Info wanted on Vulcan pen knife

[KayyT_97]

I was given a tool bag about 8 years go from my now 81 year old grandfather. He said it was his fathers tool bag from WW2 and he wasn’t too sure what it contained. I found this T. Ellin & Co Vulcan twin blade inside and wondered if anyone could help me work out how old it is. We can find similar knives but none that quite have all the exact features this one has without added or missing bits. I’m assuming it’s made of some kind of horn and the lining of where the knife sits seems to definitely be brass. If anyone could help out it would be massively helpful. My grandfather is curious to find out more about his fathers pocket knife.

[Mumbleypeg]

Welcome to AAPK. According to Goins’ Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings VULCAN was a trademark used by T. Ellin & Company circa 1846-1944. In 1944 the mark was acquired and used by J. Elliot. That is all the info Goins has.

That’s a nearly 100 year span but apparently there were no changes to the stamping during that time so nailing down a more narrow date is evidently not possible from the stamp alone. I notice the stamp appears to have Co with the o underlined, which is common on knives made in Germany. Are there any other marks visible anywhere? Knives made in and imported to the USA after the tariff act of 1890 were required to be stamped with the country of origin. If it was made in Germany the presence or absence of a COO stamp might be a clue as to the knife’s age.

Ken

[Ridgegrass]

That's a nice knife, classic Sheffield horn scales.
Here's a 3-5/8" VULCAN "Half-Hawk". Composite scales and rat-tailed bolsters, iron liners. Maybe war-time production? The stamp is a bit easier to read.
J.O'.

[Gunsil]

I agree with Ken, OP knife is German made.

[Reverand]

Welcome to AAPK!
With the blades halfway open (standing out from the handle at 90-degrees), study the front and back of the tangs.
If it says "Germany" anywhere on it, then it was made after 1890.
If not, then it was likely made before that date.

It has beautiful horn handles. There are little bugs that like to chew on horn, so it is wonderful to see some that old without holes in them! That knife is a wonderful heirloom.

[Ridgegrass]

Just for conversation, my knife also has the underlined "o" in Co. Am I missing some other evidence for the German conclusion? Wish we could see the rest of the stamp. J.O'.