All About Pocket Knives

Haven't seen any horseman's knives. (Probably a thread I missed) Only one I have. I*XL Wostenholm, 3-1/2" Stag, with punch, screwdriver on head, hoof pick, awl/drill, corkscrew, saw, spear, pen, 2 recesses in handles, probably for toothpick and tweezer (both missing). All iron, integral bolsters. All blades half-stopped. Pretty tight old piece, probably 1800's ?
Bought it in an antique shop in Easton, MD some years ago. Tag said $10.00. I thought then, and still do, that it was miss-priced but I didn't argue. I laid down a sawbuck and hoofed it on out o' there ! J.O'.

I did a search and didn't see anything specific for a Horseman's/hoof pick knife thread, so I think you just started one, congratulations!

Here's some O. Barnett Horseman's, hope Herb doesn't mind me posting a picture of one of his knives.

Post 'em if ya got 'em!

That's great! Hope we see some good ones. Are the pliers for shoe nail pulling? I don't know much about horses. My wife grew up with horses. I grew up with only one end of them. J.O'.

I don't have any old ones but here's a more modern take on a Horseman's Knife. It's A.G. Russell's version.

J.O. I am prepared to offer you a triple return on your investment. I don't often make such a generous offer but I thought I'd make an exception in your case.

OK, so much for wishful thinking........that's got to be the knife find of the decade right there. Congrats !

Some old;some newer
#1 Geo.Wostenholm I*XL knife in near mint condition.
#4 Parker Custom Series horse and dog grooming knife.Hoof pick is also sharpened for trimming hooves.
#5 Unusual one stamped M.Klaas England.
#6 E.M.Dickinson knife.
#7 Unmarked knife with grooming blade and hoof pick with aluminum handles.
#2 Stamped,"A.Burch Celebrated Cutlery has broken secondary blade and splinter remover missing.
#3 Unmarked 5 blade knife has all the earmarks of a Parker knife.

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 12:06 am Haven't seen any horseman's knives. (Probably a thread I missed) Only one I have. I*XL Wostenholm, 3-1/2" Stag, with punch, screwdriver on head, hoof pick, awl/drill, corkscrew, saw, spear, pen, 2 recesses in handles, probably for toothpick and tweezer (both missing). All iron, integral bolsters. All blades half-stopped. Pretty tight old piece, probably 1800's ?
Bought it in an antique shop in Easton, MD some years ago. Tag said $10.00. I thought then, and still do, that it was miss-priced but I didn't argue. I laid down a sawbuck and hoofed it on out o' there ! J.O'.

Now that's a pinned shield if I ever saw one!!!

Very cool old knife...GREAT find!

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 3:36 am That's great! Hope we see some good ones. Are the pliers for shoe nail pulling? I don't know much about horses. My wife grew up with horses. I grew up with only one end of them. J.O'.

Not sure you could get enough leverage to pull hoof nails with these, might work in a pinch. Probably used more for bridle and buckle repairs.

Knife7knut: WOW !! What a gang ! That Wostenhoim is nearly identical, except for the fleam.
Philco: You're generosity is touching.
Redryder: See, I told you what I knew about horses.
I think this is gonna be a good show. J.O'.

Still don't know what this one is ? Only 2-1/2" long. Maybe it's for a seahorse?

Here are a couple of mine.

George Wostenholm, Sheffield

Fulton, Sheffield

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 2:41 pm

Still don't know what this one is ? Only 2-1/2" long. Maybe it's for a seahorse?

I believe it is a typesetter's knife.

NUT: How would it be used? It's impressed, "USE VICTOR'S". I searched for the name but didn't really find anything. There was a machine company and I asked them by email if they were familiar with the item. No reply. I think you replied the typesetter tool once before. Thanks, J.O'.

FRJ: The Fulton is a dead ring for my I*XL. Cool! J.O'.

Thank you, Ridgegrass.

Any guess as to who made this one? Hardinge, Inc., a Pennsylvania machine tool company that goes back to the late 19th Century, may have had the ability.

But, most Horseman's knives used in the U. S. of A. were reportedly made in Sheffield.

Stump: Is that a hoof pick to the left? J.O'.

Yes, a hoof-pick; and it appears tack/harness rivets, and leather punch.

Very nice, kinda different> J.O'.

I have this J.Shelton Sheffield horseman's with timber scales. (It's as rough as hessian under ware)
I can't seem to find anything at all with regards to the maker or seeing another around?
Any ideas the knife has spent it's life in Australia.

purdo wrote: ↑Sun Apr 10, 2022 6:33 am I have this J.Shelton Sheffield horseman's with timber scales. (It's as rough as hessian under ware)
I can't seem to find anything at all with regards to the maker or seeing another around?
Any ideas the knife has spent it's life in Australia.

