D.R.G.M TATRA what is this?

[pitonyak]

I seem to end up with odd knives owned by relatives, and this is not something I am familiar with.

I attached two photos of the knife.

The blade has the following near the base:

D.R.G.M.
PATENTEANG

Based on this, I assume that the knife was manufactured in Germany and probably before 1952.
I believe that TATRA is a Czech company so I am guessing that it is a "branded" knife for TATRA and not made by them (guessing).

I find the following very interesting. When the blade folds down, there is what looks like a brass V where the blade sets. You can see this sticking up. I have never seen anything like this.

I have no idea what the long thing is that is not a blade. From what I can tell, many interesting knives marked DRGM have odd "blades" or tools. My guess was that the long skinny thing is related to pipes (that you smoke), but that is again a complete guess and is likely wrong.

I close the blade and it sets into that brass V. As I close the long skinny part opposite the blade, the brass V and the blade retract down into the knife. I have never seen anything like this. Is this simply the design or does the long skinny part have a use as a tool of some sort (I was guessing used in a pip. I am not sure which grandfather had this but one of them smoked a pipe (and other things like cigars and cigs), the other grandfather never smoked anything. One wound electric motors and owned his own shop the other was a tool and die maker.

Any thoughts?

[knife7knut]

Tatra is a Czech maker of automobiles(as far as I know). It may possibly be an advertising item for them. I would guess that the folding arm in the pics jlocks the blade in the open position. JMHO.

[edgy46]

What K7K said. Very nice knife.

[pitonyak]

Tatra is a Czech maker of automobiles(as far as I know). It may possibly be an advertising item for them. I would guess that the folding arm in the pics jlocks the blade in the open position. JMHO.

So it was probably a promotional thing.... and come to think about it, My Father's side of the family is from the Slovakia, and apparently the borders moved around a lot, so they could have even purchased the knife there.

The long skinny part is a bit awkward, because it sticks at that 90 degree angle while you have the knife out, but based on your comment, I fully opened the blade then lowered the skinny part and you are absolutely correct, it locks the blade in place. WOWser! SMART!

Never occurred to me to try that.

Also, it is really really cool how opening and closing the skinny part causes the blade to be pushed out of the handle and then lets it move back down!

I think I will clean up the blade a bit just to make sure there is no rust and I have to bring it back and show my Father how this all works.

Brilliant!

[Reverand]

I have not seen a knife like yours before - it is very nice!
I love seeing designs that are new to me, and I am constantly learning new things here on AAPK.
Thank you for sharing it!

[Ridgegrass]

According to Levine, DRGM translates to "German Empire Utility Design" a form of patent. That's a cool knife! J.O'.