American Blade

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trail
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American Blade

Post by trail »

Ironic that a knife branded "American Blade" would be of Japanese manufacture, but like so many of Jim Parker's enterprises, nothing is simple or transparent. There is some information on the web, much of it conflicting, so let me quote AAPK member Hukk, who posted on this topic several years ago:

"American Blade Knives were produced by Parker Cutlery for approximately 1 year in the early eighties. Parker came out with this line to place in department and hardware stores intending to differentiate it from his regular line. These knives feature the American Blade tang stamp and an eagle logo on the master blade. They were manufactured in Seki Japan in 1984."

That Parker eagle...

American Blade Magazine was started in 1973 with Blackie Collins as editor and publisher. In 1981 Parker and Voyles bought the magazine. They changed the name to Blade in 1982. Parker sold his share to Voyles in 1986. (All this from the Blade Magazine web site). I don't know if the knives had anything at all to do with the magazine, other than joint ownership.

The knife in the pictures is a single blade lockback, 3 inches, model AB-16. It is handled in quite attractive smooth bone. I paid less than $20 for it at an antique mall, worth it to me to pick up this little piece of "Americana."
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rangerbluedog
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Re: American Blade

Post by rangerbluedog »

That's actually not a bad looking little knife...
That Parker feller sure got around didn't he? ::smirk::
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gino
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Re: American Blade

Post by gino »

Cool knife!! Try to trick you with the name I guess?
I have a few knives made in Japan and all are decent knives.
-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
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Froggyedge
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Re: American Blade

Post by Froggyedge »

Going sailing together? 8) :D
Nice knife and nice picture! ::tu::
Knivlaus mann er livlaus mann.

A knifeless man is a lifeless man - Old Nordic proverb.
trail
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Re: American Blade

Post by trail »

You got it Froggy. I'm sailing this week. Couldn't find a pretty girl to come with me so consoled myself by picking up a pretty knife.
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Froggyedge
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Re: American Blade

Post by Froggyedge »

Not quite the same, but certainly a lot less nagging..! :lol:
I think you made a good choice! :D
Knivlaus mann er livlaus mann.

A knifeless man is a lifeless man - Old Nordic proverb.
knife7knut
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Re: American Blade

Post by knife7knut »

VERY STRANGE! I have one that is for all intents and purposes identical save that it is stamped,"AB-15".Looks to be the same size and have similar scales.
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elbertson
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Re: American Blade

Post by elbertson »

I just ran into this thread. I have an American Blade lockback Buck 110 knockoff, model AB-7. It's roughly the same size as a 110, but only about 2/3 as thick. I received it with a subscription to American Blade magazine....so I guess in that regard that there is a least some connection to the magazine.
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Alabamadan
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Re: American Blade

Post by Alabamadan »

American Blade Knife company was Designed and started by THE DEACON of Knives Bob Ernst and me the National Sales Manager Dan Maldet both of us formally with the Imperial Knife CO.aka Schrade Cutlery.Parker was the money behind the Company and wanted us to set up a Marketing Plan for Distrubition.Parker ruined our plan as he did with the Parker Frost Line that he and Frost started.We used Bone and Buffalo Horn Handles, Hollow Ground Blades for maximum Sharpness. We taught Seki Japan HOW to make Quality Cutlery.To bad Parker was so Greedy and ruin the last Knife line to be introduce by The Deacon.I wished there was a Hall of Fame for American Cutlers in the USA Bob should be there as well as many in Ellenville NY.and Providence RI.
chetr1200c
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Re: American Blade

Post by chetr1200c »

i have a trapper with bone handles, made in germany with american blade on the tang. i had it sitting for a few months unattended. when i finally went to use it, the blades, both clip and spey were covered in rust. even the back springs..POS now.
Alabamadan
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Re: American Blade

Post by Alabamadan »

I would like to to see a picture.It sounds like somebody messed up. The American Blade Knife was made in Seki City Japan. I don't of any to be made in Germany.
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jerryd6818
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Re: American Blade

Post by jerryd6818 »

Dan, welcome to AAPK. Sounds like you've lived the history of some of the knives that are consistently discussed here. I hope you stick around. It's always good to have the horses mouth for a source. (that's meant in a good way.)
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Miller Bro's
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Re: American Blade

Post by Miller Bro's »

Chet, it sounds like your celluloid handles went bad ::nod::
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chetr1200c
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Re: American Blade

Post by chetr1200c »

ala/dan your right, it isn't american blade. its american knife co. germany. and dimitri they are bone scales. very similar to this one on ebay. i bought this in mint condition from bigden about 3 months ago on one of our thursdays auction. i bought it because no one else would venture a bid to take it. i was the only bid. now i know why.
the one here on ebay says the blades look like they have never been sharpened, they don't show a pic of the blades,(i wonder why)but look at the back springs. just like mine, and my blades are disgustingly rusty like they did have cell handles.
i took emery cloth to em, and the pitting is there now.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/American-Knife- ... 3a6e888194
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Miller Bro's
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Re: American Blade

Post by Miller Bro's »

Chet,
It don`t make any sense that the blades would rust to that extent without a good reason.

