All About Pocket Knives

Does anyone know the letter date codes for the Klein brand knives, like Buck and Wester use/used? I have a Klein knife with a letter code that will tell the year of manufacture but I don't have the information on the letter codes that tells the year. Thanks for any help.

Aimus

Aimus, are you talking about the letter above Klein Tool? I have/had an 'I' and have an 'AA' and don't remember what the other one is without digging it out. Didn't know that was a date code. Learn something new every day at AAPK. I'll be interested to see what you find out.

Is it safe to assume you've posed this question on other forums as well?

Aimus. I contacted Klein about a "U" tang stamp. I got a reply within a couple days. My "U" was from 1982. I was told that "A" is 1962 and moves forward one letter per year, kinda? With "I" and "O" being skipped from time to time? I'm not sure about the double letters.

Here's the link to contact them. It might be your best bet.
[email protected]

Here's what they had to say about my "U"

Quote after asking if the date moves forward with the letter starting with "A-1962":

"It depends on the supplier of the blades but generally, yes, that is how our date stamps work. We have skipped "I" and "O" from time to time to avoid confusion.

Best regards,

Bill"

Thanks Cutty. That's good information. The Kleins don't go for much money but as you well know, those of us with "the bug" are always wanting to know when it was made.

Glad I could lend a hand Jerryd.

Most of my posts are in question form and I have never asked one that could not be answered or pointed in the right direction on here.

I am with you on dating. I love to do the research on my knives regardless of value. Thats at least half of the fun for me.

Thanks for the information on the letter codes Cutty. If you add it up, your Klein with the letter "U" being a 1982 made knife, it would have to include the letters "I" and "O" in the list for the letter "U" to come to the year 1982. Yea Jerry, I was wanting to know the codes for the letters on the tang stamp of a Klein hawk bill knife my brother-in-law gave me. Your letter "I" would be 1970 and the letters "AA" would be 1988, that is if the letter code starts over with double letters after the letter "Z". I've got some other Klein knives, more hawk bills and TL-29 type knives that I never noticed the letter code on. I'm going to contact Klein to see if the double letters that started after the letter "Z" were listed as "AA" then "AB" or "BB". I'll let you know what they tell me.

Aimus

I'm puttin all my money on "AB".

OK guys & gals, I'm not trying to get an argument started or anything with anything that's been posted so far and I'm not disputing anyone's post but I got a reply back from Klein Tools about their letter code date tang stamps stamped on their knives. Remember now, don't kill the messenger. Here's what Klein Tools said to my question of how their letter date code tang stamp on their knives worked:


Dear Sir,
Thank you for contacting Klein Tools with your question about how Klein Tools letter date code tang stamp on our knives is read. Klein Tools began using a letter code on the tang stamp of knives that we made for dating purposes beginning in 1972 and we started that year with the letter "I". Then the next letter in the alphabet "J" was used for the next year 1973 and so on. Klein has make mistakes in our letter code date tang stampings in 1979 by omitting the letter "Q" and we skipped on to the letter "R", then another mistake was made in 1997 by using both letters "I" and "J" for that year. Once we hit the letter "Z" in 1988, we started over with the letter "A", not with double letter date codes tang stamps. Therefor a Klein knife with a tang stamp letter "A" date code =1989. We are currently at the letter "Y" =2012. When we hit the letter "Z" again next year, it is yet to be seen what type of tang stamp code Klein Tools will use on knives made after the letter "Z". Prior to 1972, Klein Tools used a 3-letter code tang stamp on our knives, though not every knife was stamped and would not have those 3-letters stamped on the knife anywhere. Klein Tools has never used a 2 -letter code date stamp. If you have a Klein marked knife that has a 2 -letter code tang stamped on it, the knife was most likely stamped that way by a cutlery manufacturer that we contracted to make the knife for us and we have no information on how that letter code date tang stamp would work, or who the exact contracted knife manufacturer was that made the knife. I hope this helps answer your question and thank you for your interest in Klein Tools. If I can be of further service to you please feel free to contact Klein Tools.
Regards,
Bill
Klein Tools


Now if that ain't throwing a cat in the middle of a dog fight and mixing things up, I don't know what is. Feel free to contact Klein Tools and ask them the same question and see what reply you get. It would be interesting to see what their reply is since seeing the one they gave Cutty and the one they gave me. I sent my question to the U.S.A. Division, not the International Division of Klein Tools. I don't know if that would make a difference or not?

Aimus

Well lucky me. I just happen to have one of those they didn't make with double letters, sittin' right here on my desk, waiting to be shipped off to be turned into something other than an electricians knife.

Ah well. I'll just stick that little tid-bit of information in the .doc with the rest of it.

You're right, Aimus. That does throw a bucket of cats in the dog pen.

Jerry, that makes yours special! I wish they used the letter codes on their tools, I have some sidecutters I bought when I was in HS, and other Klein's I bought while in college and later (my Granddad and my uncle both owned electrical contracting companies).

Old Hunter wrote:Jerry, that makes yours special!

Yeah, Colonel. That just means I get to ride the short bus.

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh OK

I'll just tell people mine has a date code "U" for Undetermined.

Well "Bill" is the same guy??? that I quoted in a response to my email. Not even sure why they date them with that much lack of organization. I am now on the hunt for a quad "A".

Thanks for the info Aimus

So, if I have some Klein knives without a dating tang stamp, are they legitimate Kleins?

kjwknvs wrote:So, if I have some Klein knives without a dating tang stamp, are they legitimate Kleins?

I feel comfortable in saying yes. I can't imagine anyone counterfeiting a Klein.

kjwknvs,
With the admission of such variable practices, it would seem logical that some of the Klein knives could slip through without a date stamp. Would you go out of your way to a "fake" Klien? I have a couple of Kliens, that don't come close to any collectable knife in fit and finish. But as a utility knife they seem to have always been tough as nails. Just my thoughts on the subject .
Treefarmer

Edit: I see Jerryd has the same opinion, 2 Marines can't be wrong !

Thank you! I didn't think they were counterfeits, but I just wanted to make sure!!

I really appreciate the information more than you know. I have always been a knife "enthusiast," but I have just recently started learning about all of the different knives. My dad has always been more of the "pocket knife" enthusiast where I have always leaned toward a more "tactical" type folding knife.

I always knew that I "liked" a knife, but had never really realized the history involved with all the different types. I am amazed, and at the same time overwhelmed. There is just SO MUCH to learn!! I love this forum. Every day, I learn new things.

Here are the Kleins that I was referring to.

Those are some interesting knives. I must admit I had tunnel vision when I responded this morning, I was thinking of the old style electricians knives, the TL-29 configuration. Still don't think anyone would try to duplicate the Klien brand knives, maybe their Lineman's pliers but not the knives .
Treefarmer