Antique F.A. Koch & Co. NY / Russell Swell End Tear Drop Jack Pocket Knife Wood For Sale

This is a fantastic and highly sought-after piece of American cutlery history. It is a "contract knife" or a co-branded collaboration between two massive 19th-century names:John Russell Cutlery Co. (The Maker): Founded in 1834 in Massachusetts, Russell is legendary for making the famous "Green River" knives used by American pioneers, mountain men, and gold rushers. They were one of the premier knife makers in the United States F.A. Koch & Co. (The Distributor/Retailer): As a massive high-end New York hardware and cutlery importer (operating 1880–1933), Koch frequently contracted elite manufacturers to make top-tier pocket knives exclusively for their catalog. Instead of importing this specific model from Germany (which F.A. Koch did for a lot of their inventory), Koch hired the Russell Cutlery Co. right here in the USA to manufacture it.The "Barlow" Connection: Russell was world-famous for making heavy-duty, wood-handled pocket knives (especially Barlow patterns). The heavy metal bolster with the circular stamping, the smooth wood handle, and the distinct carbon steel blade shapes are classic hallmarks of late-1800s to early-1900s Russell craftsmanship.