I suspect humidity problems or a Celluloid knife that is out gassing where you stored that knife ::hmm::
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Alabamadan
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Re: American Blade

Post by Alabamadan »

[quote="chetr1200c"]ala/dan your right, it isn't american blade. its american knife co. germany. and dimitri they are bone scales. very similar to this one on ebay. i bought this in mint condition from bigden about 3 months ago on one of our thursdays auction. i bought it because no one else would venture a bid to take it. i was the only bid. now i know why.
the one here on ebay says the blades look like they have never been sharpened, they don't show a pic of the blades,(i wonder why)but look at the back springs. just like mine, and my blades are disgustingly rusty like they did have cell handles.
i took emery cloth to em, and the pitting is there now.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/American-Knife- ... 3a6e888194[/quote
I wonder if Borker Private Labled that Brand for the Hardware Group that eventually bought Boker out. ::undecided::
Alabamadan
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Re: American Blade

Post by Alabamadan »

chetr1200c wrote:i have a trapper with bone handles, made in germany with american blade on the tang. i had it sitting for a few months unattended. when i finally went to use it, the blades, both clip and spey were covered in rust. even the back springs..POS now.
HAD TO BE CONDINSATIONsp? The first blades was to be made with 440 c steel a high carbon stainless so that it was easier to Sharpen,just like any Quality Outdoor Equipment is must be taken care of and used you can't forget about them.
gino
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Re: American Blade

Post by gino »

Here is a few pics of the American Blade knife I own
AB-12 Japan
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-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
Alabamadan
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Re: American Blade

Post by Alabamadan »

gino wrote:Here is a few pics of the American Blade knife I own
I hear ya you got to believe and pray for help,The good Lord is taking care of us,I thank him more than once every Day.
That Knife looks familar has the Artist signed it,it doesen't look like a Stamp.It's been a long time scince I worked there.I think it was in The Deacon's Sample Roll,its a Beauty. Do you have any Idea how much it is worth? :D
gino
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Re: American Blade

Post by gino »

Alabamadan wrote:
gino wrote:Here is a few pics of the American Blade knife I own
I hear ya you got to believe and pray for help,The good Lord is taking care of us,I thank him more than once every Day.
That Knife looks familar has the Artist signed it,it doesen't look like a Stamp.It's been a long time scince I worked there.I think it was in The Deacon's Sample Roll,its a Beauty. Do you have any Idea how much it is worth? :D
Dan, I cant see any artist markings and I also have no idea of its worth. I think I bought it at a flea market for 50 cents last year. Its a pretty decent cool little knife though. Brass liners and its SS.
-( life is too short to carry a cheap knife )-
Alabamadan
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Re: American Blade

Post by Alabamadan »

I wish I could remember if it was a stamp,the finish on the blades is a tumble finish.All were ss,but if I remember this Knife was not i the orignal knifew display.It was a pre-poduction Sample.I am not sure,but I think all in the display had satain finish.
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ironmage
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Re: American Blade

Post by ironmage »

chetr1200c wrote:i have a trapper with bone handles, made in germany with American blade on the tang. i had it sitting for a few months unattended. when i finally went to use it, the blades, both clip and spey were covered in rust. even the back springs..POS now.
There was a American cutlery out of Germany cir 1960 to 1980.
"Sometimes the best part of a knife was the hunt",PK
" Fēng xiàng zhuàn biàn shí, yǒu rén zhú qiáng, yǒu rén zào fēng chē!"
"When the wind of change blows some build walls while others build windmills!"
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ironmage
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Re: American Blade

Post by ironmage »

knife7knut wrote:VERY STRANGE! I have one that is for all intents and purposes identical save that it is stamped,"AB-15".Looks to be the same size and have similar scales.
I have the same knife you have, and model 5 is 1 inch or so bigger.IE AB-15 4 in. closed as apposed to AB-16 which is 3 in. closed.
"Sometimes the best part of a knife was the hunt",PK
" Fēng xiàng zhuàn biàn shí, yǒu rén zhú qiáng, yǒu rén zào fēng chē!"
"When the wind of change blows some build walls while others build windmills!"
CoyoteX
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Re: American Blade

Post by CoyoteX »

I bought this knife as a early teen. I raked a 1 acre yard for the money. Ive had it for years and have not seen anymore like it till now. Its a tri blade pocket knife from american blade. Stamped ab-22. Its been a great little knife, but ive always had trouble keeping it sharp. Must be the type of stanless steel its made of. Im 43 now and i still carry it. Brings back alot of memories just looking at it. I believe it used to have some sort of stamp on the main blade that did read "made in japan", but it has long since worn off with use. It is still stamped chattanooga tenn. On the main blade. Anybody else have one like it?
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jsholbrook
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Re: American Blade

Post by jsholbrook »

I got 1! This is a really nice put together knife all blade center up. No blade wrap, walk and talk. Still great. Feels nice. Really nice and smooth
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