Purpose of odd blade on VOOS fob knife?

Nifty keano!
I can't read the mark on mine even with a 20X loupe. It's too smooshed.
The blades are marked VOOS, but I think they are the blade makers only.

 

I would have said toothpick, gentleman's knife & toothpick.

http://www.antiquesnavigator.com/d-...lemans-knife-hallmarked-blade--toothpick.html

Here is an Emil Voos pocket knife, probably only blades:

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/22331431_vintage-voos-gold-filled-pocket-knife

I said Emil Voos above, but now notice there was an Emil Voos and an Ernest G. Voos. They may be related, one in the states and the other in Germany. The Ernest Voos company was/is located in New Haven, CT. The Emil Voos was a German cutlery company located in Solingen, Germany. Seems it closed down in 1960s.

--- Susan

 

I've seen knives similar to this. I'd say its either for cleaning fingernails, or it's a toothpick. Dental hygiene back in the day was not as wholesome as we imagine it to be.

 

Susan, I'm thinking it was Emil then, because I *think* some other knives were German.
Shangas, I agree with the nail cleaning/filing now, but this knife was most likely from the 1920s/'30s, and (I think) by then most people would have been aghast at using it as a toothpick.

 

They had silver toothpics back then.

 

They did indeed. I have seen such things included in pocket-knives (along with tiny spoons for clearing out earwax).

 

While removable things like toothpicks and ear cleaners were included with some pocketknives, to just take out, unfold, and stick a blade from one's pocketknife in one's mouth would be seen as rather uncouth.

 

It could possibly be used to clean the crud from under your toenails.

 

No-one said that they did it as part of a public exhibition.

 

I really think it's a man's nail cleaner & file. That's what I always thought these were.

 

& that's what it is !