All About Pocket Knives

Hey, everyone. I picked up this knife at an antique store recently. I've never seen another like it. The blades are in the hadles of the scissors. There is a brass scabbard that goes over the scissors to keep them closed, but I don't think it is original because it looks to have been soddered. I tried to clean up the tang to see who the maker is, but the stamp is too worn to be legible. I was hoping someone out there has seen another like it and can tell me more about it.

These type items and also a small butterfly or Balisong style folding scissors are found both with and without the knife blades. They most always have pearl or ivory handles. Most are unmarked and I think they originate in Germany, Austria, Bohemia or some other middle European country.

I've seen sets like yours with a nickel-silver sleeve that closes and covers the scissor blades. You might be able to find a more acceptible substitute.

I picked up a small pearl handled butterfly folding scissors set several years ago as a gift for my wife. (Sly, aren't I?) She keeps it on the victorian dresser in our guest bedroom, along with other artifacts from that time period.

Charlie Noyes

I'm betting on Edward Zinn, Germany. They look like his style, at least to me.

ODD Scissors well I have one that is fun to use.

And its a knife too.

Tang stamped "BARNS" on this one.
I ran across it on a recent desire to start a "stamp collection"
All I know is that is old and ,as mentioned, likely English .
The spring is broken and I was wondering if it was missing some kind of latch to keep it closed?
The sleeve over the scissors makes a lot of sense now, for as to carrying it in your pocket!

Sellers description below:
RARE ANTIQUE ORIGINAL BARNES OX HORN FOLDING SEWING POCKET SCISSORS WITH PEN KNIFE BLADES

SHARP IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION WITH GOOD SNAP AND NO BLADE WOBBLE. ONE OF THE PEN BLADES IS SHORT

TANG STAMP: BARNES

SIZE- APPROX. 3.35 INCHES CLOSED

HANDLES- OX HORN

BOLSTERS- CARBON STEEL

LINERS- CAEBON STEEL

BLADES- CARBON STEEL

............... Joe

I have one marked Joseph Rodgers No.6 Norfolk St. Sheffield with ivory scales.The sheath for the scissors is made of nickel silver and I believe is original.Nice score by the way.

So much for me thinking most were German.
Charlie Noyes

Thanks for the replys, everybody! I guess I can narrow country of origin down to England or maybe Germany; at least somewhere in Europe. BTW, those were some really nice knives, Joe & knife7knut! And, justold52, a really interesting pair of scissors you got there!

I have three of them. One is a Joseph Rodgers and the other two are unmarked. All three of mine are missing the spring and the Rodgers has ivory scales that were crudely inscribed "1848". The Rodgers and one of the others are fairly small and similar in size to what yours looks to be. The other one is much larger and the largest I've seen. All three of mine appear to be English in origin.

Roush428r wrote:I have three of them. One is a Joseph Rodgers and the other two are unmarked. All three of mine are missing the spring and the Rodgers has ivory scales that were crudely inscribed "1848". The Rodgers and one of the others are fairly small and similar in size to what yours looks to be. The other one is much larger and the largest I've seen. All three of mine appear to be English in origin.

That date could be valid;the one I have is marked,"Cutlers to her Majesty" which I believe refers to Queen Victoria who reigned from 1837-1901.I always was under the impression that the No.6 Norfolk Street mark didn't come into use until the early 1880's and that the Washington Works mark was the earlier one.Anyone from the U.K. want to chime in on that?