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John Primble Whiskey Knife& Small Knives

You can find small knives of some age that are quite interesting. This knife is marked "JOHN PRIMBLE INDIA STEEL WORKS" on both blades tangs. One blade is etched "INDIA /PRIMBLE/ STEEL WORKS" inside an emblem. It also is marked as ENGLISH STEEL HAND FORGED.

The body on one side has "ECHO SPRINGS WHISKEY" the other side has "S. GRABFELDER &CO.

I wonder whether the etching is an acid etching as Levine #4 lists the John Primble India Steel Works marking used from c1890-c1940?

Several smaller knives I have turned out to be quite old...from the 1800s. This one is 3 inches long closed and has a lot of work including hand forging and marking. Small antiques usually sell for small prices.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on June 29, 2016 at 13:42

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Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on June 29, 2016 at 13:43

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by John McCain on June 29, 2016 at 17:18

Paul- I can date your wonderful old knife a little closer for you- S. Grabfeller & Co.were wholesalers and distillers who were in business from 1880-1919. Their distillery was part of the famed "Whiskey Row" section of Louisville, Kentucky. I believe their old site is now where the Jim Beam distillery sits now. Echo Spring was one of their most heavily marketed brands.Echo Spring was first registered as a brand in 1906. Therefore, your knife dates to circa 1906-1919. BTW ,Echo Spring Kentucky Bourbon is still being made today by a different company, and is regarded as a very fine yet fairly inexpensive brand.There is a lot of collectors' interest in memorabilia from these old pre-prohibition brands of whiskey.They collect the old bottles,signs, advertising, etc.,so you may find these collectors might be willing to pay more for your knife. I, myself have an old corkscrew in a wooden sleeve reading S. Grabfelder & Co. / Distillers / Louisville KY. / Echo Spring / Rose Valley (which was another of their brands).It had belonged to my grandfather from way back then.

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KnifeMakerPermalink Reply by Paul S on July 1, 2016 at 15:01

Prohibition was 1920 to 1933 and that seems to be why Grabfeller disappeared in 1920. This knife is a keeper for my collection. The knife is in great condition considering that it is steel...possibility is 100 years old-a definition some use for antiques.

John Primble knives were very collectible at one time. You do not see too many at yard sales or auctions today.