All About Pocket Knives

A unique and beautiful knife. 7 inches!

Thanks Joe and Harold. It is a beast.

Nice one Mike

Even in unused condition these have surprisingly weak snap the backspring is very narrow, you would think a 7" knife would have strong snap. Then again with such a sharp long blade they were probably afraid the user would take off a finger accidentally!

Thanks Dimitri. Do you have any idea now long MB made them?

I have no documentation on how long they were made, but judging from how many I have see in the last twenty years it could not have been more than a year or two.

With the one you just posted that makes around fifteen I have seen in collections and online or knife shows.

Thanks for the info and for the pic!

This was my grandfather's. I got it after he had passed so have no info on it. What do you think, real MB? What is the curved tool, a pipe scraper?


Tom

Yes it is a Miller Bros. 'skeleton' knife. M.B. made the knife but did not put any covers(handles) over the liners. This 'skeleton' was then sent to a jewelry business to put on whatever handle pieces they wanted.
The pattern is a "lobster knife": spring runs along center line of handle so there can be blade(s)on top & bottom.
The long slender 'blade' is a combination manicure/pipe scraper or just pipe scraper depending whether the inside surface has file teeth.
Miller Bros. made a lot of skeleton knives, various patterns.
kj

Very nice S2K ... no doubt old Miller Bros Gentleman’s Fob Knife - sometimes worn on gold chain on the vest... the long tool is a manicure tool - that is what it was designed for - whether some used it for cleaning their tobacco pipes was only based on their own discretion - it was not designed nor marketed as a pipe cleaner ... and some adventurous souls (and I smile while writing this) cleaned their nails, cleaned their pipes and picked nuts out of their shells with the same tool

Great sentimental knife to have from your grandfather ... and Miller Bros was a desirable old knife maker!!

Ditto.

Welcome S2K. Great family heirloom.

Late, but love that gut hook knife Mike R.

Thanks for all the info and encouragement folks. From the looks of the scratched up main blade I don't believe my gramps was big on knife care. I don't recall him carrying a pocket knife, so wonder if he inherited it himself. Like so many things with our ancestors it's unfortunately lost to the ages.

Tom

I've been looking for a nice condition Miller Bros large rope knife for several years and finally found one. It is in pretty high condition, not buffed, some age staining, full blade with what appears to be original edge. The bone is very nice with what appears to be a heavy stain.

JohnR, you stumbled into the cherry orchard. Your picking some knice ones. Love the handles .

Nice score John ....

John, beautiful old Miller Bros rope knife.

John,that is a good one.

That's how you like to find those old pieces.. great looking piece..

I say outstanding knife, amazing find. Inside liners look new. It is the best Rope knife i have ever seen. It is over 100 yrs old for sure.
In "Pocket Knives of U.S. Military", Mike Silvey shows a few Miller Bros rope knives. The older ones are larger at 4 3/4" which i think is the knife shown above. The later WW I Miller Bros. Rope knives were smaller at 4 1/8".
kj

kootenay joe wrote:I say outstanding knife, amazing find. Inside liners look new. It is the best Rope knife i have ever seen. It is over 100 yrs old for sure.
In "Pocket Knives of U.S. Military", Mike Silvey shows a few Miller Bros rope knives. The older ones are larger at 4 3/4" which i think is the knife shown above. The later WW I Miller Bros. Rope knives were smaller at 4 1/8".
kj

Roland, this is the 4 3/4" one, I should have put that in the description, thank you for the information. The well was pretty much that clean when I received the knife, the only thing I do with vintage knives is clean dust and dirt with a rust preventive, mineral oil and Renaissance Wax.

Thank you all for the comments, appreciate it.

Darkest stained one I have seen John. Usually the mark side is lighter on most knives I see. Excellent knife.

Great find, John!

JohnR wrote:

kootenay joe wrote:I say outstanding knife, amazing find. Inside liners look new. It is the best Rope knife i have ever seen. It is over 100 yrs old for sure.
In "Pocket Knives of U.S. Military", Mike Silvey shows a few Miller Bros rope knives. The older ones are larger at 4 3/4" which i think is the knife shown above. The later WW I Miller Bros. Rope knives were smaller at 4 1/8".
kj

Roland, this is the 4 3/4" one, I should have put that in the description, thank you for the information. The well was pretty much that clean when I received the knife, the only thing I do with vintage knives is clean dust and dirt with a rust preventive, mineral oil and Renaissance Wax.

Thank you all for the comments, appreciate it.

The smaller ones have a more rounded butt end and are much rarer.

I only have one Miller Brothers knife, this ebony whittler. Wish I could find more, but you just don't see many.