Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

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!
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by knifegirl888 »

An excerpt from Levine's guide 4: James Crawshaw, a cutler & merchant who worked in Sheffield from about 1817 to 1850, invented a new style of pen knife in the 1820's. An 1831 history described it as "the lobster-knife, by which four blades open upon one spring...which instead of forming the back, as in the old method, is placed along the middle of the handle and between the scales or side of the handle, so that it works on each side, hence admits of blades at each end & even any number of them. The mode of slitting the spring gave rise to the many-bladed knives in all their varieties. Mr. Crawsha took out no patent, but is a wholesale manufacturer." (extract courtesy Geoffrey Tweedale)


This past week I was blessed with the opportunity to become the owner of a real gem. Galvanic1882 offered me the chance to buy this Electric (c1890-1909) abalone lobster. I know many of you have seen this knife pictured before. I am still pinching myself to make sure I am not dreamin'. It is a breath taking knife to behold. There is still a faint "Electric" etch on the blade, but my pictures don't pick it up.

Thank you, Mike, I will cherish it!

I hope to see other beauties posted too. Share 'em if you've got 'em!
Attachments
Electric Abalone Lobster.JPG
Electric Abalone Lobster5.JPG
Electric Abalone Lobster3.JPG
Electric Abalone Lobster6.JPG
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
User avatar
Owd Wullie
Posts: 3622
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2009 4:31 am
Location: Macomb, MO

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by Owd Wullie »

SWEET!! ::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
Iron Hoarder
Posts: 1808
Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 3:03 pm
Location: Chertsey, Surrey, UK
Contact:

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by Iron Hoarder »

Very Very Nice!!! ::tu::
I measure my collection by the ton.
Whoever dies with the most tools wins......Now accepting donations.
User avatar
jerryd6818
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 39165
Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:23 am
Location: The middle of the top of a bastion of Liberalism.

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by jerryd6818 »

Congratulations. What a great little knife. Abalone can be jaw-dropping beautiful. I'm sure this knife makes it difficult to keep your mouth closed. Don't you wish the camera could pick up the fire in the abalone?
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
Knife Nut
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 1989
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 2:50 pm
Location: Southern Indiana

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by Knife Nut »

Congrats, that is one stunning and beautiful vintage knife.
I would think that could be the crown jewel of your collection, Kathy!

Paul
User avatar
paulsvintage
Posts: 2160
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2010 12:26 pm
Location: Delray Beach

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by paulsvintage »

::tu:: Just Beautiful....
Never Argue With a idiot
They'll bring you down to their level & beat you with experience
PAUL
gino
Posts: 8069
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:50 pm

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by gino »

Wow, shes a beauty Kathy! ::envy:: ;)
-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by knifegirl888 »

I am one happy knifegirl! ::super_happy:: Thanks everyone!

Now that I got the thread started, anyone have some lobsters to show?
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by knifegirl888 »

Here are a couple more...
Attachments
Gust. Melcher Solingen-Ohligs Germany.jpg
John S Holler MOP.jpg
Remington lobster.jpg
Robeson MOP.jpg
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by Miller Bro's »

Here are some.........
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
FRJ
Posts: 15174
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 1:43 pm
Location: Ct.

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by FRJ »

There's some beautiful knives showing up here. Thanks for showing all this stuff.
Joe
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by knifegirl888 »

The etch on the Ulster looks nice and clear...Those are great looking pearls, MB!
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by Miller Bro's »

Image


Here are a couple more............

ImageImage
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by knifegirl888 »

Dimitri,

Does the last knife have Berlin on the tang?
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by Miller Bro's »

Yes, it does ::nod::
AAPK Janitor
369
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by knifegirl888 »

Cool! I haven't ever seen a knife marked like that before...
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3657
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by danno50 »

Very nice knives. My only lobster, a Keen Kutter.

Dan
Attachments
IMGP0884.JPG
Dan
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by knifegirl888 »

That's a beautiful knife! ::drool::
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
User avatar
danno50
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 3657
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:05 am
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by danno50 »

Thank you, knifegirl.

Dan
Dan
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by knifegirl888 »

Here's a few more.
Attachments
Empire Fob.jpg
H&B.jpg
Wostenholm sterling.jpg
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by galvanic1882 »

Kathy, I am glad that I sold the knife to you. Evere since I showed it to you years ago at the Lewisburg show I knew it was just a matter of time before I sold it to you. Here are the only 3 I have left.

The Kipsi Kut is one that still don't believe I own, it's a rare one for sure!!! The others are H & JW King etched pearl and the last, and am not sure if all would say a lobster, is a sterling handled Napanoch.
Attachments
kipsikut.jpg
hjwkingpearl.jpg
napanoch.jpg
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by knifegirl888 »

Mike,

Wow.... those are 3 rare knives! I am not sure which one I would say I like the best? They are all fantastic. I am unfamiliar with Kipsi Kut? Do you know more about it?

I am honored to be the new owner of the Electric. I showed it to an old friend & long time collector yesterday. He said "that knife makes me scared to even hold it!" He told me if I dropped it, I would never smile again & he is probably right. ::nod:: ::paranoid::

Thanks again!

Kathy
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
User avatar
galvanic1882
Silver Tier
Silver Tier
Posts: 3187
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 am
Location: Payson AZ
Contact:

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by galvanic1882 »

Kipsi Kut was located in Poughkeepsie NY and I only know of about 8 of these that are floating around. Same town as Nagle Re-Blade production.

Mike
User avatar
knifegirl888
Posts: 1375
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 2:51 pm
Location: Western Pennsylvania

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by knifegirl888 »

Here is my other favorite lobster knife... an ivory Northfield lobster. It is illustrated in the 1869 catalog as a six blade, but is listed as a three blade.
Attachments
Northfield Lobster Ivory.jpg
Northfield Lobster Ivory1.jpg
Northfield Lobster Ivory2.jpg
Northfield Lobster Illustration.jpg
"Making miracles is hard work, most people give up before they happen." - Sheryl Crow
User avatar
Miller Bro's
Gold Tier
Gold Tier
Posts: 11618
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:22 pm
Location: Earth

Re: Lobsters & Orange Blossoms

Post by Miller Bro's »

What is the extra pin for on the back handle?

I think that is my favorite knife you have in your collection :)
AAPK Janitor
369
Post Reply

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