All About Pocket Knives

I had to show this little 3" closed treasure that I just picked up. I have been looking for a J. Ward Bronxville knife for years that I could afford and along came this one last week. It shows some wear but the tortoise shell handles are chip and crack free. Goins' and Levine's dates this little beauty 1860-1875. This is one of the rarest NY made knives that I own and was very happy to get it.

Happy hunting to all, Mike

Mike, Thanks for showing that rare beauty! I had no idea that there was a cutlery history in Bronxville, NY. My Great Grandfather had a home in Bronxville in the early 1900's.
I'm sure the J. Wards factory was along the Bronx River, Very close to the Island of Manhattan. Congratulations on your find, now I'll have to keep an eye out for one!

Mike;
You continue to amaze me with the knives you find. That is a real gem! Congrats on it.

Abraham Lincoln owned a J. Ward, Bronxville knife. I forget, now, whether it was the knife he had in his possession the evening he was shot, but I think not. I think the Ward was the cased, pearl handled, multiblade, engraved presentation piece that sold at auction in the late 1980's for ten grand, or so. A bargain, I suspect.

I think we've discussed that knife here before, or over at BladeForums.com. I forget. Too many knife sites.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie, I like to odd and stuff from NY and have been lucky I guess. I missed that etched Robeson Bulldog last night on ebay!!

Mike;

I was a bit surprised by the results of that auction.

I think the knife was right, but every other example of that pattern I've ever seen had a big nickel-silver escutcheon shield. The auction knife did not.

In about 1989, I looked at a knife like that at a knife show. The blades were full.
The "BULLDOG" etch was deep and fully there. There was no original polish left, but it wasn't pitted, nor rusted. It had a nice, grey patina.

Price was $100.00.

I showed it to a dealer friend that told me the price was too high, that I could get a better one for $60.00 - $75.00. (Remember, it was 1989)

I passed on the knife. And............I'm still waiting for a better one.

Charlie Noyes

Mike,

Nice old knife

Can I see a close up of the tang stamp?

I will try for a closeup of the tang but it's hard to get. This is what it says J. WARD & CO in an arch with a *below it then under that BRONX over VILLE over NEW YORK. Thats what is on all 3 blades.

Thanks Mike,

Here is an unused example, and an unusual pattern.

A budding/grafting knife with a folding solid ivory spud!

A different tang stamp than your knife.

Now that is one great looking knife!!! I have only seen a few J. Ward knives and most have been hawkbills or wood handled jacks in not so great condition. I looked one over a few years ago at the Parker show, pearl pen knife, but it was suspect with one of the bldes not marked and it had been cleaned up, but even with that it was way over my budget at the time.

Your knife is the nicest original one I have ever seen!!! Thanks for posting it.

Here's the KING of the J. Ward knives. I pulled these pics from Bernie Levine's forum a while back and you could probably find it in his archives. Eric

I went back to Levine's forum and couldn't find the thread involving the Lincoln knife, so I asked for it to be re-posted and hopefully this will be successful. My username on that forum is Eric A. and here is a link to my question:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... ost8012372

Picked up this ivory handle crown pen made by J Ward.

Here is another J Ward Bronxville all Ivory except for the pins!!!

We just got this J.Ward C.X.S. Is this the same J.Ward? Any idea what the C.X.S. stands for?

Neat old knife,,,but if the blade was replaced its probably just a old blade married to another old frame.
But I like the little knife anyway.

Here is a half-congress by J Ward---Horn handles, Neat old knife. I also listed it under the advertisement section stuff for sale, here on AAPK--Thx Mark

After 4 years of searching I was able to to acquire this one. 3 3/4" closed Ivory handled with flat beveled bolsters, half stops with great snap feels like it is brand new open and close.
It may have been part of a Knife and Fork set but not sure. The blade shape looks like it is from an eating set but is very stout with a nice long swedge. Tang stamp is the same as the Lincoln presentation knife which we know is 1863.

Great knife Paul and I am glad that you got it. I was going to bid but decided not to at the last minute and now I am glad that I did not bid.

Nice condition Paul,I like that knife.

Thanks Mike!!! I am very happy to have this one. I'm glad you did not bid also

Thanks Lyle

REALLY Nice condition on that!!


IM

Awesome knife, Paul!