the blade too, seeing it on that 6th pic down in the original set.

[peanut740]

Let's THINK about it. The knife is an agricultural tool, for pruning and harvesting crops. What animals are typically found around agriculture? If you said "cows" you win the prize. If you said "dairy cows" even better. If you said "bears",

The construction described, a hollowed out slit into which the blade closes, is typical of clasp knives. They used horns, often cow horns, to make the handles.

Ken

[Knife Trading Post]

Horn would be more common for sure. It looks like most cow horns are hollow but look to be more solid near the tip. So, I think that it is correct that it is the tip of a cow horn.

Mine does have some letters but there looks to be 5 or more. Looks like it would have to be the same maker as the other on pictured in the post.

Thanks everyone for their insight.

[Knife Trading Post]

Oh this is so cool...because I have one too!! Mine came from France via Mexico. Mine is certainly horn, with a partial "AG" scribed on the blade. Haven't seen one like until this posting. Awesome!!


Pruning Knife 1-4.jpg


Pruning Knife 1-7.jpg


Pruning Knife 1-6.jpg


Pruning Knife 1-5.jpg

Thanks for posting the pics and information. Looks like they would have to be the same maker as they are nearly identical.

[Lars0729]

Yea...I was excited to see yours tonight - for sure. I can barely see that your blade has more letters, mine had more, but only the the AG is legible on the blade. I have performed linited searches to learn more about this one - can't find a thing. Seeing yours here is like finding a lost relative! Still don't have any answers, but it's cool knowing these's more than mine out there.

[wlf]

Let's THINK about it. The knife is an agricultural tool, for pruning and harvesting crops. What animals are typically found around agriculture? If you said "cows" you win the prize. If you said "dairy cows" even better. If you said "bears",

The construction described, a hollowed out slit into which the blade closes, is typical of clasp knives. They used horns, often cow horns, to make the handles.

Ken

Times 3. I have one too, they’re not that uncommon. Peasant knife.It's horn.