Press Button Knife Co One Arm Man antique switchblade knife Civil War Vets

Antique Press Button Knife Co One Arm Man antique switchblade knife made by the Press Button Knife Co of Walden, NY sometime between 1892 and 1923. Most, if not all, were made under contract for the AA Marks Artificial Limbs & Specialties Co of New York, as well as a few other switchblade models that they contracted to have made by PBKC. These knives are often referred to as Civil War Veterans knives, though it's not likely that many Civil War vets actually used them. These knives are most often referred to as a "One Arm Man" knife and were designed to help people with disabilities, specifically lost, or damaged arm or hand to be used as both a cutting and eating utensil that could be opened and closed easily with one hand. 

The knife measures just under 5 inches closed and approximately 9 inches open and it has pressed aluminum scales and steel liners with nickel silver bolsters & button. The blade on this knife is 98% full or better with heavy patina with some scratches and scattered light spotting and the tang is marked PRESS BUTTON KNIFE CO WALDEN NY on the front tang and backside is blank. You can still read much of the original fragile acid etch:  AA Marks Artificial Limbs & Specialties Co of New York on the face of the blade. The pressed aluminum scales have a nice pattern on them and this one has initials "JWL" in script professionally engraved on the front scale and are in very good condition with minor dings. I was told that it likely belonged to Joseph Wharton Lippincott a noted publisher, author, naturalist, and sportsman who lived from 1887 to 1976. The knife works well with the blade seating good closed with two fork tines peeking out slightly, good snap and good lockup open with average movement at the tip and does rattle a bit if shaken with the blade open as most do. Beautiful and unique old automatic knife in EX condition.