All About Pocket Knives

Thanks Mason

This is a stainless steel blade fruit knife from Humphreys.

MB

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Sat Feb 19, 2022 10:09 pm Thanks Mason

This is a stainless steel blade fruit knife from Humphreys.

That is a fine knife!

Great example M.B. and very uncommon (as you know) to find a marked stainless fruit knife such as that one.
Humphreys offered a wide range of table cutlery as well as pocket knives like yours between WWI and WWII.
It's interesting that they offered both electro-plated nickel silver along with stainless blades on their fruit and other food related knives.

Here is one of the oldest pearl handled fruit knives I have which dates to 1784-85 per the stamped English hall marks on the sterling blade.
Stainless steel wasn't commonly used on knives until after WWI, so all previous fruit blades were sterling silver or plated.

Thank you Roger and Ike

Mason wrote: ↑Sun Feb 20, 2022 10:52 pm Great example M.B. and very uncommon (as you know) to find a marked stainless fruit knife such as that one.
Humphreys offered a wide range of table cutlery as well as pocket knives like yours between WWI and WWII.
It's interesting that they offered both electro-plated nickel silver along with stainless blades on their fruit and other food related knives.

Thanks, Humphreys made some nice knives

Mason wrote: ↑Sun Feb 20, 2022 10:52 pm Here is one of the oldest pearl handled fruit knives I have which dates to 1784-85 per the stamped English hall marks on the sterling blade.
Stainless steel wasn't commonly used on knives until after WWI, so all previous fruit blades were sterling silver or plated.

Very nice, the early one's were ornate.

Here's a catalog page from the early 1800's

Thanks, and nice illustration.
I reach for Smith's book several times a week.

This is an unused Wostenholm.

Some great knives showing up in this thread.
This is one was posted a few years back that belongs here as well.

I find these fruit knives during the hunt. The unusual ones I like to keep. This one is stamped Joseph Westby Sheffield on the 4 steel blades. The 5th blade is silver with a 1906 hallmark. The unique thing about this knife, is the inside of the back springs. The center spring is Gold washed inside and the 2 outer springs are Blued inside. The fit and finish on this knife is amazing.

1fartsmella wrote: ↑Mon Feb 21, 2022 4:17 am Some great knives showing up in this thread.
This is one was posted a few years back that belongs here as well.

I find these fruit knives during the hunt. The unusual ones I like to keep. This one is stamped Joseph Westby Sheffield on the 4 steel blades. The 5th blade is silver with a 1906 hallmark. The unique thing about this knife, is the inside of the back springs. The center spring is Gold washed inside and the 2 outer springs are Blued inside. The fit and finish on this knife is amazing.

Outstanding!

Nice knife!

Miller Bros., that's a fine "Curtis" model, and here is the other "Burbank" model of the two knife set.
Interesting that yours has a clip style blade.

1fartsmella, wonderful pearl Westby folder with the silver fruit blade. A rare find indeed.

Thanks, that's a nice one

Is the blade face etched or stamped?

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 10:56 pm Thanks, that's a nice one

Is the blade face etched or stamped?

Thanks, and it's a light stamp.

Here is an elegant pearl whittler by Slater. The pearl handles have factory floral carvings which are hard to photograph.

Beautiful pearl whittler, unusual to see floral carved handles on these

Speaking of carved pearl handles here are some salesman sample pearl handles in various styles.

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 1:20 am Beautiful pearl whittler, unusual to see floral carved handles on these

Speaking of carved pearl handles here are some salesman sample pearl handles in various styles.

Stunning handles, wonderful examples of both art and craftsmanship.

Mason wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 1:12 am Stunning handles, wonderful examples of both art and craftsmanship.

I agree, such a shame this craftsmanship is being lost

Here's another one, all brass handles.

M.B., those brass handled models are neat.
Here is another Wostenholm pruner.

Love the stag on that one!

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 11:50 pm Love the stag on that one!

Thanks.

Outstanding bunch of knives MB, Mason, Ifartsmella!

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 1:20 am Speaking of carved pearl handles

You guys are showing some beautiful knives. A real treat!

Dimitri, those knives are amazing.
I can't imagine how the hafters worked the hard pearl and made it so smooth and elegant.
I would love to see that done and be educated on that process.

Thanks Wayne

Thanks Joe, the handles are amazing and I too would love to see them made

I am way behind on commenting on this thread. Dimitri and Mason have been putting on a great show in the last few pages. Also some very notable contributions from ed-is-dead and 1fartsmella.
Here are two I recently acquired. A Rodgers swell centre congress and an IXL George Wolstenholm, both whittlers.