All About Pocket Knives

Hello
I got a mint knife
looks like a gent's 3 inch folder Number 239 on it
On the blade it says
We the people
200 Birthday of American constitution 1787-1987
OK letters are stamped on the tang.
Blade appears to have been forged, the handle is brass with oak inlays.
Knife is a regular folder with a backlock.
I think I had seen this OK stamp before just cant remember the guy.
K crosses into the O at the bottom.
That's all. Any info on maker, value much appreciated. Thanks.

welcome to the site.
boker used o.k. 1867-1917.
also o.k. celebrated cutlery. had patriotic message etched on blade. no time frame.
your knife is too young for either.
ontario knife?

are you sure that is "ok" on the tang? tangs not read that way normally.
nothing on pile side?

Thank you for your reply. Sorry for the sorry pics but it is OK cut into ricasso actually while on the back side of ricasso it appears to have a serial # 006461. I guess you are right the knife was made in 1987. I think it could be some obscure knifemaker who made possibly no more than 250 of these back 22 years ago. But I could have sworn that I had seen this OK stamp on custom knives before in a knife magazine. Anyhow I picked it up for $10 so no money wasted.

Hi Hammerhead - Welcome to the site...

You may be thinking of Olsen Knife Co., in Howard City, Mich. They also stamped their knives "OK". There was also an Olsen Knife made in Germany, and imported to the US. But, I think Johnnie has got this one pegged - Ontario Knife Co would be my guess, as well.

The Michigan Olsen knives were known for fixed-blade hunters, with good steel, and long exaggerated finger guards.

Hope this helps,
JR

Thank you is it possible to give any estimate of value for it?

from my research i found that queen made most of the pocket knives for ontario knives in the seventies. if yours is queen made, just a guess $30-$60.

Thanks a lot. Wow that is an instant 100%-200% ROI guaranteed!

that ain't guaranteed! actual value will be determined if you sell it.

Isn't that tang stamp a Q with a folder knife as the tail of the letter? That is, I do believe, one of the tang stamps Queen has used.

It might have been made by Queen..but I don't think thats a Queen stamp...atleast none that I ever saw.

JR has convinced me I am incorrect about the Queen tang stamp. When I'm wrong, I'll admit it. (even though it hurts me to)

Phil

Interesting, discussion continues. I looked at the blade again. Signs of forging apparent, it is not a production knife, this one is a custom. The way it is put together, it is definitely handmade. Back lock is machined from a bar of steel and is the tightest one I ever tried. This knife snaps so well when opened. OK might look like a Q but it is not. It is definitely an O and K. But anyhow I like the simplicity of this knife, it is charming. I guess it will be my mystery piece. Again thanks everyone for their input.

I just picked up 3 pocket knives in a box of things at a sale. 2 of the knives have the OK on the blade, the other knife says Kutmaster Utica NY. All 3 knives look identical except for the grips.

another picture

ONTARIO KNIFE, Franklinville, NY. By Queen. Here's an ONTARIO 603 Made in USA "OLD HICKORY" Hope it helps. J.O'.

BTW: Blade's not bad, never resharpened, bolsters thin, loose pin, handle kinda cheaply made plastic. Probably fighting the Asian imports. c. 1989. J.O'.

This is the confusing part. I often see Queen and Ontario tang stamps on military issue TL-29s and Demo Knives, but otherwise, they look the same. I think the production of those was probably mostly at Ontario's facilities, as Ontario sold the "Camp Knife" (their catalog name for the "Demo" knife) long after they sold Queen to the Daniels family.


Interestingly enough, I had a Queen #1 with an Ontario tang stamp that I traded. It wasn't as bad as that Old Hickory. Better than a Klein, but still not a high-end Queen by any means.

Yes ontario knife co.