Very cool knife Purdo. Knives were working tools back in the day. It is possible that this one could have been re-handled some time in it's life. If only they could talk. I can't help with any back history, but I would just keep it oiled, and enjoy it. A good piece of old history in that one.

purdo wrote: ↑Sun Apr 10, 2022 6:33 am I have this J.Shelton Sheffield horseman's with timber scales. (It's as rough as hessian under ware)
I can't seem to find anything at all with regards to the maker or seeing another around?
Any ideas the knife has spent it's life in Australia.

to AAPK Purdo!

Very recently, this horseman or farrier, pattern or style of pocket knife, arrived in a group or lot of pocket knives that I purchased. It now becomes my first example to be posted under this topic or thread. This particular pocket knife was NOT the reason for my purchase of the group or lot. However, as it turned out, it is most definitely a keeper. It will certainly be a welcomed addition to my general pocket knife accumulation. This is my first horseman or farrier pocket knife. It is an UNKNOWN, one blade, three tools (a hoof pick, a corkscrew and tweezers), 3 1/2" closed, one tang stamp (unreadable), horseman or farrier, pattern or style of pocket knife. So then, what is OK with this pocket knife? The handle sides look good and are in good shape. The blade, VERY SHARP, has a good half stop, with a good opening and closing snap. The hoof pick opens and closes as it should. The corkscrew functions properly. The tweezers are in good condition and appear to be original to the knife. So now, what is NOT OK with this pocket knife? The blade sits high and has diminished in size and shape over the years. Next to the blade, is the remaining stump of what used to be another blade or another tool. It also appears that each handle side can hold two tools, for a total of four handle tools (think Swiss Army Knife). However, only one of the four possible handle tools remains, the tweezers. But, overall, this horseman or farrier pocket knife is still in FAIR condition. It did need a little cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

***** NOTE ***** NOTE ***** NOTE ***** NOTE ***** NOTE *****
If anyone can determine what the tang stamp says, PLEASE
let me know. I will also be attempting to figure it out.
J.O'. (Ridgegrass) thinks the bottom or last line says "& STACEY"

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2024 3:45 pm Very recently, this horseman or farrier, pattern or style of pocket knife, arrived in a group or lot of pocket knives that I purchased. It now becomes my first example to be posted under this topic or thread. This particular pocket knife was NOT the reason for my purchase of the group or lot. However, as it turned out, it is most definitely a keeper. It will certainly be a welcomed addition to my general pocket knife accumulation. This is my first horseman or farrier pocket knife. It is an UNKNOWN, one blade, three tools (a hoof pick, a corkscrew and tweezers), 3 1/2" closed, one tang stamp (unreadable), horseman or farrier, pattern or style of pocket knife. So then, what is OK with this pocket knife? The handle sides look good and are in good shape. The blade, VERY SHARP, has a good half stop, with a good opening and closing snap. The hoof pick opens and closes as it should. The corkscrew functions properly. The tweezers are in good condition and appear to be original to the knife. So now, what is NOT OK with this pocket knife? The blade sits high and has diminished in size and shape over the years. Next to the blade, is the remaining stump of what used to be another blade or another tool. It also appears that each handle side can hold two tools, for a total of four handle tools (think Swiss Army Knife). However, only one of the four possible handle tools remains, the tweezers. But, overall, this horseman or farrier pocket knife is still in FAIR condition. It did need a little cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

***** NOTE ***** NOTE ***** NOTE ***** NOTE ***** NOTE *****
If anyone can determine what the tang stamp says, PLEASE
let me know. I will also be attempting to figure it out.
J.O'. (Ridgegrass) thinks the second line says "& STACEY"

Cool find Skip!!

woodwalker wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2024 5:04 pm Cool.....

Thank you, Kevin.

Here's a horseman's, farrier or equestrian knife I picked up late last year from a New Jersey estate collection. I thought I'd document it here before sending it to that big online auction house. I don't collect this kind of knife, but find them interesting. It is stamped Venture Slater Brothers, Sheffield on both blades. They have seen their fair share of wear, but do have some snap left. The handle is horn. The knife seems to me rather small for its intended use, measuring 3 inches closed.

FRJ wrote: ↑Sat Jan 23, 2021 5:33 pm Here are a couple of mine.

George Wostenholm, Sheffield

Fulton, Sheffield

Kind of late. But my, my, my that IXL is a dandy!