a real mystery

[Another Knife Collector]

Here's a rather unusual knife. It's marked ZW NON-STAIN and has a pen blade and a small punch of some sort. On the handles it has a picture of a General Moltke with an iron cross to the left of him on a backround of an American ten dollar bill. Research has revealed Moltke was a successful and well celebrated German general (B1800 – D1891), but why is a 19th century German general pictured on an American ten dollar bill on a knife handle?

Oh, I forgot to mention the fellow who sold it to me said it came from a GI's estate and had been found with a note saying it had been taken from a Japanese officer in WWII, of course though, he didn't have the note. A good case of a story (a highly unlikely one at that) being worth the paper it's written on.

Here's a bit about the general, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmuth_vo ... _the_Elder

[jonet143]

what years were the bills printed with that treasurer's signature?

[ea42]

I can't find a hint of those names anywhere, the Secretary to the Treasurer's name looks like McNichols, but there was never one by that name, or similar
Very interesting piece!

Eric

[Another Knife Collector]

It looks like the series may be 1923 or 28? knife probably isnt nearly that old but it may be relevant info.

[testcase]

Three Helmuth Von Moltkes of note,

General Helmuth the elder, mid 19th Century as I recall.

General Helmuth the younger, and nephew of the Elder, was in charge of the German army in WWI, he died in 1918 I think, right at the end of the war.

Helmuth James Graf von Moltke, great grand nephew of the Elder, was a Jurist in the Nazi era, not a General. He led the opposition to the Nazis, believed in non violencw, the Gestapo executed him early in 1945.
That is why no swastikas, they wern't nazis..

[TM]

Any closer to solving this mystery? I'm intrested to know what's up......

[Another Knife Collector]

I haven't found anything yet , but I have been busy lately and haven't been able to do much real research.

[Another Knife Collector]

Well, I still haven't figured out anything new about this knife, it's been about a year now, perhaps someone else may have some more input. I've looked further into designs of the ten dollar bill, but the version on the knife has had too much artistic license applied to it for my amateur monetary knowledge to determine anything. I've also read more about the general and that also has yeilded no ideas as to the knife's origin. Anyone have any ideas?

[knife7knut]

Two lines of thought here:It is either a fantasy knife or possibly a knife of German origin,but the time line is hazy.

Reason for thinking it is a fantasy:the style of the bill,especially the serial # smacks of recent manufacture.

As for the ZW mark;it could be an abbreviation for Zwilligswerkes or knife works(I believe)in English.The fact that it has English words rather than German(or wherever it was made)indicates it was likely made for export to an English speaking country.

I've magnified the pictures and without having the knife in hand it looks to me to be of recent manufacture.If you have seen a bunch of 1930's era(or whatever era)knives you will recognize the appearance of the steel.Hard to describe but it has a certain look to it.

[Miller Bro's]

What does the back side of the handle look like?

[ddixon]

In the picture it looks like it says "Washington DG" instead of DC??

[fergusontd]

Washington DG Distric of goofiness/or Distric of Greed