Bill Ghio wrote: "Earlier in this thread I commented on having found what I
called a "pattern maker's knives that have the blade that feeds thru the handle"
and Tim has now identified it for me. If you connect to his link  to
murphyknives.com and go to http://www.rmurphyknives.com/store/blades.ht
ml">http://www.rmurphyknives.com/store/blades.html you will see pictured
what they call Adjustable Handle knives & blades. However, they are now only
offering the blades. Noodling about the net I found one listing for the Murphy
knife but it is marked as discontinued. You can find them in aluminum, but it
appears the nice heavy brass framed ones are only going to be available on the
old tool market. Glad I finally found one at a bottom feeder's price."

I first encountered the blades as "mill knife blades," back in the early 1980s,
being sold by a Boston bindery and binders' supplier. I love the brass handles
and have seen them once or twice in flea markets, but I've never laid down the
money for one because they force you to use a fist grip and I'd rather use the
blade bare with my fingers. The aluminum ones just bug me; I don't want an
aluminum handle on anything.

Tom Conroy
Berkeley