Vintage GILBERT Harrisburg bone handle barlow knife 1840 – 19??
on December 16th, 2011 at 7:25 amThis barlow style knife is something to behold even with the broken blade.
According to Blades Guide to Knives and Their Values this knife is very possibly part of Gilbert, Henry & Son Hardware in Harrisburg, PA. which accoding to the guide was started in 1840 and ended in 19??
Great snap in both blades, even though one is broke.
Bone handles have some scratches, front has a crack near the center pin.
One blade is broke as indicated in pics.
Both blades have GILBERT stamped above HARRISBURG.
The back of the main blade (broken) has the number 205 stamped.
Here's some other links with info regarding Gilbert Hardware:
http://www.antique-padlocks.com/hardware_co_list.htm
This shows them in business in 1900:
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/mg/ys/m175ys4.htm
Hardware Dealers magazine, February 1910, pg 342:
http://books.google.com/books?id=SMRNAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA342&lpg=PA342&dq=gilbert+henry+%26+son+hardware+harrisburg+penna&source=bl&ots=AsKPcAE5GU&sig=32F6e_BB_0_2_Jh6NWCnhFeQ0ZI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=TqTsTuKUJIHEtwfX2bCaCg&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=gilbert%20henry%20%26%20son%20hardware%20harrisburg%20penna&f=false
Ad in 1852
http://www.dauphincountyhistory.org/research/library/directories/ads?ad=1852_44
UPDATE!
I received an email reply yesterday from Dauphin County History –
Thank you for your inquiry.
Henry Gilbert & Son Hardware is first listed in the 1843