Quill Knife (Pen Knife), Folding Knife & Ink Erasers.

I still need to do more research on this subject to be sure of my facts, but to date this is what I have found. Early 18th century quill or pen knives were of the fixed blade type. Later in the 18th century folding quill knives start to appear & become more common in the 19th century.

Folding quill knives tend to have small or short narrow blades where as the common clasp knives tend to have longer wider blades.

1725 silver handles fixed blade quill knife.

http://www.loringpage.com/pens/cat01d.htm;

Early 18th century fixed blade quill knife.

http://www.loringpage.com/pens/cat01d.htm;

A John Wilson quill knife 1870, fixed blade.

http://www.vintagepens.com/catill_dip_pens_etc.shtml;

Early 18th century fixed blade quill knife.

http://www.vintagepens.com/catill_dip_pens_etc.shtm

1890 folding quill knife.

Rogers quill knife 1890.

http://www.vintagepens.com/catill_dip_pens_etc.shtml;

1780 folding quill knife.

http://www.loringpage.com/pens/cat01d.htm;

Rodgers scraper: ink eraser 1870.

http://www.vintagepens.com/catill_dip_pens_etc.shtml;

My copy of an early to mid 18th century clasp knife. Friction blade.

Post mid 18th century clasp knife.

Mid 18th century Gully knife.

Post mid 18th century clasp knife.