Kissing Crane made in Germany

[alfa5069]

Hi Guys,
Does anyone know is this Kisding Crane KC 46 made in Germany? The box says, for "150 years", "Quality Germany", Quality Solingen. Nothing mentioned in the tang about Germany.

Thanks,
Alfa

[just bob]

See if this helps. If not search the Q & A Forum for more info;


viewtopic.php?f=4&t=68506&p=857864&hilit=crane#p857864

[RevolverGuy]

I believe the 150th anniversary for Kissing Crane was in 1984, so if the box which states "150 years" is correct to the knife it must be German made.

[jwwood]

This seems to be a deja vu!

[Madmarco]

This seems to be a deja vu!

Either that or a "senior moment", J.W.!

[Toejammer]

This may help, or further confuse you, your results may vary ... Two of my stag handle KC's are stamped "ITALY", but the olive wood handled KC-48 is stamped "GERMANY" and also etched on the blade. The china versions I've seen will be etched really small "China" on the backside of the tang, and also they'll have that elaborate "Stilletto" etching on the blade.

Judging by the aging of the brass, and lack of etching on the blade, my guess is you have a German made KC-46 without a tang stamp or with a very light stamp.

[alfa5069]

Thank you.
Alfa

See if this helps. If not search the Q & A Forum for more info;


viewtopic.php?f=4&t=68506&p=857864&hilit=crane#p857864

[alfa5069]

Good ponit, thanks.
Alfa

I believe the 150th anniversary for Kissing Crane was in 1984, so if the box which states "150 years" is correct to the knife it must be German made.

[alfa5069]

This seems to be a deja vu!

[alfa5069]

Thanks a lot, it was helpful.
Very nice collection of stiletto knives you have
Some guys believe if it is Kissing Cranes it would be Germay made, if it is Kissing Crane without (s) so it is Chinese one, is that correct?

Regards,
Alfa

This may help, or further confuse you, your results may vary ... Two of my stag handle KC's are stamped "ITALY", but the olive wood handled KC-48 is stamped "GERMANY" and also etched on the blade. The china versions I've seen will be etched really small "China" on the backside of the tang, and also they'll have that elaborate "Stilletto" etching on the blade.

Judging by the aging of the brass, and lack of etching on the blade, my guess is you have a German made KC-46 without a tang stamp or with a very light stamp.

[Toejammer]

"Some guys believe if it is Kissing Cranes it would be Germay made, if it is Kissing Crane without (s) so it is Chinese one, is that correct?

Regards,
Alfa"

If that's the case, all mine are Chinese !

But seriously, all of mine (and others I've previously owned) never had the plural stamp on the tang, blade etch, or the emblem. I've seen the plural used on the box, but never on the knife itself. Over the years I have found that the older knives were made in Germany, then Italy, and then China and Chile. I could be wrong though. The traditional "Italian Stiletto" was never made with a high standard of craftsmanship, as they were churned out for the tourist trade after WWII. And now that unfinished "cheap" look is copied by everyone else. (it's part of their mystique now) That being said, you can't look at a China KC and say "well that looks like a kid built it, must be crap" because they all are made to look that way. Unfortunately, the nature of these knives themselves, make it almost impossible to tell the fakes from the originals simply on build quality.

When I'm hunting them on the bay, I look for a few things -
1) KC-46 , KC-47 , KC48 , KC-49, and I think there was a KC-45, I just haven't snagged one. The newer China / Chile knives have a four digit number now (example KC-5451)
2) If the seller doesn't show you the backside of the tang in their pictures, chances are they're hiding the China stamp.
3) I go by the color of the brass too. Unless someone buffed the crap out of it, the older brass fittings will be a nice caramel color.
4) There are still sellers with NOS knives out there, and they usually make a point of that fact, and that the knives are either Italy / Germany stock.

Anyhow, hope it helps some.

