DITTO, “K55K MERCATOR”, ALL METAL FOLDING LOCK BACK POCKET KNIFE

US 1750/185O’S ERA WHALERS BLUBBER CUTTING KNIFE. THIS RARE AND INTERESTING BLACKSMITH’S HAND FORGED CUTTING INSTURMENT MEASURES APPROXIMATELY 31″ OVERALL WITH FURREL, BY 6 ½” AT IT’S WIDEST SECTION BY 1/8″ THICK. IT WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 7 POUNDS AND ACCEPTS A 1 3/8″ WOOD SHAFT. THE BLADE HAS A RED RUST PATINA AND APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN HARDENED, HAS A SLIGHT RING WHEN TAPPED. THE FURREL SECTION IS RIVETED TO THE BLADE. THESE CUTTING TOOLS ARE OFTEN ILLUSTRATED AS BEING ON THE END OF A LONG WOODEN SHAFT WITH THE WHALER’S STANDING ON THE WHALE’S CARCASS AS THE BLUBBER IS BEING SLICED OFF. THIS MUSEUM QUALITY PIECE CAME OUT OF A SOUTH JERSEY ESTATE SALE WHERE THE FAMILY TOLD OUR RUNNER THAT IT HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN IN THE FAMILY THROUGH MANY GENERATIONS.