ID help to the beginner

[Marijan]

Good day, this is my first post here. I picked up this double blade, folding knife on a flea market the other day. I just liked it, I am not a collector (yet) and I do not have any knowledge about the knives. I have just an old Conaz "zuava" at home and beside this one that is all. I was searching the net, but it soon become clear that without any knowladge, there is zero chance to ID it by myself. It looked like it was coming from Frenc Laguiole at first but looking all that pictures, I am totaly confused. French, Spanish, German....... It is unsigned piece, but marked as Solingen - perhaps that what it is. blade is aprox. 9cm long.

Thank you for any help and best regards!
Marijan Radaljac

[trail]

Welcome to AAPK, Marijan! I can't tell you anything about your knife, but as you probably know Solingen is a town in Germany that is a major knife making center. Solingen knives have a great reputation for quality. I am sure some more knowledgeable collectors will come along to fill us in about your knife.

[jerryd6818]

Welcome aboard Marijan.

The knife has too much up sweep on the bottom end to be Laguiole. I make it a Navaja with horn handles. Great looking old knife. Congratulations. You probably already know the Navaja is a Spanish knife. Just because it's a Spanish pattern, I don't suppose there's any reason it couldn't have been made in Germany.

You don't have to be a knife collector or even a knife accumulator to hang out at AAPK. An interest in knives is all it takes.

Here's a picture of another Navaja. I don't own any. I got the picture at World Knives - http://www.worldknives.com/products/jok ... -2457.html

[Owd Wullie]

Hi Marijan,

Great first post!!

I an't add anything on the knife that hasn't already been said. It sure looks like a "navaja" type knife to me and the Solingen stamp indicates German manufacture. That being said, German knives catered to the same markets as everyone else did. That knife could possibly have been meant for the South American markets or Spain.

Neat knife.

Now that you have TWO knives, I guess you know that there will be more to keep them company.

Enjoy!!

Take care,
Willie

[Marijan]

Thank you for warm welcome. And for all suggestions and tips regarding Navaja type knives. I will check the net to try to learn more about that. Is it unusual for this type of knife to have two blades? I can see that Solingen has many models with multiple blades.

That is what I`m afraid of Willie. There is no stop on three or four.

Best regards!
Marijan Radaljac

[Miller Bro's]

It is not a Navaja.

It is a pattern produced in Germany for the American knife market. Some have retail establishments stamped on the tang and some do not.

Here is an old catalog cut of the exact knife which was being sold by the Coe, Yonge & Co. firm.

They came in horn and stag, $35.00 per dozen

If I recall Cattaraugus made a knife very similar if not the same pattern as this one.

[jerryd6818]

Dimitri, I knew as soon as I saw you had posted that I had blown this one like the Cubs with a six run lead in the ninth. I should quit guessing. I should, but I probably won't. Hey, I got the horn handles right.

[Miller Bro's]

Jerry, you get an A for effort

[tjmurphy]

DAMN!! YOU'RE GOOD DIMITRI!!

[Marijan]

Great, thank you so much Dimitri. This kind of stuff ads to the value and appreciation one can feel about any antique, art or craft object owned or admired. Knowing some background history, no matter if it is some ordinary item or unique rare object.

And thank you Jerry the same. I learned something about navaja knives reading about them. I appreciate and respect anyone trying to help.

Thanks again, great people, great site.

Best regards!
Marijan Radaljac

p.s.
Can you tel Dimitri, how old this add is?

[Miller Bro's]

Thanks TJ


Marijan,

The catalog is undated, but if I had to guess I would say 1930`s-50`s

[Marijan]

Thank you Dimitri.

Best regards!
Marijan Radaljac