[alfa5069]

You're right! It can be valid just for the box not the knife utself.
I checked my Germany made one and the tang, blade etch and emblem are used singular:

Recently I got a KC-47 which seller said it is Italy made, but there is nothing in the tang and blade, but the box is singular one and it has this note: "Kissing Crane is a registered tradmark of United Cutlery".
There is no China stamped on knife, but I think this one could be made in China. See the photos:

It's so confusing!
Thanks for your info and comments.

Alfa

"Some guys believe if it is Kissing Cranes it would be Germay made, if it is Kissing Crane without (s) so it is Chinese one, is that correct?

Regards,
Alfa"

If that's the case, all mine are Chinese !

But seriously, all of mine (and others I've previously owned) never had the plural stamp on the tang, blade etch, or the emblem. I've seen the plural used on the box, but never on the knife itself. Over the years I have found that the older knives were made in Germany, then Italy, and then China and Chile. I could be wrong though. The traditional "Italian Stiletto" was never made with a high standard of craftsmanship, as they were churned out for the tourist trade after WWII. And now that unfinished "cheap" look is copied by everyone else. (it's part of their mystique now) That being said, you can't look at a China KC and say "well that looks like a kid built it, must be crap" because they all are made to look that way. Unfortunately, the nature of these knives themselves, make it almost impossible to tell the fakes from the originals simply on build quality.

When I'm hunting them on the bay, I look for a few things -
1) KC-46 , KC-47 , KC48 , and I think there was a KC-45, I just haven't snagged one. The newer China / Chile knives have a four digit number now (example KC-5451)
2) If the seller doesn't show you the backside of the tang in their pictures, chances are they're hiding the China stamp.
3) I go by the color of the brass too. Unless someone buffed the crap out of it, the older brass fittings will be a nice caramel color.
4) There are still sellers with NOS knives out there, and they usually make a point of that fact, and that the knives are either Italy / Germany stock.

Anyhow, hope it helps some.

[Toejammer]

From Kissing Crane website -

"In the 1980s there was a large demand in the U.S. for German made pocket knives. The United Cutlery company was originally started to be a source for knives made from all parts of the world, so at the time they were working with several German manufacturers to have an exclusive for the USA market. United Cutlery was importing stock German made pocket knives and stilettos from Boker and the Robert Klass factory around 1983.

United-Boker was the first German co brand started, then United Cutlery took over USA distribution of the Kissing Crane brand sometime around 1985. Kissing Crane became an exclusive United Cutlery brand a few years later. The Kissing Crane brand is now owned by On The Edge Brands, Inc. – a 25-year-old family owned business in Moultrie, Ga."

United Cutlery gets a bad rap because of all the fantasy blades they make now, overseas. (the Gil Hibben knives come to mind) But it looks like United was first started as a umbrella company to import German made brands.

As for your KC-47S, I had one awhile back and I'm pretty sure it was made in Italy. It's confusing for sure. That's why I tend to go after the old tourist trap stilettos now. Hard to find them in anything other than that faux buffalo horn color, but every now and then I find them in imitation white pearl, and even blue.

[alfa5069]

Thanks, I appreciate it

From Kissing Crane website -

"In the 1980s there was a large demand in the U.S. for German made pocket knives. The United Cutlery company was originally started to be a source for knives made from all parts of the world, so at the time they were working with several German manufacturers to have an exclusive for the USA market. United Cutlery was importing stock German made pocket knives and stilettos from Boker and the Robert Klass factory around 1983.

United-Boker was the first German co brand started, then United Cutlery took over USA distribution of the Kissing Crane brand sometime around 1985. Kissing Crane became an exclusive United Cutlery brand a few years later. The Kissing Crane brand is now owned by On The Edge Brands, Inc. – a 25-year-old family owned business in Moultrie, Ga."

United Cutlery gets a bad rap because of all the fantasy blades they make now, overseas. (the Gil Hibben knives come to mind) But it looks like United was first started as a umbrella company to import German made brands.

As for your KC-47S, I had one awhile back and I'm pretty sure it was made in Italy. It's confusing for sure. That's why I tend to go after the old tourist trap stilettos now. Hard to find them in anything other than that faux buffalo horn color, but every now and then I find them in imitation white pearl, and even blue.