W.H. Morley & Sons

[J-sews]

According to renowned knife expert Bernard Levine, this old plier knife was made sometime around the 1920's. The tang of the main blade is stamped W.H. MORLEY & SONS GERMANY.



In Levine's Guide to Knives And Their Values, it states that this ancient multitool was imported into the U.S. by Adolph Kastor & Bros of New York, owners of the now-defunct Camillus Cutlery Company.



That's about everything I've been able to learn about the history of this old tool. It has stag handles as you can see from the pictures. The pliers, knives, and bolsters are all regular carbon steel. (stainless steel hadn't been invented yet as far as I know) The liners and pins are brass.



Plier jaws are a bit smaller than would seem useful, although better than nothing obviously. There is even a small wire cutter notch in near the pivot.

The end of the plier handle is beveled down for use as a flathead screwdriver. (again, phillips screws weren't around back in the 1920's) The bail keeps the pliers closed when not in use.

There is a large master blade about 2-1/2" long (60mm) and a short pen blade. The pen blade has a "curl" to it instead of being flat, making it useful perhaps as an awl blade.

Anybody else ever seen one of these Morleys?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I've never seen one before, but my God that thing's lovely , it just reeks of German engineering know how

[prime77]

Man those look really nice Bob.

[Leatherman123]

Very nice!

[I'm Still Bison]

 A work of beauty; I guess that to make something like that today,the cost of materials and level of workmanship would put it out of reach of most people.

[Spoonrobot]

Nice tool there Bob. I got to handle similar patterns at the Blade show and really like the way it felt in hand. I can't tell from the pictures, do you have two of the same model or is it just photo editing?

[J-sews]

Nice tool there Bob. I got to handle similar patterns at the Blade show and really like the way it felt in hand. I can't tell from the pictures, do you have two of the same model or is it just photo editing?

Nope, I really do have two of them. Paid waaayyy too much for one a few years ago, then stumbled across another one more recently at a decent price.


By the way, does anyone think a modern multitool with stag handles would sell well? 

[Leatherman123]

How much, Bob? I know that I wouldn't buy a Stag handled MT!

[Grant Lamontagne]

As a special perhaps, but people nowadays seem more interested in something more industrial that they can abuse and not worry about.

I think the stag handles look sharp, but if I had a modern tool like that it would likely be a safe queen.

Def

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Nice tool there Bob. I got to handle similar patterns at the Blade show and really like the way it felt in hand. I can't tell from the pictures, do you have two of the same model or is it just photo editing?

Nope, I really do have two of them. Paid waaayyy too much for one a few years ago, then stumbled across another one more recently at a decent price.


By the way, does anyone think a modern multitool with stag handles would sell well? 

Nah, probably not, I think you'd be loath to use it

[Benner]

I love the look of Stag handles, but for practicality, like Def said, it would probably be more of a safe queen.

[Poncho65]

I like the look of it, hey could the etches on the plier handle be a file or ruler markings or just to get a better grip Just wondering though.  All of my fav knifes have stag but sadly don't get much use for same reason I wouldn't use that one    Just to pretty for now aday use I guess