Hot and Cold?

[Joe Dirt]

Do these two stamps appear to have been stamped by different methods?
Same pattern knife - same length... one bone handle one celluloid. Stamps date to same year.

Thanks in advance!
(this pic blows up REAL BIG)

..... Joe

[knife7knut]

Just my opinion but I think the stamp on the left was a harder(deeper)strike than the other.Looks like the metal got displaced more.A number of factors could have contributed to that including a slight loss of power to the stamping machine;harder heat treating of the tang;maybe even some dirt under the blade to cause it to protrude higher.

[singin46]

I would agree with K7K, it looks to be same stamp but not as much pressure applied or something else. Fonts look the same to me.

[Iron Hoarder]

The one on the left was probably made by a dull worn stamp.

[Ramrod]

They do look different. More space between letters of stamp on right. The blade on the right looks older too. Just thinking out loud.
Mark

[msteele6]

I've always wondered how many stamps a cutlery might have at any one time. It wouldn't surprise me if it was 20 - 30 or even more. Add to that the number of years a particular stamping was used (15 - 20 years for Case Tested e.g.) and there might have been hundreds of stamps in various states of wear used during a time period. Further, as new stamps are ordered the stamp maker must have varied the spacing, size, and so forth for the stamps producing more variability. Given this and the vagaries of the stamping process itself, it isn't really surprising that there is a wide variation between the look of the tang stampings on knives.

Finally, this doesn't take into account the history of the stamping AFTER it left the factory, wear to the stamp, corrosion, cleaning.

It seems that many collectors examine a tang stamping with the critical eye of a Secret Service agent examining a $100 bill, and while the stamping is very important, it's really no more important than all of the other characteristics of the knife in determining its authenticity. I think that this is what Mr. Levine means when he counsels collectors to "read the knife", not just the tang stamp.

JMO

[knifetime]

You are so right,msteele.As was Mr Levine.
P.S The stamp is done cold in factory knives then they are heat treated.

[Joe Dirt]

Ya, I think that there two totally different stamps that were used. The one on the left is likely worn while
the stamp on the right is nice and crisp - so it leads me to believe it's a "fresh" stamp.

Your right on with your opinions, msteele! Just so happens that I was reading the knives when I noticed the
difference in the stamps.

Here's what I am dealing with. Two 1936 - 1952 stamped knives... one with a black jigged cell handle. the other
a bone handle.

This was a re-blade from a year or so ago, for an EDC using the full blades from the cell handle in the bone handle.
(I have tried carrying a spear blade several times and it's just not pointy enough for what I like.)
These blades were a direct replacement - made to the exact same dimensions.

Maybe you guys can still help me out with the time frames of these knives.

Could the bone handle have been military issue? Note how close to the spine the pulls are on BOTH blades! This is
a brass lined and pinned knife.

The cell handle knife is ALL STEEL except for the handle material (even the pins & bail are steel).
Is this possibly a civilian knife while there was a drive for the brass needed for the war??

Thanks guys! I always appreciate your knowledge and help!

....... Joe