Knife Identification Questions

[Wade K]

Hi everyone,
I just joined the forums and have a few pocket knives my late dad accumulated. Some his, some his dad's, one or two his grandpa's. Which forum would be best for helping with ID'ing, especially the bone handled one at the top of the 1st picture? Several I've been able to ID, and several I'm pretty sure aren't anything special at all, but I'm also interested in hearing about potential values, too.

Thanks a lot, Wade

[Reverand]

What a blessing to have heirloom knives, Wade!
Many of those are of negligible monetary value, though I am sure they hold a lot of sentimental value.
The nicest in the lot looks like the oldest, which is the bone-handled one.
If you would, clean the tangs of the blade with a #2 pencil lead. Not the eraser, and never anything abrasive!! The pencil lead is harder than rust, yet softer than steel so it will clean it without doing any damage.
Then see if you can get good closeup pictures of the tang stamps there, which will give us some more information to work with.
And welcome to AAPK!

[1967redrider]

I can read Ulster and Colonial on these two.

This is the area you want to clean up to see if there's a stamp, like Reverand mentioned.

to AAPK!

[New_Windsor_NY]

Hi…..

Looks like the name, PAUL KEENE(?) on the handle.

[Wade K]

Yes, Paul Keene was my grandpa. He was a veterinarian, as was his dad. That knife has a fleam blade (sp?) so I wonder if it’s a veterinary version of a general use knife? He started practicing in 1941 and as I understand it, syringes were the preferred tool by then, so I suspect it was a gift from his dad.

The Kutmaster is something that seemed to be all over my grandpa's and our house when I was growing up. I think Moorman's gave them away and my grandpa got a bunch, even though he was done with castrating hogs.

I suspect the Colonial Forest Master was someone's boy scout knife - my family, I don't know. My dad had a storage business for a while so he got a bunch of stuff from people that didn't pay their bills.

[Wade K]

If you would, clean the tangs of the blade with a #2 pencil lead. Not the eraser, and never anything abrasive!! The pencil lead is harder than rust, yet softer than steel so it will clean it without doing any damage.
Then see if you can get good closeup pictures of the tang stamps there, which will give us some more information to work with.
And welcome to AAPK!

I'll get at that and report back later, thanks for the tip. As you can see, it's stamped, but I can't quite read it.

[Wade K]

After the pencil treatment and much squinting, here's what I can make out on the small blade:

1st Line
"V" "crown symbol(?)" "R" - pretty sure on this line

2nd Line
"W.C(maybe a G). **RS(?)AN &Co" - * meaning I couldn't read it, might be *ORSAN...

3rd Line
"SHEFFIELD" - For sure on this

On the main blade, I can make out the VcrownR, the next two lines I really can't, but they look like they say the same things as the smaller one.

I'm thinking the "V crown R" means this was made during Victoria's reign? That would square with this being either my great-grandpa's (or his dad's) originally, and my family is primarily of English descent, but not fresh off the boat back then.

Thanks, Wade

[Wade K]

More pix

[Miller Bro's]

W.C. Corsan & Son
Sheffield

Went out of business around 1868-1875.

It's an oldie

[Ridgegrass]

It might be Corsan. There was a Corsan, Dentin, and Burdekin c.1860 that may be related. The "V crown R" translated to Victoria Regina meaning it was made in the reign of Queen Victoria 1837-1901. The knife is often called a horseman's knife. Hoof pick, fleam, leather punch, auger, other tools useful to a rider. It's a beauty and a real relic. Fits in with the veterinary connection. J.O'.

[Ridgegrass]

You beat me to it Dimitri. Didn't see yours while I was typing. John

[New_Windsor_NY]

There are some more “horseman” pocket knives posted here:
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=69669

[Wade K]

Thanks for all the replies! Older than I would've guessed, and definitely fits with veterinary/animal care/livestock farming. It must go back to great-great or 3x-great-grandpa. Any ideas on value? I don't want to sell it, but I may send it to my son and would need to insure it.
Thanks, Wade

[FRJ]

A very nice old knife!

[Mumbleypeg]

Thanks for all the replies! Older than I would've guessed, and definitely fits with veterinary/animal care/livestock farming. It must go back to great-great or 3x-great-grandpa. Any ideas on value? I don't want to sell it, but I may send it to my son and would need to insure it.
Thanks, Wade

Search ebay for sold listings only of “horseman knife”. Limiting the search criteria to sold items only will bring up similar knives that have been sold over the past few months, from which you can get a ballpark value. In valuing collectables, condition is paramount so if your item is in similar condition to those sold, its value will be similar also. If better, or worse, adjust accordingly.

Nice old knife, I’d say in good condition for its age. Many that style and age have one or more broken tools. Yours appears to be all there except the broken handle cover.

The other knives have little collectable value but look to be good users. JMO

Welcome to AAPK.

Ken

[Ridgegrass]

Don't know its value. I sold two of similar vintage and condition last month for $190 for the pair. Insurance is probably not worth it on one piece. I have my whole collection insured for an estimated value and it's pretty cheap and simple. If you put a rider on your homeowner's policy, it's very costly. I'm not advertising for anybody here but if you'd like to know about my policy, PM me and I'd be happy to tell you what I've got. J.O'.

[1967redrider]

Just do package tracking.

That's a sweet old horseman's knife.

[Wade K]

Insurance would be for shipping purposes.
Tracking or not, things still get lost and the horseman's knife looks to be worth more than the standard included $50.

Checked ebay, running and finished, and didn't see any Corsan pocket knives, horseman or otherwise. But I would guess this one is worth $200ish? I don't know if horseman's knives' value is dependent on only condition, or if manufacturer has any bearing.

I would agree the others are far less/not collectible. But I was surprised to see prices on the Kershaw being the highest of that bunch. It looks like something you'd pick up in a gas station to me.