Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

This forum is dedicated to the discussion and display of old knives. The rich history of all the many companies that made them through the early years will be found here as well as many fine examples of the cutlers art. Share pictures of your old knives and your knowledge here!
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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Another Novelty knife, this one is a plumbers dream.

Pipe wrench, screwdriver, and folding knife blade.






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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by knife7knut »

These aren't really old but they are definitely unusual:

First is a "Miss Army Knife" in pink(just for you justold52)still in the package.My wife won't open it.

Next is an Italian multi-blade that would probably be easier to use if you stuffed it inside a heavy wool sock and used it as a club.

Last is a Pakistani 10 blade in the same vein.
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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Here is a B&B Novelty knife.

The one shown previously was a letter opener/folding knife.

This is the pocket knife version.


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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by knife7knut »

Here are some with a fishing theme:
First is a floating(cork handle)fish knife made by C.E.M.Maniago with a Barry Wood style opening whereby the scale rotates around and pulls open the blade.The blade is a combination knife/hook disgorger/gaff/scaler.Pictures show the opening sequence.
Second is a Cook Brothers Germany standard fish knife but the sheath has the shape of a fish and one side has a ruler printed on it.
Third is a plier type fishing tool that when closed has a knife edge on one side and a scaler/hook disgorger on the other.The pliers also act as a lead weight crimper.
Fourth is another cork scaled knife by Lunawerk with a blade/scaler and a gaff.
Last is still another cork scaled knife by Teja &Rosa Italy that has a master blade and a combination scaler/hook disgorger/bottle cap lifter/hook sharpener.
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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Here are two adjustable wrench knives.

One made by Seaboard Steel Co. the other by A. Feist & Co., both were made in France.


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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by pcarver »

Hello,
I am new to this website but found this topic. I collect unusual knives, mechanisms in particular. Being a knife forum, you have probably seen most of these, but here are some photos.
Pat C
This is a first production run knife by Kershaw called the E.T. for External Toggle. The handle has a knee joint that opens and closes the knife. You push on the small knob at the end of the knife and it opens or closes the blade.  on the back of the blade is a latch that can be uses as a carabiner to clip it to a belt loop.
This is a first production run knife by Kershaw called the E.T. for External Toggle. The handle has a knee joint that opens and closes the knife. You push on the small knob at the end of the knife and it opens or closes the blade. on the back of the blade is a latch that can be uses as a carabiner to clip it to a belt loop.
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This one is a small gentleman's knife.  The marking is Sheffield Eng. to extend the blade out, the other end is turned like a lipstick.
This one is a small gentleman's knife. The marking is Sheffield Eng. to extend the blade out, the other end is turned like a lipstick.
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This opens like a standard lockback knife but instead of the lock release being at a notch in the spine, you push up on the tail of the knife to release the blade.
This opens like a standard lockback knife but instead of the lock release being at a notch in the spine, you push up on the tail of the knife to release the blade.
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This Kershaw knife has a small pin in a miniature rack and pinion built into the pivot.  The small round coin at the pivot is used to open the blade where it locks.  To unlock the knife, turn the coin back towards closed. the rack drives the pin under the lock and releases it. Simply continue to turn the coin and the blade closes.
This Kershaw knife has a small pin in a miniature rack and pinion built into the pivot. The small round coin at the pivot is used to open the blade where it locks. To unlock the knife, turn the coin back towards closed. the rack drives the pin under the lock and releases it. Simply continue to turn the coin and the blade closes.
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.

I will post more later.

I also have about a dozen various models of the paul knife. Designed by Paul Poehlman, the mechanism was used to make two editions produced by Gerber. Some of the Gerber people started Lone Wolf knives and they now have an extensive line of models using this mechanism.

I also have some William Henry knives.

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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by knife7knut »

Welcome to the forum pcarver! Nice knives you have there;especially the Sheffield knife.Unusual knives are my favorites and I look forward to seeing some more.
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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Pat,

Some unusual knives you have! Let`s see more ::tu::

Here is an old one I found, it is stamped by the maker, however I cannot make it out. It is meant to be carried in a shirt pocket. It would look like a pen, but it has a folding knife blade at the end. The top has an eraser hidden under a fancy celluloid cap, which you pull off to expose the eraser.

The main body is steel but the cap is fancy cell. does not make alot of sense ::shrug::

Also, why would you need a knife with an eraser at one end? :?

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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by knife7knut »

MILLER BRO`S wrote:Pat,

Some unusual knives you have! Let`s see more ::tu::

Here is an old one I found, it is stamped by the maker, however I cannot make it out. It is meant to be carried in a shirt pocket. It would look like a pen, but it has a folding knife blade at the end. The top has an eraser hidden under a fancy celluloid cap, which you pull off to expose the eraser.

The main body is steel but the cap is fancy cell. does not make alot of sense ::shrug::

Also, why would you need a knife with an eraser at one end? :?

M.B.
It looks like there might be a pencil inside the tube that is attached to the eraser.Have you tried to remove it?There was a lot of need for a pen blade as a writing accessory;mostly for erasing ink from vellum.Remember the old ink erasers/folding bones that were used to fold envelopes before pre-made ones were commercially available?
I have quite a few mechanical pencils that sport pen blades at the opposite end and some have erasers concealed inside.
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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

K7K,

I think you are right. There looks like there is a pencil inside the steel tube. However I cannot remove it by hand it is stuck. I don`t want to take a pliers to it and risk damaging it.

