Unique Henckels 4 blade Congress.

[kootenay joe]

This pearl handle 4 blade Congress has been carried and used. What is unique is it's size, only 1 7/8" closed. What is surprising is that it has been used, repeatedly as the master blade has been sharpened likely a few times.
It is not a trinket. This knife was made to the same high standards as all Henckels folding knives were. All blade tangs are marked "J A Henckels" in an arch over the Twins logo. I think this dates it to late 1800's-early 1900's.
For size comparison i show it with a 3 1/2" Henckels whittler.
kj

[btrwtr]

Beautiful little knife KJ!

[kootenay joe]

Beautiful little knife KJ!

Thank you Wayne. What amazes me is that someone actually had a regular use for the 1 1/8" Master blade such that he had to re-sharpen it a few times (or maybe only once if he was really bad at it, which is unlikely during this era of straight razors).
I can't thing of anything in my life that needs a blade this small.
Then i think of the blade grinders thick finger tips holding the blade stock against a grinding belt to shape and grind the blade and swedges (both sides from nail nick to blade tip).
I did not show it but the blade spine/back spring meeting is seamless, for all four blades. Such precise workmanship must be more difficult when dealing with such small parts.
kj

[danno50]

Lovely knife, Roland. As you mentioned, incredible work to make something that small with such precision!

[Oledadsknives]

Could it possibly be a salesman sample that the person that carried it demonstrated its cutting abilities? Just thinking out loud.

Jim