Rough Date of Pocket Knife?

[Don in SJ]

Over the years I have found quite a few pocket knives and usually they just go in the junk box and not much thought given to them. But today I found one at a site which I am including a photo of all the finds I found there this morning, besides the knife. Now I know things can be lost by a hunter anytime and dating a knife can be rather hard without any books on the subject. So, anybody want to venture to say how you can date pocket knives that a lot of us find from time to time?

The one I found today piqued my interest, especially after Neil posted the one he recently found, but mine had two different sides to it. It appears one side is bone material, (not sure, but it is NOT wood) and the other side is wood. I don't think they were made that way and evidently the person who owned it must have liked the knife alot to replace one of the sides when something happened. I also noticed the side plates are screws and not rivets, maybe that helps as a date indicator?

Don

 

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[truckinbutch]

Has the profile of a very early two blade Barlow as a guess.Someone else will have to chime in with more than layman knowlege.

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Don,

I have been surfing around looking at knives this evening, and most of what I see is referred to as "vintage" with no dates. I also noticed that I have not come across a single one with screws. I don't see any real history site for pocket knives, although from what I have read even the Romans used folding knives. You may want to check out Rose tools http://www.roseantiquetools.com/.

Good luck!
Neil

 

[Tested]

I own a few knives but by far am no expert but if I had to guess I would say the pictured knife is a Miller Bros. cigar pattern.Miller Bros. produced knives between 1863 -1926. As for identifying knives if you can read the tang stamp then invest in Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlry Markings it is an excellent soucrce of info.

 

[mrjosh]

I have a knife books some where, it seems that i remeber seeing one in there that had a combo of wood and bone handles. I will look for it on friday night and post anything that I may find.