All About Pocket Knives

I have had this knife for Months now.....does not have a tang stamp but does look like it has been buffed.
Is it just me or does it look like this Kershaw Trooper??......any thoughts?
Oh..I would like to add..it doesn't feel like a cheap knock off......feels like a quality made knife with great fit and finish.
Also...I have searched the web and can't find one in brass like mine..

Looks pretty close, Great lookin knife even if it aint

Thanks,Bro. .....I have had the chance to sale it a few times and haven't...I kinda like it..got a nice leather sheath also.

Hey Johnnie.. That is a way cool blade!! Nice carry for the unforseen events!! John

Yes Sir....boot knives are my favorite kinda fixed blades.

I don't believe it is a Kershaw but in fact a replica.A couple of reasons:

First the Kershaw had a nickle silver guard an pommel.Second and probably more important the fuller on a Kershaw runs almost all the way to the guard.Third;the sheath is not the correct shape and it looks like the hold down is wrong.Fourth;the wood on the original is ebony.Still a nice looking knife.
Here is a not so good pic of mine #3348 made in February 1980.I'll try and get a better picture up to show the details.

Yeah...I noticed all the differences that you mentioned....thats why I thought maybe it was older or newer than the actual Troopers,but of course I can't find any evidence to say for sure either way. ..More than likely you are correct....what really ticks me off is that I can plainly see where there was a name or something that has been buffed off.
Perhaps I'll never know but will probably keep it anyway...cause I love boot knives and the way this particular one feels in the hand is pretty cool.
Thank you,knife7knut for your input and the pic.

By the way...does your sheath have Kershaw or anything stamped on it?........mine has nothing.
I love your knife...if ever ya want to part with her please give me first dibs.

Thanks for the kind words Johnny.I'm kind of partial to boot knives myself even though they aren't a really practical carry knife.There's something that is just inherently sinister about them;sort of like the aura around Italian stilettos of the 50's.I think I may do a post about boot knives when I get a moment;I have some interesting ones.One of the wildest has a triangular blade with a hand made early Micarta handle that could almost be an OSS style knife.Bought it off e-Bay awhile back.
Anyway the sheath does not have any markings but as you can see it is more pointed and the strap is slightly longer.Here are some pics I took this morning.Don't think I'll be getting rid of it anytime soon but I'll keep you in mind.

There's something that is just inherently sinister about them;sort of like the aura around Italian stilettos

Yes...I feel the same way.I have had many over the years but now only a handful.

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I think I may do a post about boot knives

Please do...I have several to contribute. ..and would love to see more and hear the stories behind them.

Thanks again for your input a pics.

The early Troopers were made by Ichiro Hattori. He usually has some build-outs branded with his own name, as he also did with the Kershaw 1030 and several others. I've had a dozen or so pre 1980 examples and currently have serial number 0045 and 0167 in my showcase. When Hattori branded designs with his own name he usually made some subtle changes, such as brass instead of stainless mounts, etc. My guess is that the knife in question is one of his.

An interesting sidenote is that about the first 2,500 Troopers were made without a fuller. Usually the knives made before January 1980 have no fullers.

Very informative....Thank you.

Roush428r wrote:The early Troopers were made by Ichiro Hattori. He usually has some build-outs branded with his own name, as he also did with the Kershaw 1030 and several others. I've had a dozen or so pre 1980 examples and currently have serial number 0045 and 0167 in my showcase. When Hattori branded designs with his own name he usually made some subtle changes, such as brass instead of stainless mounts, etc. My guess is that the knife in question is one of his.

An interesting sidenote is that about the first 2,500 Troopers were made without a fuller. Usually the knives made before January 1980 have no fullers.

Thanks for the input on that Roush428r;I've always felt that the Kershaw knives of this era were very under-rated.I have several models and they are top quality pieces.

knife7knut wrote:I've always felt that the Kershaw knives of this era were very under-rated.I have several models and they are top quality pieces.

Yep...they're w-a-y under-rated. In fact, the only difference between some of the Kershaw knives and the one's Hattori branded under his own name is a few hundred dollars in price. One of my personal favorites is the Damascus boot knife that Wingen made for them in the mid 1980's.

Roush428r wrote:

knife7knut wrote:I've always felt that the Kershaw knives of this era were very under-rated.I have several models and they are top quality pieces.

Yep...they're w-a-y under-rated. In fact, the only difference between some of the Kershaw knives and the one's Hattori branded under his own name is a few hundred dollars in price. One of my personal favorites is the Damascus boot knife that Wingen made for them in the mid 1980's.

I don't have the damascus one but here is the regular with stag scales.I have a Puma boot knife that looks nearly identical so maybe Wingen made them as well.Also the hunter(I have a folding version as well but for some reason no picture).

Beautiful dagger. ...I have one of the drop points.

johnnierotten wrote:Beautiful dagger. ...I have one of the drop points.

That one was made by Hattori also.

knife7knut wrote:

Roush428r wrote:

knife7knut wrote:I've always felt that the Kershaw knives of this era were very under-rated.I have several models and they are top quality pieces.

Yep...they're w-a-y under-rated. In fact, the only difference between some of the Kershaw knives and the one's Hattori branded under his own name is a few hundred dollars in price. One of my personal favorites is the Damascus boot knife that Wingen made for them in the mid 1980's.

I don't have the damascus one but here is the regular with stag scales.I have a Puma boot knife that looks nearly identical so maybe Wingen made them as well.Also the hunter(I have a folding version as well but for some reason no picture).

The stag-handled one is called the "Gamekeeper". It looks like your has a serial number. If so, it was made for Snap-On Tools as part of the Premier Set. There were eight knives in this series with three or four being folders. The damascus is by far the hardest to find as few were made. I've had several over the years including and early one that stays in my personal collection. I'll actually be listing one of the damascus knives on eBay soon. I'll post a pic later when I get a chance.

Again,Thanks for the info..you definitely know your Kershaws. ......K7K...I really like that "GameKeeper" ..

Heres a few more Kershaws that I own...they're not made in Japan though.

johnnierotten wrote:Heres a few more Kershaws that I own...they're not made in Japan though.

These knives were from the American Wildlife Series and were made by custom maker Dan Harrison. Great knives but they were prone to splits in the laminated wood handles. Even Harrison's stag-handled bowie-style knives that he made for Kershaw were prone to handle splits.

Wow....you really do know your Kershaw's!! ....great info.

johnnierotten wrote:Wow....you really do know your Kershaw's!! ....great info.

Thanks...but if I ever reach the point where what I know even comes close to what I don't know, then I'll be getting somewhere.

Yeah...I hear ya.

Took me a while, but here are some pics of the Kershaw damascus boot knife.

Wow!!.....that is a super looking knife.....absolutely beautiful.