What the heck is a "watch fob knife"?

B

Bob W

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Dec 31, 2000
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Last year SMKW was offering "warehouse find" knives made in the 1950s by Giesen and Forsthoff of Germany. The two knives available were a whittler and a "watch fob knife." I'm a sucker for the warehouse finds because I like accumulating knives of different brands, so naturally I bought one of each.

The "watch fob knife" is similar to any other slip joint, but with a long slender spike on the backside. Anyone know what the spike was used for? Something to do with wrist-watches I bet...

Thanks,
Bob
 
Watch fob knives are knives that go on the other end of a pocket watch chain. THere used to be all sorts of watch fobs: compasses, magnifying glasses, figurines, etc... It is very unlikely that the spike has anything to do with a wrist watch. I'm not sure what the spike might be. Could you post a picture?

Leo
 
Yeah, I'll get you a look at it. SMKW no longer has the knife advertised online - they probably sold out quickly. I can scan the catalog advertisement, but this forum doesn't have photo galleries for member uploads. :(

I'll figure something out.
-Bob

Just to clarify, the spike is thin, more like a needle than a marlinspike.
 
Watch fobs have nothing to do with wrist watches. They were things that you used to pull your 2-inch diameter railroad pocket watch out of your vest pocket. The spike might have been used to open or work on some part of a pocket watch case.
 
The spike was most likely used for either cigars or pipes. Cheap cigars often can benefit from a spike run in the end to help the draw. Some people don't cut the end of a cigar, they run a spike (nail) through. A spike would also be a good "field" pipe cleaner for a smoker.

Just because SMKW says it's a watch fob knife doesn't make it so. It could be any ole knife. They'll make up a good story to sell em.
 
Is the spike at all similar to the marlin spike offered on Case knives? The marlin spike is used for knot tying IIRC.

"Marlinspike: a pointed iron hand tool that is used to separate strands of a rope or cable (as in splicing)" <from Google Definitions>

Case Marlinspike
 
Most likey, it's either a finger nail cleaner(manicure blade) or a ciger tool as Brownshoe mentioned. Those are common on those ype of knives.

We need a picture to really judge.
 
So as I understand, a "watch fob knife" is any knife that could be carried on a pocketwatch chain. This knife has a bail, so it's probably an accurate description. But that doesn't explain the spike...

As I said, I doubt it's a marlinspike - it would break off or bend if used on a boat's line.

Attached is a scan of the catalog ad from SMKW.

I also bought one of the whittlers. I know what a whittler's for, thanks. :)

Regardless, they seem like decent knives, especially for the money. The knives are in excellent condition too. Doing a Google search, I was suprised to find Giesen and Forsthoff still in business. They still make pocket knives too, but they seem like souvenier/trinket knives.

WatchFobKnife.jpg


Best Wishes,
Bob
 
Thought this might be helpful. It's a closeup of the 'spike'.

SpikeCloseup.jpg


If anyone's interested, both of the knives came with a "certificate" from Jim Parker:

Giesen and Forsthoff Solingen Germany
This firm began in 1920. John Gain's book "Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings" show them as using the TIMOT trademark and the G&F trademark. Their main business is scissors and shears. They only made pocket cutlery for the domestic german market and these knives have not been produced since the 1950's. The blades are hammer forged and the quality is unsurpassed.
(Parker's signature)
Click to expand...

The reverse of the certificate is Jim Parker's guarantee of profit, and his promise to buy back any time.
 
Thanks Bob! I was getting the second photo scanned and uploaded and hadn't realized you had posted again.

Best Wishes,
Bob
 
The blade/spike you may be referring to is known as a lobster spike tool. It was a prevalent tool common in many vintage FOB style knives. It is used to "pick" the meat out from lobster or crab shells. Similar to the spike used to pick walnuts their shells. You can easily find photos of them in EBAY adds by searching using "Lobster FOB knives." Cheers!

Bob W said:
Last year SMKW was offering "warehouse find" knives made in the 1950s by Giesen and Forsthoff of Germany. The two knives available were a whittler and a "watch fob knife." I'm a sucker for the warehouse finds because I like accumulating knives of different brands, so naturally I bought one of each.

The "watch fob knife" is similar to any other slip joint, but with a long slender spike on the backside. Anyone know what the spike was used for? Something to do with wrist-watches I bet...

Thanks,
Bob
Click to expand...
 
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