Abraham Lincoln carried a pen knife made by J.Y. Cowlishaw in Sheffield, England, around 1855. Measuring just over 5.75 inches when open, the knife featured a polished blade etched with scrollwork and mother-of-pearl handle scales engraved with leaves and radiating sunbursts. A silver shield inlaid into the center of the handle bears the name A. Lincoln in flowing script. Markings found on the knife include a hallmark with a lion, a crown, the profile of Queen Victoria, and the initials JYC, each confirming the knife’s English origin, sterling silver content, and maker.

Lincoln is believed to have carried this knife during his years practicing law in Springfield. Whether he used it for trimming quills, sharpening pencils, or tending to everyday tasks, he kept tools that were dependable and discreet. This knife reflects the habits of a man who lived simply and worked constantly, often traveling on horseback from one courthouse to the next with little more than a change of clothes and a few necessities. The knife may not be as widely known as the congress pattern pocket knife he was carrying when assassinated, but it offers a quiet reminder of the practical mind and steady hand that would one day guide the country through its greatest trial.

Theodore Roosevelt received a fixed-blade hunting knife from New York Supreme Court Judge James W. Gerard on March 3, 1909, the day before he left the presidency. Crafted by J. Russell & Co. of Green River, Massachusetts, the knife was beautifully adorned, with a six-inch spear-point blade and a solid gold pommel sculpted in the form of an eagle’s head, complete with red garnet eyes. The gold grip panels were detailed with scenes from the American frontier, while the guard featured bear heads and decorative scrollwork. The blade was acid-etched with Roosevelt’s name and the inscription, “Presented to / Theodore Roosevelt / by his friend / James W. Gerard,” appearing just above the maker’s mark.

The knife cost $1,250 in 1909, a staggering sum at the time, equivalent to roughly $44,000 today. Though ornate, it was not simply a showpiece. Gerard intended it for use on Roosevelt’s upcoming African safari, which was sponsored in part by the Smithsonian Institution. Roosevelt returned a penny to Gerard to avoid the superstition that a gifted blade could sever a friendship. The gesture reflected both men’s awareness of tradition and Roosevelt’s characteristic blend of ceremony and pragmatism. Even if the knife never saw action in the field, it remains a striking artifact from a president who embraced wilderness, friendship, and bold presentation with equal enthusiasm.

Dwight D. Eisenhower carried a Case #33 Small Stockman, a compact three-blade pocket knife measuring just over two and a half inches closed. The knife included a clip point, sheepfoot, and pen blade, arranged in a slim, serpentine handle that fit easily into a suit pocket or military uniform. While simple in design, examples of this knife have surfaced with Eisenhower’s initials, DDE, etched on the master blade, sometimes alongside “Denver” and the year 1955. Though these markings may have been added later by admirers or collectors, the knife pattern itself became so closely associated with him that Case officially named it the Eisenhower model.

The knife reflects Eisenhower’s practical sensibility and calm, deliberate style. Whether on the battlefield during World War II or in the White House during years of global tension, he favored tools that were efficient, unobtrusive, and ready to serve their purpose without calling attention to themselves.