First post here. Can anyone help ID or date this old wooden handled pocketknife?

[Iain1211]

Hi all, hope I'm posting this correctly and in the right place; this is my first time here. I bought an apparently very old pocketknife at a Car Boot sale in Cambridgeshire, England, for a mere 50 pence this morning. I thought the name on the side and/or the embossed name on the shaft of the hook tool would help me to ID it or at least give me some idea of its age, but an hour on the internet led me nowhere. I asked on a vintage tool forum and got some helpful suggestions, but would love to know more if anyone here can help with more detailed information or suggestions on its age. Here's a sample of the comments on that forum, and below is a link to my blog post showing many images and close ups. I'll post a follow-up photo once I've got it restored, or at least de-rusted and opened up!
Thank you, Iain
"We were always told they're a hoof pick, and a quick peek at equestrian knives suggests that's correct."
"The broken hooked thing is a button hook for button shoes."
"We would call that a Swiss Army Knife over here. Tweezers, toothpick, screwdriver, can opener are visible, there should be a knife blade as well."
"Just an old pocket knife. One of the tools shown is a tin opener, the other a button hook. Yes, the hook is broken! Multi blade knives such as this were produced in Sheffield long before the Swiss gave their army one!"
"it looks like a pocket knife .possibly for pipe smokers"
The link: https://fouragesofsand.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... is-it.html

[gsmith7158]

There is a Hill & Sons listed at 4 Haymarket st. In S.W. London in business from 1875-1900 according to Goins encyclopedia of cutlery markings.

[Iain1211]

Thanks Greg, that's very helpful. I just cleaned another of the tools and it revealed that the marking is indeed Hill not "M?ll" as I first thought. That nicely narrows it down to late 1800s then. A follow up to your information revealed this on Google too: Hill, 4 Haymarket appears to have been a manufactory of cutlery and skates and also a retailer of outdoor equipment such as pocket lanterns, pocket barometers, barb wire nippers, compasses, knives folding axes and so on from 1874 to the early 20th century."

[americanedgetech]

I have to agree that what you have is an early swiss army type knife.
The broken hook is far to small for a farriers pick, and button shoes were indeed the norm back then.

I think it is as cool as cool gets.

[gsmith7158]

I have to agree that what you have is an early swiss army type knife.
The broken hook is far to small for a farriers pick, and button shoes were indeed the norm back then.

I think it is as cool as cool gets.

Yes Ken I would agree. I think it's probably more of a sportsmans knife or bartenders knife.

[Iain1211]

Thanks again all. It cleaned up pretty well, but sadly the main blade turned out to be broken and missing. (couple of images below). Still, it was a fun find for half a £, and as well as giving me a 120+ year old toothpick/needle, can opener and pair of tweezers, I now have a keen interest in pocket knives!
Looking forward to some Charity Shop and Car Boot Sale finds soon. Another discovery I made: UK Ebay bans all pocket knives . You can't even buy or sell an antique fruit knife with a 1" blade. Yet I can pop into my local supermarket and buy a huge bread knife without any checks or ID...

[gsmith7158]

That's a shame about the main blade. Those old equestrian and sportsman knifes can be quite valuable in good condition. Well, no matter you've found a new hobby and the proper website to pursue it on so welcome aboard a d hold on to your hat.

[Iain1211]

Thanks Greg. I remember my mother saying something ages ago about her having some very old pocket knives, so I'll be popping over there soon to offer to "liberate" any from her attic Will keep you posted
Iain

[kootenay joe]

Forget the term "Swiss Army Knife like". It has NO relevance here at all and might confuse a novice. Multiblade patterns pre date SAK by a century or more. It is best to refer to a knife by it's pattern name. Not all knives however fit neatly into one of the 100 or more named patterns. This OP knife can be described as a Double End Barehead Jack. Save "Swiss Army Knife" for Swiss Army knives.
kj

[mrwatch]

if I read it right 50 Pence is 66 cents in U S dollars? mark that a very good deal. I have some English large cents from around 1890-1900.

[Iain1211]

Yes, spot on! 50p or a £ is the going rate for most things at a UK Car Boot Fair, there are some real bargains to be had if you are there for the 7.00am starts