Any must visit shops in London for high quality older pocket knives?

[TheIncredibleHoke]

The missus and I are heading to London for a long weekend to see Elton John. She’s devised a very packed schedule, but I’m hoping to carve out some time to looks for some old pocket knives.

Someone I work with here suggested Camden Market.

We are staying in Covent Garden area, but will be all over the place. Not seeing much online for the types on knives Porch members tend to like.

Thank you!

 

[Jack Black]

London used to have some great markets, but most are gone, and Camden has been gentrified to the point where it is nothing like it once was. I'm in the north, and while I've in London several times, I haven't visited for a few years. Maybe one of our London members has some inside info regarding retailers/antique shops, but prices at the latter tend to be sky high, and you may not come across anything I'm afraid Hope you enjoy your trip though

 

[TheIncredibleHoke]

London used to have some great markets, but most are gone, and Camden has been gentrified to the point where it is nothing like it once was. I'm in the north, and while I've in London several times, I haven't visited for a few years. Maybe one of our London members has some inside info regarding retailers/antique shops, but prices at the latter tend to be sky high, and you may not come across anything I'm afraid Hope you enjoy your trip though

Thank you, Jack. Seems similar to NYC over the last several years.

Places gentrified and charging more. Also less actual vintage/antique with more modern sellers mixed into the stalls.

Thought it might be worth a try here.

 

[Jack Black]

Thank you, Jack. Seems similar to NYC over the last several years.

Places gentrified and charging more. Also less actual vintage/antique with more modern sellers mixed into the stalls.

Thought it might be worth a try here.

A mate of mine had a stall at Camden for years, and I was shocked when it cropped up on a YT video I was watching a couple of days ago, it's more of a mall than a market!

London seems to be VERY anti-knife too

 

[TheIncredibleHoke]

A mate of mine had a stall at Camden for years, and I was shocked when it cropped up on a YT video I was watching a couple of days ago, it's more of a mall than a market!

London seems to be VERY anti-knife too

It sounds like you are perfectly describing NYC! Non many places you can eve buy them and most people would think you are a whack job for carrying a knife.

 

[Chui]

Jack is correct, I'm afraid. There's plenty of kitchen knife shops - cheap too - to visit, the closest you'll likely get to a folder is Victorinox in Oxford Street.

Yup, carry a pocket knife in London, most people will think of you as some kind o' nutter..............I've been in the asylum for years

 

[TheIncredibleHoke]

Jack is correct, I'm afraid. There's plenty of kitchen knife shops - cheap too - to visit, the closest you'll likely get to a folder is Victorinox in Oxford Street.

Yup, carry a pocket knife in London, most people will think of you as some kind o' nutter..............I've been in the asylum for years

That’s about what I expected, TBH. Thank you for your input. I think I will just enjoy myself and not worrying about finding a good old Sheffield knife on my trip!

 

[MUFC4Benfica1]

In London, I wouldn’t expect to find much beyond antique MoP silver fruit knives, Richards novelties or the occasional British Army clasp knife. Maybe an overpriced broken SAK or Chinese copy here and there.

I reckon Camden Market is more about fashion, crafts, jewellery, music.

Portobello is probably the obvious destination.

Portobello Road Market

This is the official site for the world-famous Portobello and Golborne Road Market located in London's Notting Hill. Click to learn more about our antique trading, food market, vintage clothing sales, craft stalls and much more.

visitportobello.com

Other possibilities are:

London’s best flea markets

Vintage clothes, antique furniture, bric-à-brac…

www.timeout.com

https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/shopping/market/antiques-market

Instead of wandering around in the rain looking for rusty old knives, how about sitting in the warmth and sinking a few pints in somewhere like the Lamb and Flag or Princess Louise? Had a nice lunch in The Ship Tavern recently.

 

[Primble]

Yup, carry a pocket knife in London, most people will think of you as some kind o' nutter..............I've been in the asylum for years

It sounds like you are perfectly describing NYC! Non many places you can eve buy them and most people would think you are a whack job for carrying a knife.

Educated fools is what my late mother used to call the type. I'd rather be the whack job.

 

[TheIncredibleHoke]

In London, I wouldn’t expect to find much beyond antique MoP silver fruit knives, Richards novelties or the occasional British Army clasp knife. Maybe an overpriced broken SAK or Chinese copy here and there.

I reckon Camden Market is more about fashion, crafts, jewellery, music.

Portobello is probably the obvious destination.

Portobello Road Market

This is the official site for the world-famous Portobello and Golborne Road Market located in London's Notting Hill. Click to learn more about our antique trading, food market, vintage clothing sales, craft stalls and much more.

visitportobello.com

Other possibilities are:

London’s best flea markets

Vintage clothes, antique furniture, bric-à-brac…

www.timeout.com

https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/shopping/market/antiques-market

Instead of wandering around in the rain looking for rusty old knives, how about sitting in the warmth and sinking a few pints in somewhere like the Lamb and Flag or Princess Louise? Had a nice lunch in The Ship Tavern recently.

Thank you for the tips on the markets. I am really hoping for some nice weather though, the cherry blossoms look really nice this year from what I can see on Instagram.

 

[TheIncredibleHoke]

Educated fools is what my late mother used to call the type. I'd rather be the whack job.

I think I am the whack job - and I’m okay with it!

 

[MUFC4Benfica1]

It is pretty nice today and the blossom is coming out, so hope you see nice weather. St.James, Green and Hyde Parks all pretty much join up, so there’s some nice walking to be done. Also there’s Regents Park and further out Richmond, the river is great at Richmond, Greenwich, Bushy, Kew so plenty of green spaces.

 

[TheIncredibleHoke]

It is pretty nice today and the blossom is coming out, so hope you see nice weather. St.James, Green and Hyde Parks all pretty much join up, so there’s some nice walking to be done. Also there’s Regents Park and further out Richmond, the river is great at Richmond, Greenwich, Bushy, Kew so plenty of green spaces.

Looks like rain tomorrow, but the rest of the weekend doesn’t look too bad!

 

[TheIncredibleHoke]

Well, had a really lovely time in London. Was my first time there and I was impressed with how easy it was to get around. Much better underground than our anemic NYC subway.

And I did manage to buy a knife while I was there!



Picked up an Otter Navy knife - Navy vet here.

The action is a bit mushy and stiff, but I’ve been working mineral oil through it.

And the Elton John concert was incredible. That dude is an international treasure.

 

[Jack Black]

Well, had a really lovely time in London. Was my first time there and I was impressed with how easy it was to get around. Much better underground than our anemic NYC subway.

And I did manage to buy a knife while I was there!

View attachment 2142467

Picked up an Otter Navy knife - Navy vet here.

The action is a bit mushy and stiff, but I’ve been working mineral oil through it.

And the Elton John concert was incredible. That dude is an international treasure.

I'm glad you were able to find something, congratulations on your Ankermesser Glad you had a great stay

 

[TheIncredibleHoke]

I'm glad you were able to find something, congratulations on your Ankermesser Glad you had a great stay

Thank you! We can’t wait to go back. Also saw the musical Caberet at the Kit Kat Club!

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

A mate of mine had a stall at Camden for years, and I was shocked when it cropped up on a YT video I was watching a couple of days ago, it's more of a mall than a market!

London seems to be VERY anti-knife too

London is very knife friendly... just wear a nice watch and you'll get all kinds of good samaritans itching to show you theirs.