Hello all, Tyler here. Im looking to inquire about a knife that ive recently purchased that really caught my eye. Nice & beautiful easy open “jack” knife made by a company that im unfamiliar with called Valley Forge. Im looking for any and all information you have on this pattern knife and when and where it was manufactured etc. seee attached pictures. Thank you
Welcome to AAPK. I can’t tell you much about your specific knife except from the pictures it appears to be heavily buffed. In your pictures the tang stamps aren’t legible, could be due to the buffing or the focus and glare, or a combination of both.
The company’s founding dates to 1892, according to Goins’ Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings. It was located in New Jersey. The U.S. branch of the Böker family bought controlling interest of Valley Forge Cutlery Company in 1899, and made cutlery and hand tools marked with the Böker USA brand as well as the Valley Forge brand. (They bought it to manufacture in the U.S., thus avoiding tariffs on imported goods including cutlery, imposed by the McKinley Tariff Act. Previously they imported cutlery and tools from the family owned factories in Germany). This continued until “about 1950” at which time they ceased using the Valley Forge trademark name but continued using the Böker name. So your knife would be older than about 1950. It should have VF in a circle stamped on the back side (aka the pile side) of one or both of the blades.
Hope that’s what you were looking to learn.
Ken
Member AKTI, TSRA, NRA.
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The knife in not mint,as Ken said it's been heavily buffed.The VF in a circle on the back of the tang indicates post 1916 manufactured.That being said,still a nice easy open jack.
