Table knife with ivory handle

[Pimp Lenin]

Today, I went for a short hunt in the woods behind my property. I was in an area where there used to be several one and two room shacks. My grandfather told me that when he was a child, when it was time to harvest the strawberry crop, my great-grandfather hired some seasonal workers, and they stayed in the shacks. This would have been in the late 20's into the 30's. Until now, all that I have found are bits of iron and nails.

I found this table knife in the woods, and there are no markings on it. The handle appears to be made of ivory, and is broken off about an inch and a half from the start of the blade. I know that it is old, and probably dates anywhere from the teens to the late 1940's, which was the heyday of farming for my great-grandfather. Can anyone give a more narrow time frame in regards to age? Could it be older than the 19 teens?

My son went out into the woods with me today, but did not help me with the hunt. He played army man instead, hiding behind trees, shooting bad guys, and such.

 

[goldencoin]

Sorry, can't help on the age, but thats a neat find

HH
-GC

 

[Felinepeachy]

That's a cool knife. Is the handle bone? Your son is adorable PL.

 

[Pimp Lenin]

It is bone or ivory Peachy, but I'm leaning towards ivory...

 

[River Rat]

Hey PL,

Neat find! I can't help you with the knife either. I just love that snappy salute...your son is precious.

RR

 

[allen]

COOL FIND..HOW DEEP WAS IT WHEN YOU FOUND IT?

 

[warsawdaddy]

Why do you call it a table knife? No sharp edge? How long is it? Very good find.

 

[Felinepeachy]

Maybe for the butter on the table?

 

[Pimp Lenin]

Why do you call it a table knife? No sharp edge? How long is it? Very good find.

Well, I've always called these types of knives table knife or butter knife. The blade section is just under five inches long and is rather sharp on the bottom edge. It could do some damage. There is about 1 3/4 iches remaining of the handle.

To be honest, is is hard for me to say how deep it was. We have had a lot of rain recently, so that probably helped wash it up close to the surface. I got the signal right next to a young pine that is growing, and the dirt around it seemed rather loose. I am also thinking the roots from the pine helped to bring it up, too. I was digging, and when I turned one load of dirt over, I saw the blade. Once I wiped the dirt off the handle, I knew I had something old.