All About Pocket Knives

My 91 yr old Dad recently passed away.

I found this (coin-type knife? Watch fob knife?) in his things in a keepsake box along with his Korean War and China service medals from his 1947-1951 naval service.

Any thoughts on what this is? heritage? manufacturer?

Funny, I just posted two of mine in the "Figural Knives" thread.

Jim, I could have done a better job of responding to your post.

Sorry to hear of your fathers passing. He was an obvious Patriot as I am sure you are too.

FRJ wrote: ↑Sat Nov 20, 2021 3:17 am Jim, I could have done a better job of responding to your post.

Sorry to hear of your fathers passing. He was an obvious Patriot as I am sure you are too.

No worries Joe and thank you.

What is a figural knife?

I guess the best way to describe them is they are knives that resemble figures of some shape.

Look for the "Figural Knives" thread in Knife Lore. There are a few in there.

FRJ wrote: ↑Sat Nov 20, 2021 3:23 am I guess the best way to describe them is they are knives that resemble figures of some shape.

Look for the "Figural Knives" thread in Knife Lore. There are a few in there.

Will do. Do you see a figure in my Dad's ?

Maybe a big sumo wrestler?

I think the object itself determines figural.

And frankly, I'm hoping that these are indeed figural. It seems like they should be but I could be wrong.
I called them coin knives, maybe they're medal knives. I don't really know.

LibertyKeeper wrote: ↑Sat Nov 20, 2021 2:58 am My.....

It looks like the tang stamp says VOOS - STAINLESS.

I believe these are called cigar cutter knives.

Condolences on your loss.
First Voos (New Haven, CT.1921-1980's), Iv'e ever seen. Many were advertising giveaways by Ambassador (Colonial) in the 30's-50's.
Not saying it is but the pic looks like gold. ?? Nice little keepsake from your Dad. J.O'.

Sorry for your loss.

My first thought was that it looked like gold. It’s beautifully made. I would have called it a coin knife.

Lots of people have called these cigar cutters.

I find it difficult to believe that was ever gheir intent and if so, very poorly designed for that purpose.

Charlie Noyes

RobesonsRme.com wrote: ↑Sat Nov 20, 2021 5:36 pm Lots of people have called these cigar cutters.

I find it difficult to believe that was ever gheir intent and if so, very poorly designed for that purpose.

Charlie Noyes

I've got the one my Grandfather had.
I remember him using it to cut the tip of his cigars.
Its advertising Coca-Cola. I tried to find it but it looks like this one I found online.

FWIW.

I’ve always heard those referred to as coin knives. IMHO they fall into the figural knife category because they have the shape of a coin. By virtue of the ring/bale attachment on many of them I believe they were used as watch fob knives during the time when men carried pocket watches. The OP knife appears to be gold plated, which was commonplace for watch fob knives. Looks like it was possibly made to be engraved on the shield area (although I see no signs of engraving in the pictures provided).

I agree with Charlie - poor design for a cigar cutter. Certainly could be used for that purpose though.

Ken

I would have to have it acid tested to see if gold

My guess is rolled gold (gold rolled over brass... Which makes it only 5-10% gold vs much higher percent in 10k, 14k etc gold

Yes cool keepsake made by VOOS and I'd call it coin knife

Here's a couple of better pics... Click on for higher resolution

I would have to have it acid tested to see if gold

My guess is rolled gold (gold rolled over brass... Which makes it only 5-10% gold vs much higher percent in 10k, 14k etc gold

Yes cool keepsake made by VOOS and I'd call it coin knife

Here's a couple of better pics... Click on for higher resolution

The case is brass with a plating on it, never seen one solid gold.

These were inexpensive knives when new and yes in some ads they were advertised as cigar cutters, usually those had a small hole in the cover to insert the tip of the cigar, (Cheroot), to cut the tip off.

Nice little knife, welcome aboard

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Sun Nov 21, 2021 11:19 pm The case is brass with a plating on it, never seen one solid gold.

These were inexpensive knives when new and yes in some ads they were advertised as cigar cutters, usually those had a small hole in the cover to insert the tip of the cigar, (Cheroot), to cut the tip off.

Nice little knife, welcome aboard

Thank you, glad to be here and am having fun learning about knives and collecting, etc