"Our Union is Preserved" Pocketknife..Restoration Finished

[Ohio Jerry]

In June I found a piece of a pocketknife at a one room schoolhouse site showing a figure with the words "Our Lamented" on it.
There were several suggestions on the "what is it" forum that it may be Abe Lincoln and I have to give a lot of credit to Bigcypresshunter because he actually suggested that the other piece to this pocketknife may say "president".

Bigcypresshunter, you were right on!!! I revisited the area tonight and the first piece i dug was the bottom half of the side plate that said "president" and knew exactly what it was as soon as i saw it...I swung over the hole again,got another strong signal and got the other side plate intact that says "Our Union Is Preserved" !!
Thought you might like to see the last pieces of the puzzle come together... Thanks for havin a look!
Jerry

UPDATE: I think Abe is a little more presentable now. I simply used some hobby wood to take up the space that the blade or blades would have occupied. I was able to salvage the entire top pin and the head of the pin below Abe's left shoulder. The bottom pin is a cut off nail. Turns out this pocketknife was made of all brass except for the blade. Would the sideplates have been cast or stamped i wonder?
Lincoln was assassinated on April 14th,1865 just five days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House. I'm sure our country was still in a terrible state of mourning when this knife was being produced. I wonder if it was therapeutic for the craftsman who designed it? My research has turned up nothing about this knife. Anyone have any suggestions for how I could find out more details about it? Thanks for all your interest!! HH, Jerry

[treasurefiend]

Very cool, glad you found the rest!!!

[Admiral de Salee]

That is one outstanding relic.. How many of *these* are there around? Websearch turn up anything?

[BuckleBoy]

HECK YES!

I LOVE it when research, intuition, and online discussion are proven in the field.


That is an Awesome find, Jerry.




-Buckles

[jimbob450]

Does anybody know how many were made or by what
company? that is a really neat find. Jimbob

[BuckleBoy]

Does anybody know how many were made or by what
company? that is a really neat find. Jimbob

I have tried and can't find any info on those... could be a Valuable find.

[crazyjarhead]

Nice find Jerry

[texan connection]

That is like the coolest dug pocket knife iv seen Beats my pewter keen kutter to pieces, i hope to hear more about it.

[kimsdad]

Magnificent find, Jerry!!!

I can't wait to see what info other T-Netters throw in on this knife. Talk about history - a way-cool knife!!

[Bavaria Mike]

Nice to put a puzzle together, especially a historical puzzle! HH, Mike

[SoreKneesDayton]

Great find Jerry and did some research and nothing - good find there I think.


SKD

[shaun7]

wow! i remember that post!

i would be buzzing

[Ramitt]

Thanks for the folow up. Very interesting find. Congrats.

[Ramapirate]

That is too cool! Very awesome find indeed!!

HH,
Ramapirate

[kdismuke1]

GREAT FIND.

[ModernMiner]

Jerry,
That is so cool that you found all the pieces. Anything with Abe on it is #1 in my book. Very neat and unusual piece.
Hopefully we'll hear more about it.
Congrats to you,
MM

[DD-777]

I second that - BANNER!!! Jerry - that is certainly one of the coolest finds yet that I've seen here. Buckle is right - that could be a very valuable piece...

[Ohio Jerry]

Thanks for all your comments and banner suggestions!! I'm thrilled with this little piece of history and have decided to put some TLC in to a restoration of sorts. I don't plan to add a new knife blade but I think I can make it presentable as a whole piece. It may take me a few days. Here are the first steps...
Jerry

[COUNTRY GIRL]

Really unique find, to keep at it and find the rest of it?

I have 2 finds I can think of that I would love to find the other half, pieces, or parts. One I may be closer to figuring out what it is.

I can't wait to see it finished! Good luck!

[DD-777]

Creepy how Lincoln's face looks like a skull in the last pic now...





and yes, i still say BANNER...