Brian Williams
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What is considered a true English pocket knife.
English knife
- Thread starter Brian Williams
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EnglishmanInArizona
Member
These days, a Swiss Army Knife!
However, at the link below you can get very traditional English pocket knives from Trevor Ablett's small workshop in Sheffield, which is the city where most English blades have been made for at least the last few centuries. He's one of the only small makers still going - there are links to newspaper and TV features about him.
http://www.sheffield-cutlery.com/pocketknife.html
They're very much the style of every pocket knife I saw growing up that wasn't Swiss or a Chinese knock-off.
All his life my father has carried one just like the pruning blades that Ablett makes, but it's seen most use stripping cable.
If you're looking into buying something old, I'd have a hard time pointing you to anything except to say that it ought to have "Sheffield" etched or stamped on the blade, and probably be of sheepsfoot or pruner shape. The only spearpoints I've seen have been on very small knives with bone or mother of pearl scales that tend to look fancy but be rather delicate, with narrow, extremely thin blades and thin pivots. My father always viewed them as being for women, and I expect that was their target market.
Unlike the US, English industries tended not to be dominated by a handful of large companies. They did, however, tend to be dominated by particular locations. For ceramics - North Staffordshire. For beer - Burton-upon-Trent. For knives - Sheffield. I've seen a lot of English pocket knives that are ONLY marked with "Sheffield" - no maker's mark at all.
Good luck!
However, at the link below you can get very traditional English pocket knives from Trevor Ablett's small workshop in Sheffield, which is the city where most English blades have been made for at least the last few centuries. He's one of the only small makers still going - there are links to newspaper and TV features about him.
http://www.sheffield-cutlery.com/pocketknife.html
They're very much the style of every pocket knife I saw growing up that wasn't Swiss or a Chinese knock-off.
All his life my father has carried one just like the pruning blades that Ablett makes, but it's seen most use stripping cable.
If you're looking into buying something old, I'd have a hard time pointing you to anything except to say that it ought to have "Sheffield" etched or stamped on the blade, and probably be of sheepsfoot or pruner shape. The only spearpoints I've seen have been on very small knives with bone or mother of pearl scales that tend to look fancy but be rather delicate, with narrow, extremely thin blades and thin pivots. My father always viewed them as being for women, and I expect that was their target market.
Unlike the US, English industries tended not to be dominated by a handful of large companies. They did, however, tend to be dominated by particular locations. For ceramics - North Staffordshire. For beer - Burton-upon-Trent. For knives - Sheffield. I've seen a lot of English pocket knives that are ONLY marked with "Sheffield" - no maker's mark at all.
Good luck!
Brian,
There's a great thread on this at BritishBlades where these pics came from, but the short answer is that most the old pattern slip joints and tool knives you're familiar with are typical of English knife patterns.
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Owen Sparks
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Is carrying a pocket folder even legal in England anymore?
EnglishmanInArizona
Member
They are still legal, so long as they're non-locking and under 3" long, and can't be flicked open.
That said, the British definition of an offensive weapon is based upon intent, so if there is a suspicion that you have any intention of sticking it into someone, even in self defense, it becomes an offensive weapon.
A friend of mine had a Swiss Army Knife confiscated that he had forgotten was in his pocket, and he was just walking home in a quiet village. He'd had a few drinks, though, and that was all the excuse they needed - even though there is nothing illegal about having a pocket knife and being drunk.
That said, carrying pocket knives is generally socially acceptable (the Brits haven't gone that crazy yet), including technically illegal ones with locking blades such as most multitools.
I would say to visitors not to take the chance. The major cities tend to be particularly ridiculous about these things, especially London.
That said, the British definition of an offensive weapon is based upon intent, so if there is a suspicion that you have any intention of sticking it into someone, even in self defense, it becomes an offensive weapon.
A friend of mine had a Swiss Army Knife confiscated that he had forgotten was in his pocket, and he was just walking home in a quiet village. He'd had a few drinks, though, and that was all the excuse they needed - even though there is nothing illegal about having a pocket knife and being drunk.
That said, carrying pocket knives is generally socially acceptable (the Brits haven't gone that crazy yet), including technically illegal ones with locking blades such as most multitools.
I would say to visitors not to take the chance. The major cities tend to be particularly ridiculous about these things, especially London.
Owen,
Look through the posts of members living in the UK, and the one in AZ.
You'll find that the easiest way to comply is to carry a slip joint instead of a locking blade folder.
Look through the posts of members living in the UK, and the one in AZ.
You'll find that the easiest way to comply is to carry a slip joint instead of a locking blade folder.
Deltaboy1984
Member
The Only English Pocket knifes I have ever seen are UK all Metal ones some WW1 and 2 vets brought back home after the war.
Vonderek
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- 1,537
Here are a couple from Garrett Wade:
http://www.garrettwade.com/british-army-navy-knives/p/58B01.01/
http://www.garrettwade.com/british-army-navy-knives/p/58B01.01/
Piraticalbob
Member
One of the great handmade slipjoint bargains you can purchase are the knives made by Trevor Ablett, a Little Mester craftsman from Sheffield, England.
Trevor Ablett Knives.
Here's one of mine:
Trevor Ablett Knives.
Here's one of mine:
JN01
Member
George Wostenholm (I*XL mark) used to make many good ones,among other Sheffield cutlers. Randall in Orlando sold some of these in traditional Scout patterns. The only real design difference was that the I*XL has a clip main blade, in lieu of the usual spear shape.
They made many other traditional patterns, too. But you have to catch them at knife shows and hope for one in nice condition. The firm is gone. Even Wilkinson's no longer makes swords!
The UK knife business went bad as the nation in general soured. This saddened me greatly, for I am of British descent, and I mourn what once was.
The very best Bowie knives and the like were often made by firms in London, where prices and very high finish were often above even those of Sheffield makers.
But as the Empire faded and socialists took over govt.... You can imagine how a nanny system views knives!
Oh: many I*XL pocketknives have the mark, "Oil the Joints" on the tang of the main blade. Good advice for most brands!
They made many other traditional patterns, too. But you have to catch them at knife shows and hope for one in nice condition. The firm is gone. Even Wilkinson's no longer makes swords!
The UK knife business went bad as the nation in general soured. This saddened me greatly, for I am of British descent, and I mourn what once was.
The very best Bowie knives and the like were often made by firms in London, where prices and very high finish were often above even those of Sheffield makers.
But as the Empire faded and socialists took over govt.... You can imagine how a nanny system views knives!
Oh: many I*XL pocketknives have the mark, "Oil the Joints" on the tang of the main blade. Good advice for most brands!
Most folks at the rifle range will have a SAK or a multitool of some sort. I carry a SAK all the time.
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