All About Pocket Knives

I just won this one so I don't have it in hand.

NJ&I Co. is the tang mark - anyone have any info?

Thanks

No, but I found that knife to be interesting. I bookmarked the auction. Congratulations. That's a nice one w an odd stamp.

Did you see that nice big BOOS bone handled cigar jack, as well?

Charlie Noyes

Steve,

Can't help you out this time buddy, even tried looking up the "National" blade etch with no success.

-John

RobesonsRme.com wrote:No, but I found that knife to be interesting. I bookmarked the auction. Congratulations. That's a nice one w an odd stamp.

Did you see that nice big BOOS bone handled cigar jack, as well?

Charlie Noyes

Yeah I tried on the BOOS. I had one recently identical and sold it. Odd brand, all I could find is that they were a liquor wholesaler in Toledo. I have seen a few of the BOOS marked knives all identical to that pattern/handle.

1967redrider wrote:Steve,

Can't help you out this time buddy, even tried looking up the "National" blade etch with no success.

-John

Thanks. I don't have a copy of Goins book so I can't research these too much. I bid on it because its a GREAT pattern being a split back whittler cattle knife. Seller is in Canada.

I just picked up another real interesting mystery knife of a different sort will post soon.

Nothing in Goin's, Levine's or Voyles' books that match, "NJ&I", "National" or "New Jersey" that would answer the question.

Could be a series of last names, but with the "National" etch, one would think that "N" stood for national.

"National Junk & Implement" for example.

I made that up.

Charlie

RobesonsRme.com wrote:Nothing in Goin's, Levine's or Voyles' books that match, "NJ&I", "National" or "New Jersey" that would answer the question.

Could be a series of last names, but with the "National" etch, one would think that "N" stood for national.

"National Junk & Implement" for example.

I made that up.

Charlie

Thanks for checking Goins and the other books for me Charlie. A mystery. If it was "H&I" it could be "Hardware & Iron". there was a hardware company knife brand (I forget which one) that ended in H&I.

But "J&I"???

It's really great pattern, I tried to look for some info and not found an exact "hit". I found in "Blade's Guide to Knives & Their Values" National Lead (N.L Co) Paint manufacturer, knives were made in Germany, and I found also New Jersey Knife Co. c. 1919

Mike

MikeB wrote:It's really great pattern, I tried to look for some info and not found an exact "hit". I found in "Blade's Guide to Knives & Their Values" National Lead (N.L Co) Paint manufacturer, knives were made in Germany, and I found also New Jersey Knife Co. c. 1919

Mike

Thanks!!

Hello All,

Reviving this thread as I purchased the knife from Steve. First non CASE knife I have ever purchased, the whole "what the hell is it" mystery/challenge thing, in addition to being a beautiful knife.

My research has come up empty thus far. I can provide additional pics if someone feels that is helpful. One interesting thing, at least to me is the backsprings. A classic Whittler where mainblade rides on both springs and both secondary blades ride on their own spring. Difference here is that there is no center liner "wedge" like CASE used on their split back whittlers.

Both springs on this knife have tapered backsprings. Whereas the springs are thicker on the secondary blade side then taper thinner towards the mainblade. Maybe this is the norm but I just have seen the wedge used.

Any input will be appreciated. Regards, Jerry

I have a few true Robeson whittlers that do not have liner/dividers, just two tapered springs side-by-side.
Charlie

Its actually fairly common for so called "split backspring" knives to not have the tapered liner or wedge - just two parallel backpsrings. Many older knives were made that way. I think the current Case "Seahorse Whittler" is made that way.

Today, I Googled "N. J. & I. CO.", including the quotation marks.

One of the matches was an online Google Books version of The Official Price Guide to Collector Knives by Houston Price and Mark Zalesky, 15th edition.

If anyone has that particular book, N J & I Co should be mentioned somewhere.

Charlie Noyes

Thanks Steve and Charlie for the info on the tapered springs. Thought it might not be uncommon, I just never have seen it.

Charlie, thanks so much for continuing the research into this one. I tried all sorts of Google searches and came up empty. Did not think to try with quotation marks. I appreciate it much. Hopefully someone with the book you referenced will chime in.

Regards, Jerry

I searched P & Z and could not find anything.

Thanks TJ!

Was it the 15th edition?

Regards, Jerry

Yes it was. Many time in a Google search the hits will contain all the words searched, just not necessarily all together.