All About Pocket Knives

I know this was (Parker) is in many Forums. I know they were designed by Jim Parker and made in Japan, for his company, it feels as though he's a Charlie Brown (Peanuts) Nobody seems to like his knives and the value of Parker's are moot, Were the material's from America and then sent to Japan for production? or there were just too many made? But some Parker's are never used or carried. they look good on the photos that were posted in the years back to now. On most of Parker knives have "surgical" steel it just may mean Stainless. so to all the experts on knives do tell why the Parker's are not always a Gold mine to collector's so to speak.

The Parker knives I have look good in pictures but when you get them in hand there is an unfinished look and feel about them. As if the hafting and buffing wasn’t finished properly as compared to a Case, GEC, Camillus or Schrade. In an earlier thread on this same subject someone described it as the Parker knives not having “soul”. I think that sums it up pretty well. Hard to explain in words, but you know it when you see it.

Parker himself is a controversial figure. Some swear he was a great guy. Others say he was a shyster and a crook. I think that also has some bearing on the popularity of his knives. JMO

Ken

LDF, I think you touched on some relevant points. There were a lot made back then. The quality isn’t up to the standards of knives made today by Moki, Mcusta, Hiro, G Sakai, IC Cut. I’m not particularly fond of the bone that they used on many knives. It stands out like a sore thumb and I can spot one in an instant. I’m not sure about the stainless steel that they used. I think there have been some complaints that the stainless was not made to a very high standard. And compared to the VG-10 ,ATS-34, AUS-8 and AUS-6 that is used today on most Japanese knives, it doesn’t compare well.
What it all comes down to is the quality issues and the number of knives produced. At least that’s what I think is the reason.

The ones I have are good knives. I have had them over 30 years. I have thrown away 2 knives in my life, one German made the other USA made. My Parker and Frost knives from then are very decent especially considering the price of admission.

From my experience I have found most Parker knives to be of very decent quality;especially the Parker-Imai and the Parker-Edwards models. As to their relative collectability(or lack thereof),some of it may attributed to Mr. Parker's business practices.Another possibility is that many people were jealous of his success in the knife business.Whatever the case no one can deny his role in making the hobby,business or whatever you wish to call it what it is today.
I for one think Parker knives are under-rated both in collectibility and quality.Just my humble opinion folks.

I'd take a Parker over most of the traditional knives made overseas today. James Parker was just one person. He was a businessman. He didn't make the knives. A lot of good, hardworking Americans were responsible for that part (or I guess if they were made in Japan, then Japanese). There are a few in my collection that I have held on to because the pattern was unique–or the craftsmanship was there. Regardless of what people think about Mr. Parker, the company is part of knife history. What remained of the original Parker and Schrade are what started Bear and Son Cutlery.

I think a lot of the disinterest in Parker knives may have something to do with his ownership in Case and the subsequent deterioration of quality in their products during his tenure.That is a whole other subject for debate and/or conjecture.
I posted some of these in the Parker forum on AAPK several years ago and since then have acquired several more. The only ones I can see that are of questionable quality are the 1982 World's Fair knife(looks like it was a cheap Chinese product)and the weird looking serrated one that looks like a horse's leg. The others although varying in quality are still decent knives(JMHO).

A few more

Last ones for now

I bought a Parker last night, Japanese made. I will be looking it over carefully. The one thing I know of concerning Mr. Parker is that he added some years of life to the German made Bulldog brand and the quality was as excellent at the end as it was in the beginning years. At least my experience has been that it is not too difficult to find knives of excellence in every generation of Bulldog.

I also see evidence that he loved knives. More than that I do not know.