Thread: Vintage Penknives

Over the years i have acquired a few vintage penknives..

I have restored a few for EDC purposes but then i decide they are too good for opening boxes and put them to one side..

Today i was in the loft and found a bunch i never knew i had..

There is nothing like that first look for a makers mark ..



Harrods This one is heavy with strange tools.






Rodgers / Jonathan Crookes / Wostenholm







A few restored.
Henckels / Ibberson / G Ibberson / Sheffield / Perry & Co.



Next to be restored
Rodgers & a Sovi Inox, Portuguese i think..

Very interesting thread. I'd like to know more about the restoration part. So far i've only ever found one vintage case knife in good shape during my searching. Always good to have another skill though!

The restoration is quite simple, unpin them and polish..
Not quite so easy though..
Yesterday i drilled out the pins on the Sovi Inox, they were steel and left a thin steel tube behind which was nearly as strong as the whole pins...

The scales are plastic, i considered swapping them for wood or horn and maybe make a case but the knife is not worth the effort and this one i can use everyday..

I have to say that the build quality of these knives surpases what i have seen with modern day penknives,, so far..

This one is an Ibberson and the quality is excellent.

This is an interesting knife..
Marsh Bros & Co. Pond Works.

Is the George Ibberson pen knife made of Firth Stainless steel as some of their straight razors were?

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Is the George Ibberson pen knife made of Firth Stainless steel as some of their straight razors were?

Bob

Hi Bob,
That one says Stainless Steel
It also says TWW The Ward Group .. I think they were a steel company so maybe they provided the steel for this..I have numerous TWW penknives

What i like about this one is that you cannot see the pins because they knurled or patterned the surface after pinning.

Bailey Bridge, erected in 2006 at the rear of Albion Works, Sheffield

Did a quik dive and came up with this for TWW The Ward Group https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Thomas_W._Ward . If it is the same company then they sound more like scrap metal merchants. I am wondering if they had these George Ibberson pen knives made to give to customers. Just as other companies had straight razors made with their name on it as a promotional item.

Bob

Ship dismantling, I do recall now..I read that some time ago..
Makes sense that they made them as you suggested.. Giveaways maybe..

Bit of a long shot but does anyone recognise this name..

It pains me when i cannot find info on a razor/knife maker but it's even worse when you cannot read it..

Maybe: **ALL AND *OO*