5" 6 Blade All Metal Figural Utility Knife

[kootenay joe]

This knife is unlike any other i have seen. The shape of the metal handle resembles an airplane looked at side on. The backside is embossed ? with what looks like a WW II Japanese Kamikaze bomber ? (i know nothing about airplanes) along with the setting sun emblem on the Japanese flag.
The front handle says "Contrast And Superior Quality" with "Refit Steeling Knife" under this. Above "Contrast ---" it says "This Knife Is All Possible Non To".
Combined they say: "This Knife Is All Possible Non To Refit Steeling Knife".
No markings on the blades.
Might this be a post WW II Japanese knife made from melted down armaments ?
Please share your thoughts.
Also, if i use metal polish to remove the dark tarnish on the handles the letters/words will be clearer and easier to read. Should i do this ?
kj

[RobesonsRme.com]

Roland, look at the bottom right of page 303 in Levine's Guide IV.



Charlie Noyes

[knife7knut]

Interesting knife! I do not have LG-IV so I can't reference it but the knife has the general shape of the Mercator K55K made by Kaufmann.The screwdriver blade looks like a lot of the French models that are fitted in multi-blade models as does the cap lifter somewhat.The plane looks like a Japanese Zero but a lot of WWII era planes looked similar. The Rising Sun is definitely a Japanese reference. The detail in the scales looks a bit like the pre-WWII Daniel Peres figural knives. I have one post WWII hapanese multi-blade with cast brass handles and they are crude compared to this.
If I had to speculate I would say it was probably of German origin and probably post WWII.JMHO

[kootenay joe]

Thanks for this help.
Charlie, you found it ! Levine shows the same knife on page 303. The details are rather vague: circa 1940, Japan or Germany and marked "Sharpe, Non To Compare".
The markings on mine are not the same, no "Sharpe" and has "Non To Contrast and Superior Quality".
I guess mine to be from Japan not Germany based on the rather crude workmanship and the Rising Sun emblem.
That did not take long thanks to you Charlie (& Bernard).
kj

[Miller Bro's]

Also, if i use metal polish to remove the dark tarnish on the handles the letters/words will be clearer and easier to read. Should i do this ?
kj

No

[kootenay joe]

Thank you. I will heed this sage advice. (even though i really want to polish it !)
kj

[RobesonsRme.com]

Roland, I knew that knife was in LG, because I'd seen it there twenty or more years ago.

I just had to find it again.

Charlie Noyes

[Miller Bro's]

I am pretty sure the knife was made in Japan, if I had to guess who made it or atleast parts for it, I would guess MITSUBISHI STEEL CO.LTD. They had the capability to make springs and stamp out blades and steel handles.

All of them I have handled were not well made, the blades were not hardened/tempered correctly, not very good snap or fit and finish.

Also, the bottom line on your knife should read "Best Selling Knife" I am pretty sure the wording was misspelled so now it is hard to decipher but that's the only thing that makes sense.