Knife for cutting quill pens, 1801-1907

Quill pens are still, as formerly, cut with a knife: the skill necessary for cracking the slit and forming the nib are only attainable by long practice. To obviate this, more particularly in mending an old pen, the tool shown was brought out in this country, it is believed, in the middle of the 18th century. Its product is not, however, equal to hand work.

It has a part of shear blades hinged together between which is inserted the quill roughly cut to shape by the knife blade that slips into the handle. The upper shear blade is forced down by the thumb and a fixed knife below cracks the slit. The point can be cut to the required width by the spring snips.