I think the knife blade was used to sharpen the pencil instead of being used as an ink eraser.

I used a magnifying lens to read the tang stamp and it says "Dixon Cutlery Co. Germany". Goins says circa 1920, no other information. By 1920 ink erasers were obsolete and the eraser as we know it was being widely used.

Certainly an unusual old novelty knife!

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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by knife7knut »

You may be able to remove it without damaging either the pencil or the tube(it is made of steel is it not?)by applying heat to the tube with a hair dryer and wrapping the pencil end with a length of rubber(such as a piece of rubber band)or a piece of duct tape and using a pair of pliers to GENTLY work the pencil back and forth.The tapered end of the pencil should release rather readily and the hair dryer will expand the metal slightly but not the pencil.
The pencil looks to be a fairly standard model so if by some chance it is damaged it could easily be replaced.
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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by pcarver »

Hello again,
Here are a few more photos.
This is a Camillus Cuda.  As a lefty, I find very few knives made as dedicated left hand models.  This was also made in a right hand configuration.  To open the knife, push the disk forward and the blade swings out.  Use your left thumb on the liner lock to close the knife.
This is a Camillus Cuda. As a lefty, I find very few knives made as dedicated left hand models. This was also made in a right hand configuration. To open the knife, push the disk forward and the blade swings out. Use your left thumb on the liner lock to close the knife.
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This is a small gentleman's knife.  To open either of the blades, lift and turn the small rings in the pivot pin.  These are not that rare, but finding one in good condition is hard.  Marked "Marshall Field & Co.  Germany."
This is a small gentleman's knife. To open either of the blades, lift and turn the small rings in the pivot pin. These are not that rare, but finding one in good condition is hard. Marked "Marshall Field & Co. Germany."
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This one has a sleeve that slides to the right so that the small slot in the bottom exposes the sqared end of the blade.  Grab the nail nick and swing out the blade, then slide the sleeve back to the left to lock the blade open.  Hard to describe until seen in action.
This one has a sleeve that slides to the right so that the small slot in the bottom exposes the sqared end of the blade. Grab the nail nick and swing out the blade, then slide the sleeve back to the left to lock the blade open. Hard to describe until seen in action.
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It occurs to me that many of my knives are better understood in action. Do you know if this website supports any kind of movie file?

The amount of information on this website is a bit overwhelming. It is a little like trying to take a sip from a fire hose.

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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by smiling-knife »

This ruler knife dates to the 1930s.

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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

S-K,

Nice Ruler knife ::tu::

Here is an unusual one. it is marked "AUSTRIA", stainless steel construction. It looks like an ordinary manicure knife. On the bottom is a square knob that pulls out, on the end is some wick material and a brass head, there is a resivoir that is filled by removing a screw at the end, this is then filled with lighter fluid. When the lighter stick is inserted it absorbs lighter fluid. When you need a light you pull it out and strike it on the bottom, there is a special box that is brass lined. When you are done blow out the flame and re-insert it back in the storage slot! Found this in the "junk" box today while cleaning off my work bench, never paid any attention to it before.

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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by ozzie marie »

Here is an unusual key chain advertising knife.

When you open its blade you get locations and phone numbers.

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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Keith,

Nice old knife.

Who is the maker?




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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by ozzie marie »

M.B.

I have no idea. ::shrug::

The stamp on the blade is SOLIGEN over GERMANY and on the back PATENT.

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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by justold52 »

I have this Coleman Pen Set.

Coleman Pen Knife & Flashlight Black

If you look closely (pocket clip). She does have a blade but only one can be open at a time. I am showing the scissors open.
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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

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Justold52,

That is 8)


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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

It`s been a while since I found any Novelty knives.

Here is a German made butterfly type folding knife, handles are metric on one side and standard on the other.......................


Anyone else have any??
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Funny Folders, etc.

Post by jarvis »

I'm not sure what the official name of these knives is. I've seen 'em called funny folders and I always called 'em flip knives. I've been collecting them on and off for a number of years and I have a few friends who keep an eye out for them at flea markets, etc. for me. They come in various sizes, configurations, brass versus aluminum, stamps and brand names, etc. As far as I can tell, they were made from maybe the middle to late 40s to maybe the 70s? Having perused this thread, I now see that I need to find some with a letter opener.

A buddy in Florida just sent me this one, and it might be my oldest one. The blade has been well used, and it's cool to know that people actually did carry these knives and use them.

Season's Greetings '48 Fischer Lime And Cement Co.

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This is my first flip knife. It originally belonged to Mrs. jarvis's father.

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Here's that first one along with an unusual one that looks brand-new and is my only one that's brass plated on both the flip part and the frame, though it's hard to tell from the picture. "Compliments of Sam Cook"

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Here are some group pictures with some other miscellaneous folders in the case. The two knives on the upper left in the first two pictures are new AG Russell Funny Folders. The black one is titanium with ATS-34 for the blade and the silver one is aluminum with AUS-8 for the blade.

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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

That`s the biggest collection of these I have ever seen ::nod::

You have some real rare and unusual ones in there 8)
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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by vikingdog »

Man what a cool tray of knives! I've been looking for them for you and have yet to spot one. I don't recall seeing them in person before.
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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by Miller Bro's »

Its been a while since a post in this thread.

I found this one kicking around, a bit unusual and a novelty.

Folding key knife.
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Re: Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

Post by knife7knut »

Great collection of funny folders!Here is one that is a bit unusual:it is a letter opener.
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