Old Unusual Novelty Knives And Secret Knives

[Miller Bro's]

Here is another old Camillus Dick Tracy detective knife that is somewhat unusual.

It glows in the dark,(the handles), and it has a folding whistle and magnifying glass.

[Miller Bro's]

Another unusual and secret knife rolled into one!

A Gerber Touche` belt buckle knife

Just don`t try to get through airport security with one of these

[PA Knives]

Not sure if this knife fits this thread or not but I wanted to post it. It you have ever seen one of these please let me know. I am very interested in learning more about it. You may see it in an upcoming edition Knife World Magazine as well.

A. Friebertshauser Patented, ACME MFG Co. Warranted.

the handle come apart at the far end than swings around to reattach with the blade exposed. It has NO back spring at all. large knife, about 4.5 inches closed. Steel liners nickle bolster. Carbon blade obviously.

Here is the patent link for it. http://www.google.com/patents?id=P2BmAA ... er&f=false

As you will see, the fella was from BEAVER FALLS PA, thus my reason for pursuing this knife's history. I found where he moved OHIO and sold barber supplies. Obviously he was from GERMANY and had cutlery skills brought over from the hinterland.

Kind of a a butterfly knife, but not exactly. Innovative design to say the least. I find it fascinating.

click on the pics to enlarge. Let me know if you have anything on this unusal piece. Rare, umm I think so, cost me a good amount to buy it. Never seen or heard of another.

[Miller Bro's]

David that is I don`t have any information to offer, however I did see a knife of similar design where the blade stores inside the handle, but had a much more complicated fastening system

Thanks for posting it

Also, don`t be too disappointed in the lack of responses, as there are only a few of us that appreciate these unusual old knives

[danno50]

Looks just like the way the Colt Barry Woods knife opens. Maybe Barry Woods' inspiration came from and old one like this. There are a couple on ebay now. I recently switched to a Mac and can't figure out how to take a photo from ebay and post it here.

Dan

[PA Knives]

Thanks guys, it is an awesome piece of cutlery. You are right Dimitri, few of us truly appreciate vintage cutlery. I am sad to say it took me a while to realize that. But to each his own. I am the guy that digs to the bottom of the junk box and tosses the new CASE knives to the side.

I think this design should be reintroduce in modern knives and maybe the newbies would appreicate the history better.

[jerryd6818]

I wouldn't show this here except it has some sentimental value to me. It was a gift from one of the guys I served in Viet Nam with, in appreciation for the work I did setting up our first reunion in 2006, in Las Vegas. Yes, it's made in China but I would ask you to overlook that this time.

[danno50]

PA Knives and Miller Bros, I believe there are likely more around who appreciate the old knives and history than you realize, a lot are not frequent posters. That is a very interesting old knife and design. The design (meaning the way in which the blade opens) has been reintroduced into modern knives. In 1970 Colt brought out a model designed by Barry Wood. The photo below is one made by Barry Wood on his own, it looks very much like the original Colt. Barry Wood still makes custom knives in this design. I was wondering if the original 1880 patent from the knife posted by PA knives had expired, or is Barry Wood and was Colt infringing on an old patent? A friend of mine also had a knife which opened by this design made in the 80's. It however was quite a bit cheaper with plastic handles of some type. I thought it was made by Wyoming, but can't find any info on it anywhere.

Dan

[knife7knut]

Here is another knife of similar operation.This one is a bit unusual in that it has cork handles(so it won't sink when you drop it overboard ) and the blade is a combination knife/hook disgorger/scaler/gaff.Don't know exactly when it was made but I've owned it for about 25 years.

[PA Knives]

Danno,

That patten would have long exspired. But no doubt it is based on that old knife. Thank you for that info. It may make and interesting article for KW someday. I wonder if the modern version knew or say this knife or dreamed it up himself?

[Miller Bro's]

Here is an old novelty knife.

[tjmurphy]

Here is an unusual one. It was made in Italy and has advertising for Chevrolet. The unusual feature is the lid that opens up to reveal a secret compartment for I don`t know what. There is a residue of some substance that has dried up over the years. Anyone have any idea what was inside?

Here's another Dimitri, or is this yours. He calls it an ink well.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Chevrol ... 1c23c0f0cc

[Miller Bro's]

Wow! I can`t believe it, but no that is not mine, even though the seller is from the same area.

I have my doubts on an ink well, unless it was some type of sponge that held the ink, more like an ink pad Mine had the same black residue in it, I did not clean it out like this guy did.

Way over priced for sure

Thanks for bringing it to my attention Tom

[tjmurphy]

Ink pad would probably be a pretty good guess.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Yes, it certainly would be.
Charlie Noyes

[thefarside]

Tom, Dimitri and Charlie,

I sold a similar knive six or seven years ago at the old Louisville fall show, and mine still had the foam pad and ink residue in the compartment; one would assume it was used with some type of a stamp.

Jim

[Miller Bro's]

Thanks for the info Jim

Here now is a dog grooming knife

[Miller Bro's]

Here are the photos from the e-bay auction link that Tom posted above for posterity.

[Miller Bro's]

Nothing I like better than solving a knife mystery. These days the only knives that still hold my interest are unusual or unknown knives. Over time information is lost and we are left trying to figure out what certain knives were used for. The best information comes from old catalogs and literature, however often times, as is the case, this stuff was discarded. If you get lucky you can sometimes find the catalogs or figure out what the knife was used for by finding another on that is complete.

Such is the case with the unusual "Chevrolet" advertising knife I found a while back. I was guessing what it might be, then Tom found another for sale on the internet, but it too was not complete. The seller thought it was an ink well, I speculated the well held an ink Pad.

Now, thanks to Charlie Noyes, I have found one that is complete. It is easy to see that it was in fact an ink pad with an attached name & address ink rubber stamp. The pad on this one is felt, the other one I have seems to have been a foam rubber that disintegrated, hence the reason those type are missing. I also speculate that the rubber name stamp was removed before the original owner sold the knife on the first one I found and the internet knife, who wants their name & address left on a knife you are getting rid of ?

These seem to come with different advertising on them and most likely given out as a company premium. This one is from the Gustav Hirsch Company Columbus Ohio. A little research finds it was an electrical contracting company, see here: http://www.tallgeorge.com/colonialhills ... ing%20Work

Here is what it looks like

[singin46]

That's pretty neat D!

[RobesonsRme.com]

MB; I'm glad you got that knife and that the question regarding your other one is now definitively answered.

I hate to be the one to toot my own horn, but please refer to my post of November 8, 2011.

But, seriously, could it have been an inked address stamp?

Of course, I cannot explain why there is no ink on the opposing metal surface.

Or, maybe there was a rubber stamp mounted on the flat surface and an ink pad in the recessed portion. When closed, the stamp would contact the inked pad. Open it and it's a usable stamp. Maybe an address. Maybe a signature.

Charlie Noyes
I think I nailed this one on day one.

Intuitive speculation.

I'm right so seldom, I just had to point this out.

It's hard to be humble.

Charlie Noyes

[Miller Bro's]

I think I nailed this one on day one.

Intuitive speculation.

I'm right so seldom, I just had to point this out.

It's hard to be humble.

Yes you did Charlie, I got to give you credit


Thanks Charlie and Perry for your comments

[Miller Bro's]

Here is another unusual old knife, a floating fishing knife with cork handles

[singin46]

Now that is unusual Dimitri!

[Miller Bro's]

Perry, I like unusual