I can tell you as much as you want to know about the sheath: it was fabricated by Dennis at Dragon Leatherworks, it has a standard cow-leather backing with an ostrich-skin overlay on top, it holds the knife quite well and is designed for off-hand reverse-grip carry, and it is apparently going to be pretty much the only one of its kind for the foreseeable future (apparently knife-sheath-making takes more time/effort than either of us were counting on).
On the other hand, I cannot tell you much more about the knife than what it says on it. My mother tells me her grandmother had it back when their family was settling in the southwest ’round about 1900 or so, the handle appears to be bone so far as I can tell, based on outward appearances it is a round-tang design, the blade is a swaged clip point, and the stamping indicates it might have been a product of Taylor’s Eye Witness out of Sheffield, England, but I know scant little else about it. So, anyone familiar with old-bordering-on-antique knives?
Any idea on when it might have been struck, and what model it might be?
I would guess antler (or, as it is made in England, Stag) rather than bone, but that’s a pretty minor detail. Also, is the pommel cap made of aluminum? If so, that would make it a rather high end knife for the time, I’d wager. Apocryphal stories about some skyscraper having a solid aluminum cap, on account of it’s ridiculous expense, etc etc, would lead me that direction. How well does it hold an edge? I’ve noted that older high-carbon steels are actually much more impressive than many modern stainless steels. It certainly looks hand-filling, although I like my hunting knives to balance a bit forward of the heel. I don’t have much info, but certainly a good lookin knife, and a family heirloom to boot!
Wolfman
The English wife (who was slagging Sheffield) said that she thinks that eye looking thing might be some kind of date stamp.
There are museums in Sheffield, too that may help.
Wolfman, not apocryphal; its the Washington Monument
http://taylors-eye-witness.co.uk/about.htm
@ Wolfman: I could buy antler, though darned if I know in either direction. Same for the aluminium – I can tell you definitively that it is not the same material that the blade is made out of, but not a lot else. My parents report that it holds a wicked edge, and I just sharpened it up a bit, so time will tell.
I like it regardless, just wishing it had a bit more info stamped on it…
@ Kurt P: I cannot see any particular numbers of designations on the eye, but it may have been worn down over the years. Next time I am over in Sheffield, though…
@ JohnW: Now that is a bit wierd.
@ BobG: Oh, I know where they are now, and I even dropped them an email, but given how many times the name has been sold and changed hands, I am not sure if anyone there now will be able to help me.
Nice knife, very average sheath.
It does the job it needs to – which is all I ask of anything – and it complements the handle nicely. I am happy with it.