St Louis Souvenir

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 1:50 pm

Here is a souvenir knife from the 1904 St Louis Worlds Fair. St Louis was the 3rd largest US city at the time. The main attraction was the Louisianna Purchase exhibition which commemorated the 1803 purchase of land that more than doubled the size of the US. More than 12 million visitors paid the 50 cents entrance fee over the 7 months of the fair. The name on the tang is AJ Jordan. Jordan was the name of an importing company based in St Louis in the latter 1800s and early 1900s. They imported knives made in Sheffield and Germany. This one was made in Solingen. The handle is made from a light-weight metal, aluminum I think. Interesting old knife.

s-k

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:34 pm

smiling-knife Nice of you to sure this with us.

I am getting the felling that if more collectors would tell things like this about a knife. Then we all fell like a part of NEAT HISTORY.

I am just starting to try to date my Schrade knives.
This is a big job for me. I do not rember the site thats so helpfull for Schrades. Does any one know ??

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 8:46 pm

Thanks justold52. I enjoyed researching this one. Good luck with the Schrades.

s-k

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Sun Nov 12, 2006 8:52 pm

COOL little knife there S/K.

Ken, try this forum...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forum ... .php?f=732

Lots of knowledgeable Imperial Schrade folks.

Bill

sunburst · Post by **sunburst** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:03 pm

Cool knife SK and fantastic history lesson. You missed your calling of historian/knife expert SK

Thanks,

Sunburst

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 12:52 am

El Lobo ; I have tryed that site many time and I get this. (you do not have permission to access this page.)

I have e mail the site and never get any thing back.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:07 am

Ken,

Sorry you are having trouble, you might try clearing any cookies from Bladeforums from your browser's temporary internet files...then visit again.

Bill

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:35 am

blade forums restricts certain pages from non-members. it costs nothing to join and it's another source of knife education. i visit all i can find regularly but this forum is what i consider home.

4ever3 · Post by **4ever3** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:50 am

Nice knife s/k, nice piece of history

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 9:29 am

Hi everyone. Thanks for the kind feedback. I didn't really considered the historical aspect of the hobby when I first started. Now I enjoy learning more about the history and context of knives, but still greatly appreciate them for their beauty and craftsmanship aswell. Perhaps the attraction of the hobby is that there are so mamny different facets and levels on which one can appreciate knives. Have a great day

s-k

Carl Beck · Post by **Carl Beck** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:09 pm

S-K, I live within walking distance of where the 1904 World's Fair
was held. It's also the location of the History Museum where the
city's collection of worlds fair stuff is kept. If you have any
particular questions I'd be glad to buzz over there and see
what I might be able to find out. That may turn out to be
nothing, but it's worth a shot.

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 9:19 pm

Hi Carl. I think many of us are interested in any other knife info associated with this 'slice' of history. It would be appreciated very much if you would have a quick look around.

s-k

Carl Beck · Post by **Carl Beck** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:03 pm

S-K, I looked at some books at the History Museum and met with
the curator. I only took one photo of your knife so can't talk
about the side I didn't take. On what is probably the front, the
unidentified building in the center is the Louisiana Purchase Monument.
It was the first thing folks saw when they came in the main entrance.
The Cascade Gardens would have been the first thing they saw to
their right. The Palace of Machinery was to the left, but she wasn't
sure if it would have been the first thing they saw.
The only book of any use was one that was compiled by
collectors. Since their souvineers were not "official" the
museum has no paperwork on them. There were three knives
very similar to yours, but with somewhat different scenes. They
are identified as aluminum, with a value between $100-$200.
I was distracted from looking for the copyright date of the book,
and then forgot to go back to date it. It was old and I suspect values
have changed. 'Twas a fun morning.

Carl

smiling-knife · Post by **smiling-knife** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 9:45 pm

Great Carl... Thanks for the info

. The LA purchase building in the center makes sense as it the highlight of the expo. I have seen a two-bladed version before. Glad to hear you had an enjoyable morning as that is what it is all about.

s-k