All About Pocket Knives

Hi,

I would like a little help determining when this knife is from? Also, what style of knife it is.

It has the masonic emblem on the front and what seems to be mother of pearl. The loop has FMCO (which I believe might stand for Freemason Co.) and 14K. I can't tell if the back is gold or is just gold filed or brass, but I believe the loop, emblem, and hardware are the 14K parts. The blade is also engraved with FMCO at the base.

Thanks for your help!
Jasmine

It looks like the back (pile) side is missing it's pearl scale like the front (mark) side has. Is there space between the bail and the pile side liner? I would guess that's brass and not gold.

As to the F M Co tang stamp, I looked in Goins' PocketKnives Markings of Manufacturers and Dealers 2nd Edition but didn't find anything. You could be right about the Free Mason guess.

Hope this helps, to AAPK!

John

Google "F.M.Co knife"

jerryd6818 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 05, 2020 12:59 am Google "F.M.Co knife"

It shows a variety of vintage Gent's type pocket knives. Likely these are skeleton knives and sent to "F.M. Co." to have fancy handles put on and then sold as their knives.
Condition is everything with vintage items. Yours is missing pearl handle on back side and front handle has piece of the pearl missing at the master end.
Interesting little older knife but value to a knife collector is negligible.
kj

Thank you all! Yes, I am now realizing that the pearl piece is missing on the back and a piece on the front. I have no knowledge of knives but was handed down a lot of them, so you'll probably hear from me in the future. As one user said with vintage pieces it's all about the condition, so looks like this will just stay with me. Thanks again!

jasminev wrote: ↑Sun Dec 06, 2020 12:03 am Thank you all! Yes, I am now realizing that the pearl piece is missing on the back and a piece on the front. I have no knowledge of knives but was handed down a lot of them, so you'll probably hear from me in the future. As one user said with vintage pieces it's all about the condition, so looks like this will just stay with me. Thanks again!

You're quite welcome and we would love to see what else you have.

There were knives like this that were sometimes sold at jewelry stores and intended to be gifts - often given for a special occasion such as a wedding, graduation, retirement, or perhaps in this case, the achievement of a Masonic rank. The jewelers could also add value by engraving the handles or blades, selling them with a chain & fob, or creating a set of a pocket watch, chain & knife, with the watch on one end of the chain, and the knife as the fob. Sometimes the bolsters & bail might be silver or gold-filled. I think it might be very hard to date this type of knife.