Boker Improved Cutlery?

[whitebuffalo58]

I picked this knife up at a flea market awhile back. The first wording on the blade is very faint, but from what I can make out, I think it says H. Boker & Co. Next wording is definetly Improved Cutlery in 2 lines. If there was ever a tree stamp on the reverse, it's completely worn away. The other blades don't appear to have ever had any markings. It's kind of an odd knife, in that it doesn't have liners, but rather the handles are what I believe to be solid slabs of nickel silver. (it's too heavy to be aluminum) The gold tone is from the camera flash. Overall the knife seems right. The fit and finish are good, no ride up, backsprings set flush open and closed and there's no sign of the knife having been altered. Question I have is, does anyone know of another cutlery co. that used the term Improved Cutlery? And, any other info on the knife would be greatly appreciated too. Thanks, WB

[rangerbluedog]

buff, check out this post for your tang stamp. I don't know of any other company who used the IMPROVED CUTLERY tang stamp.
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 45#p226945

[whitebuffalo58]

Thanks Ranger, that helped a bunch. It appears that it is a 1920'-'30's and the last of the improved stamps. The "E" in Boker on this one is located directly above the "R" in the word Improved. It's the only stamp I see where that's the case. It looks like the tree stamp would've been located to the left of the wording , but that area is totally worn away. I used as heavy of magnification as I have and was able to locate the ghost image of the same stamp on one of the secondaries as well.
The build of the knife is still a bit puzzling. If it's some sort of fake or rebuild, it was done quite awhile back and they did a decent job of it.
At any rate, it's an odd ball, I hope I can come up with some more info. So far, the only thing i've found in the Boker line with solid N/S handles is a Bartenders knife.
Welp, thanks again for the help, it was a big step forward. WB

[rangerbluedog]

I think it's probably original. I've seen other patterns by Boker with nickel silver handles. I have seen some listed in an old 1915 catalog.
Thegreedygulo probably has one in mint condition in his collection
Hopefully he will see this thread.

[whitebuffalo58]

Yah, I noticed in the thread you put me onto, that he was somebody that would be in the know. Maybe he'll come around when he can and give some insight. Still appreciate the help, WB