Fine Antique Multi-Tool Horseman’s Farrier’s Knife with a Smooth Bone Grip by HILL of Bristol c1880

Here on offer is a fine example of an antique multi-tool horseman’s farrier’s knife with smooth bone grip plates, by a rare provincial maker, HILL of Bristol, circa 1880.

This fine and well-made example has various tools, consisting of: two blades, saw, corkscrew, rectangular spike/punch, wood drill and a long hook/file for cleaning horse hooves. It also has a pair of thin metal tweezers concealed at the heel edge of one side of the bone scales. On the other side, it has the concealed slot, but the long metal needle is now sadly missing.

The ricasso (the flat section of the blade near the handle) on both knife blades and the saw is stamped with a maker name, being:
HILL
BRISTOL

I can’t find any reference to a maker named HILL in Bristol, so can only assume they were a provincial knife maker, or possibly cutlery retailer’s name in Bristol, either way it makes it a rare example.

The larger sheepsfoot shaped blade is in excellent condition, retaining a sharp cutting edge, with just a tiny nick to the edge near the tip.

The smaller pointed blade retains a good cutting edge and has two grooved nicks near the ricasso, that look to have been made on purpose? For what use I have no idea.

The long saw is also in excellent condition, retaining sharp pointed teeth.

The remaining tools are also in excellent condition and are all in working order, but along with the blades, now show some slight “greying/staining” to the finish.

The grip scales look to be either made from smooth bone or possibly ivory. They are held in place against the brass liners by four steel pins. One side is in perfect condition and the other side now has a small section missing near the heel and a hairline crack next to one of the steel pins. This scale also has an inserted rectangular metal plaque that is still blank, but would have had the owner’s initials or named engraved on it.

The knife is finished at the top with a fine nickel silver bolster, which has a slightly ribbed pattern.

All the tools open and close with a good spring (apart from the long hook) and no wobble.

This example will make a great addition to any antique knife collection and will only increase in value.

The larger blade measures 2.9” (7.4cm) with a 2.5” (6.3cm) cutting edge. The smaller bald measures 2.2” (5.3cm) with a 1.75” (4.4cm) cutting edge. When closed the knife measures 3.75” (9.5cm).

It weighs 115g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

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Code: 52491