celticleather Report post Posted August 26, 2009 I recently acquired a small knife as part of a job-lot of leatherworking tools, but I'm not convinced that it has anything to do with leather! It is 5½" long, and although it's shaped approximately like a Dixon head knife, it is sharpened on both the inside and the outside of the curve. The blade is stamped on one side with ROBT. SORBY, SHEFFIELD, followed by a Maltese cross, and on the other side 1??7. Does anyone have any idea what its original purpose may have been? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UKRay Report post Posted August 26, 2009 I haven't really got a clue, Terry - but these guys might: http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk According to their blurb: Robert Sorby is the world's premier manufacturer of specialist wood working tools with a heritage dating back over two hundred years. Looks like it could be for wood carving... maybe... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jana Report post Posted August 26, 2009 It looks close to being a Combination knife but it doesn't have the hook on it that a knife like that would have. Both Osborne and Weaver sell the Combination Knives if you want to look them up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
celticleather Report post Posted August 26, 2009 I haven't really got a clue, Terry - but these guys might: http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk According to their blurb: Robert Sorby is the world's premier manufacturer of specialist wood working tools with a heritage dating back over two hundred years. Looks like it could be for wood carving... maybe... Ray I contacted Robert Sorby a while ago, and it seems that there is no one there now who remembers the full range of products that they used to make before woodturning came to the fore. I found this quote in their company history: 'There was still a certain dependence on sourced products through until the 1960's. The 1958 catalogue, the first produced since the war, shows an increasing range of general hand tools including pliers, hammers vices, cramps. However, it was the edge and garden tools together with ice skates which were still branded with their original marks which remained the cornerstone of the business.' They suggest that this knife may have been a 'sourced' tool, particularly since it has a Maltese cross stamped on it, rather than the more usual kangaroo trade mark, and I wonder if it may have been a pruning knife (modern one below). Is it possible that a previous owner decided it would make a good head knife, and ground and honed the outside curve for that purpose? Terry Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
celticleather Report post Posted August 27, 2009 I just got an answer from Robert Sorby & Co, the manufacturers of my mystery knife. It's a banana knife! They say it must be at least 25 years old, and probably much older, since they have only made woodturning chisels for the past 25 years. The company has been taken over many times, and most of their company history has disappeared. It's good to have a mystery solved! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Luke Hatley Report post Posted August 27, 2009 GLAD YOU FOUND OUT WHAT THE KNIFE WAS MADE FOR............ I WAS GOING TO SAY IT WAS USED FOR GATHERING LAMB FRIES............ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aulus Report post Posted August 27, 2009 (edited) I know those knives from Basketweavers for example. My neightbour is a weaver an uses it to cut his willow-strings. A smaller one (Okkulier-Knive) is often used by gardeners for trimming trees. I agree that this is a multi-purpose knive / blade. I hope you can find out what the last owner has it used for. Was he working on the Docks or so? Banana knive is cool Edited August 27, 2009 by Aulus Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BearMan Report post Posted August 28, 2009 Hi, That's very similar to the one I use almost everyday! It's Very handy,,, You can use it kinda like a round knife,,, or like a regular knife. Here is a picture of the one I made for myself about a year ago. Ed the"BearMan" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
carr52 Report post Posted September 30, 2009 Please MR. Tally man tally me bananas, it looks like a linoleum knife. tom Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
celticleather Report post Posted October 1, 2009 That was my first thought, Tom. But this blade is sharpened on the outside of the curve - like a head knife - and on the inside of the curve - not like a head knife. The only linoleum knives I've ever seen are only sharpened on the inside of the curve. I bet Harry Belafonte would know if it's a banana knife! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtimer Report post Posted October 1, 2009 (edited) It is almost similar to a saddlers knife designed by John Hopper / Knut Edited October 1, 2009 by oldtimer Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UKRay Report post Posted October 3, 2009 You'd want to be very careful how you sat down with that in your pocket... Ray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
