All About Pocket Knives

I was able to finally get into the back of my safe today and dug out a knife that my grandfather gave me a long time ago.

I was hoping that someone could help me date it and also what kind of value it has. It's not for sale as I'm sure it's sentimental value far exceeds its monetary value. I was just curious anyways.

Now, about the knife.

The markings on the knife say

American Knife Company Germany
Original Bowie knife
Sabre Solingen
And there is a 171 also on it.
Handle appears to be bone or possibly antler.

Any info would be much appreciated.

I can't add much information but I have a "Sabre Solingen" marked knife that I've had since some time in the 80s . It's a well made knife. Can't wait to see what information your post generates.

philco wrote:I can't add much information but I have a "Sabre Solingen" marked knife that I've had since some time in the 80s . It's a well made knife. Can't wait to see what information your post generates.

It's a very well made knife. I searched on google and eBay and found knives with similar blades but none with handles quite like this one.

Hoping someone with more knowledge can chime in and give better info.

Hoping someone with more knowledge can chime in and give better info.

Me too.

Interesting knife. I believe that the handle may have been a later addition as all of the knives I have seen used stag slabs(or a one piece stag)with an aluminum pommel and brass pommel nut. If it was added later it looks like someone did it who knew what they were doing.
I haven't seen a Sabre knife marked Solingen before;all the ones I'm familiar with were of Japanese origin. I have seen the stamp American Cutlery Co Germany and the Original Bowie Knife stamp before.I think these knives were made by one or two companies and stamped with various company names.Nice looking knife whatever the case.

I think Ray is right, I believe the handle is not original but added later.
Nice knife though!

The handle feels so perfect in the hand too. If it was done later I agree with the above comment thT they knew what they were doing.

not much info on your knife, but I do have a fish knife that has the same markings. As for the handle, being a custom knife maker, your handle probably has been replaced at some time with what I'm sure is elk antler or maybe deer. Nice natural shape to it. Thanks for posting your bowie, Terry

Interesting knife Terry.
It looks like an Imperial shell handled fish knife.
Can you tell if it is a shell handled knife?
It would not surprise me if it was, as the shell handles began in Germany.

Dale, pretty sure my fish knife has celluloid handles scales, they have shrunk up a little next to the bolsters. but I don't know much about shell handles sorry it took so long to respond. Terry

Do you see tabs on the bolsters as pointed out on this shell handle knife?

JWheeler331 wrote:I was able to finally get into the back of my safe today and dug out a knife that my grandfather gave me a long time ago.

I was hoping that someone could help me date it and also what kind of value it has. It's not for sale as I'm sure it's sentimental value far exceeds its monetary value. I was just curious anyways.

Now, about the knife.

The markings on the knife say

American Knife Company Germany
Original Bowie knife
Sabre Solingen
And there is a 171 also on it.
Handle appears to be bone or possibly antler.

Any info would be much appreciated.

I agree that the handle may have been added later. Sabre is a hard knife to date, they made them so much later, that it's hard to date them.

I can't back this up but I don't think the German Sabres were made past the late '50s or early '60s. I remember starting to see the cheaper U.S. made ones in the early '60s. Some of the last ones made in Germany had composition stag handles but the older ones had the classic German stag of that era. Yours is really a great knife!

Sabre was a brand of Cole National Corporation and was used on knives from Germany, Japan, Ireland, USA, and China over many years. Cole owned Ka-Bar for a while as well as other cutlery brands.