Identification Question

[tjriz1]

I just put up my old Sabre Melon Tester - One of the most durable knife's as far as holding original condition - I am new to AAPK boards but there is so much information here - I've started to put together a broad range collection and picked up a Miniature 5pc tool kit - The Tang has "RELCO" Japan - I know there is a lot of Japan makers but I was wondering if anyone has ever seen one like this - Anytime I look up RELCO I get a lot of old Japan toys or salt/pepper shakers - LOL . . .

[tjriz1]

Could it be Boy Scout/Military? It came out of an Estate Auction w/some pretty nice PK's

[jerryd6818]

Welcome to AAPK. Glad to have you aboard.

You would probably get better exposure for your knife over in the Q&A forum. -- http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... um.php?f=4

Maybe one of the Mods will come along, see this and move your posts for you.

[AREMINGTONSEDGE]

Welcome my friend! I think that this is a common keychain manicure knife. The scales do not look like real pearl. The company you found associated with this,(Relco) would not surprise me that they also made toys or other gadget items. I don't believe it has great value other than it being a useful and convenient tool. None the less thanks for showing it and again welcome to AAPK!

[tjriz1]

Thanks Jerry & Rocky - Appreciate the feedback - Got my first books and been looking up many items but there's no better resource than good people !

[philco]

Hi triz1. Welcome to AAPK.

I agree with what Rocky has told you but wanted to also share that I don't think your knife was designed for the scouts or for military use. Additionally, the handles appear to me to be cracked ice celluloid and if that's what they are you need to be careful where you store the knife. Cracked ice cell (also lovingly known as mother of toilet seat) has a nasty habbit of breaking down chemically for no apparent reason and giving of some caustic fumes that can do great damage to any other knives in the vicinity. (A process commonly known as "outgassing" ) Because of this I'd suggest you store it separately from your other knives. Better safe than sorry.

[tjriz1]

Great advice ! I did not know that. I have a couple other knife handles like this I will be sure to take Carr while cleaning and storing. I purchased a couple lots at an auction and so far I've been very fortunate with a 1960s stag stockman Hen n Rooster and pre 70s Reb Bone Case XX 2 blade Med Stcoman but the knife position is more like a jack knife with the clip and drop on one side. Very nice though. It's a 62087. Thanks again.

[philco]

[orvet]

Welcome to AAPK!

From the style and design of your knife I would guess probably from the 50s or early 60s. This is prior to the high-end quality Japanese knife companies we are familiar with today. In the 1950s and early 60s Japan was still recovering from World War II. There were a lot of inexpensive knives coming out of Japan in those days, some of them worse than the cheap knives coming from China today.

I would not doubt that the same company made a variety of other products. That is not uncommon with Japanese companies. When I went to Japan in the Marine Corps in 1972 we were transported from the airbase where he landed to temporary barracks via bus. As I stepped on the bus I noticed down by the steps was the manufacturers data plate and in big letters the word KAWASAKI. As I sat down and waited for the bus to go I was expecting to hear a two-stroke motorcycle engine, but no Kawasaki also made diesel buses. Some Japanese companies were very diversified and I am sure after the war many were producing anything they could to make a profit.

[tjriz1]

Thanks Dale - I had heard stories of Mitsubishi and Hitachi making all kinds of diverse products and seems because of this it is very difficult to find any true company history on a lot of Japanese companies. The surprising thing with this knife is that the quality actually doesn't seem to be that bad - no rust, cleaned up well - All the parts slide in and out smoothly - I particularly like the the scissor configuration as they flip out horizontal from the bottom and the other four tool come out the top - usually you find swiss army style where the scissors open like a traditional flip knife. I've seen one similar Japan config like this and it sold for 100 BUT the handle was listed as Silver. I'm not by any means an expert but the set up and possible age doesn't seem to be common - probably not a lot of monetary value but I like it as it seems unique - I guess that's why Knife collecting is so addicting - LOL. . . Thanks again !