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Could this knife be from 1920 Campaign of Warren Harding?
Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:51 pm
by Turkey Creek Tom
This picture of an all metal two blade pen knife with a likeness and the words Warren Harding President USA. There is some marking on the large blade, but I can't make out the design. Writing seems to say S M F Co and I know it says Solingen Germany. In Goins' Encyclopedia he lists S M F Co as "Solingen Metallwaenfarik Stocker Co".
Do any of your sharpe knives think this could be Presidential Campaign Memorabilia from the 1920 Harding campaign?
Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 9:29 pm
by jonet143
wow, a tough one. i would think it's a later production. the war to end all wars was still on a lot of peoples minds and imo going to germany for a campaign knife would'nt have been prudent.
someone else might think differently. good luck
Re: Could this knife be from 1920 Campaign of Warren Harding
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:43 am
by dd206
I have the same knife, but in somewhat better condition. I'd love to know the history and its value. Thank you!
I need a magnifying glass to be sure, but it looks like, when the blade is open the blade nearest the hinge has the word "Neumann" and I think it says "& Co"
Re: Could this knife be from 1920 Campaign of Warren Harding
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:52 am
by Miller Bro's
To AAPK!
Is yours made by the same maker as the knife pictured in the first post?
Re: Could this knife be from 1920 Campaign of Warren Harding
Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:14 am
by jerryd6818
Welcome to AAPK.
Since Harding collapsed and died after less than a year and a half in office, I would speculate it's a memorial knife and probably dates to shortly after his death in August of 1923. Even though Harding won the Presidency by a landslide, he was not a very popular President (a good bit of corruption in his administration) so I wouldn't think he would have been memorialized for very long after his death. The one T.C.Tom posted back in '06 looks to have been carried extensively but yours is very fresh and appears to be in excellent condition. Congratulations. Nice old knife.
Re: Could this knife be from 1920 Campaign of Warren Harding
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:02 pm
by dd206
jerryd6818 wrote:Welcome to AAPK.
Since Harding collapsed and died after less than a year and a half in office, I would speculate it's a memorial knife and probably dates to shortly after his death in August of 1923. Even though Harding won the Presidency by a landslide, he was not a very popular President (a good bit of corruption in his administration) so I wouldn't think he would have been memorialized for very long after his death. The one T.C.Tom posted back in '06 looks to have been carried extensively but yours is very fresh and appears to be in excellent condition. Congratulations. Nice old knife.
Thank you. Does anyone know the value of such a thing? I need a magnifying glass to be sure, but it looks like, when the blade is open the blade nearest the hinge has the word "Neumann" and I think it says "& Co"
Re: Could this knife be from 1920 Campaign of Warren Harding
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:26 am
by knife7knut
dd206 wrote:jerryd6818 wrote:Welcome to AAPK.
Thank you. Does anyone know the value of such a thing? I need a magnifying glass to be sure, but it looks like, when the blade is open the blade nearest the hinge has the word "Neumann" and I think it says "& Co"
It may possibly be "Kauffmann & Co".
Re: Could this knife be from 1920 Campaign of Warren Harding
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 3:59 am
by dd206
knife7knut wrote:dd206 wrote:jerryd6818 wrote:Welcome to AAPK.
Thank you. Does anyone know the value of such a thing? I need a magnifying glass to be sure, but it looks like, when the blade is open the blade nearest the hinge has the word "Neumann" and I think it says "& Co"
It may possibly be "Kauffmann & Co".
It looks like Neumann and Co. And it says "Germany" on the other side. (My son took better pics with his phone!)
Re: Could this knife be from 1920 Campaign of Warren Harding
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 4:20 am
by Miller Bro's
That is why I asked for the name on the tang before jumping to conclusions.
Goins lists a H.Neumann in New York circa 1949-51. This knife was made in Germany for either this firm or another with a similar name.
Knives are still being made today and sold with past presidents on them.
As far as value goes, when you list it on e-bay you will find it`t current market value
