Eyebrand Sodbuster question(s)

[nifenut]

I have a Eyebrand Sodbuster with brown wooden scales. Has three eyes, one on tang (over "Germany") and two eyes on blade (inside the "frame' with the other usual eyebrand wording). On one side of tang is stamped "D.R.G.M." over "1423929".

As I recall from another thread long ago, Paladin mentioned the three eyes as unusual and that they helped date the knife. I saw where Muskrat Man posted some pics of a similar Eyebrand knife with the same letters and number listed above on Feb. 10th.

Can anyone tell me the significance of the letters and number and a little about the age?

Does not look to ever have been sharpened. Covered in patina. Was dirty laying on a shelf in the shop. No pitting that I can see or feel.

The widow of a friend gave it to me for helping her sell her husband's shop tools.

I am not planning to sell it.

Thanks for any info.
Jim (nifenut)

[Paladin]

The sodbuster is one of my all time favorite patterns. I have carried one off and on for many years.
I don't recall saying that the 3 eye knife was unusual but if I did I was likely overly-enthused about it at the time.
The 3 eye Eye Brand is a very desirable knife to most collectors of older Eyes. Keep in mind that 'older' to a collector of Eyes is a knife from the 1960s or 1970s and maybe into the early 1980s. A 1950s knife is pretty rare or at least uncommon.
The oldest stamp I know of is the straight line stamp and it was used thru 1965, tho not exclusively according to Joe Dobbs in his Knife World article of 1983. The article also appears in the Best of Knife World in 1993.
Different variations of the eye logo were used from the 1950s thru 1981 and this is 3rd eye of the 3 eye knives. I have always assumed that Schlieper produced knives for the military during WWII and it was likely 1950 or so before they got back into every day production.
As to the DRGM 1423929, that is the German equivalent of one of our USA patent numbers. This one has to do with the pivot pin. It gives additional strength to the blade at that point.
I have to credit the Dobbs Knife World article as I get so much of the info I quote from that source. It is the only printed material on Eye Brands of which I am aware.
I have to put in a plug for the carbon steel in your 3 eye knife. It consistently maintains its edge and was some of the finest ever produced. You might also find it interesting to know that the Sodbuster pattern was first produced by Schlieper's Eye Brand. They failed to copyright the name and it was soon picked up by other makers.

Ray

[nifenut]

Thanks Paladin!!
I remember now. It was the straight line that was an indicator of the older eyes (indicates ago in the 1950's, I believe), not necessarily the 3 eyes.
Thanks for all the info. (again) I tried for a time to find the old thread where you commented but had no luck.
I appreciate the history.
Thanks again,
Jim