Indian Head pocket knives

[littledel1]

Hi all, I am a new member and just beginning to collect knives. I have 50-60 that I have collected over the years. One that I acquired recently is an Indian Head stockman. I had never seen one before and it is really a looker and seems like a nice knife. I would like any information on the maker of these knives like company, location, how long have they been making these knives, etc. Would appreciate any help on the subject. Thanks.

[jonet143]

welcome to the site. i think they are made in china (used to be made in germany) at the same factory as rough riders. got a picture?

[Unk]

Hi, and welcome to the site.

I believe Indian Head knives are made in the Eye Brand factory in Solingen, Germany.

Eye Brand makes very good knives (in my opinion).

Thanks,
Unk

[littledel1]

Sorry, I am not set up to do pics at this time. The knife has a blue handle and is supposed to be hand-made according to the etching on the main blade. It is razor sharp! A couple of my buddies have already tried to buy it, but I just couldn't do it. I had read somewhere that they were made in Germany, but wasn't sure. Isn't Solingen the same place where Boker knives are made. I have a Boker stockman that is pearl handled that I am pretty fond of too.

[Unk]

After a little more research, I think Johnny is right - they have outsourced to China.

Some of the older Indian Heads say "Hand Made in Germany" on the blade, but the new ones on e-bay just say "Hand Made".

The manufacturer's like to brag about "Made in Germany" (for good reason) but they don't like to advertise "Made in China" (again, probably for good reason).

Unk

[knowtracks]

Our old friend Clarence Risner owns the Indian Head stamp. He has made some (in Germany) in the past & probably will in the future. But right now he has leased the name out to Smokey Mountain who is doing their thing.
Hope this helps,
Dave

[kman101256]

A German Made Indian Head has this on the blade:

Like the others said previously, the Chinese ones don't say this.
Marty

[hot tempered steel]

Got a picture of the complete knife kman? I like long pull blades with swedge cuts.

[kman101256]

As requested, here is the knife:

Marty

[hot tempered steel]

OH YEA! That's what I'm talkin about! Nice one kman, very nice.

[redferd]

Nice looking knife. I like the stockman style.

[philco]

That's a nice one! Don't let your buddies talk you out of that one unless they bring something major to the trade. That would be a good one to put up and keep, especially now that production has moved to China. It is unlikely that they will now go back to making them in Germany.

[knowtracks]

The Indian Head will be made in Germany again (same factory as the Eye Brand) and probably this year. But that exact pattern won't be redone so it would be a good keeper.

[dkonopinski]

Indian Head is a new one to me. That looks a very nice knife indeed. I wouldn't part with that.

David

[littledel1]

My Indian Head doesn't say made in Germany, just Hand-Made and has the imprints of the indian heads on the knife handle and all the blades. I still like it alot. If and when they start making them in Germany again, I will be wanting me some of that!

[D Murph]

I have a 3 blade Indian Head, Hand Made Germany, C Risner, Solingen with a brown and white buckhorn style handle. I can’t find any indication on how old this knife is or what it’s current value might be.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Mumbleypeg]

Best source of current value is an advanced search for sold listings (what the item actually sold for, not what sellers are asking) of the item on eBay. From what I see, looks like the German-made C. Risner Indian Head pocket knives are selling for $20-30. The China made ones are in the $12-15 range.

I have no idea how to tell how old one might be. Maybe someone can tell us.

Ken

[kootenay joe]

There was a brief resurgence of Solingen made knives in late 1970's-early 1980's. Fight'n Rooster started in 1977 and Bulldog in 1980.
I do not know, but suspect that the original C. Risner Indian Head knives began about the same time. I think they were made for only a few years.
kj