TSCO who made them ?

[zed6309]

I'm thinking possibly japanes odd with a pen blade instead of a spey and it's the only blade with a halfstop , anyone any info on them

[Papa Bones]

TSCO Cutlery Inc. Chattanooga TN was incorporated in 1981, and closed in 1987. The knives were made by Parker Cut Co. in Japan. The Vette Series of knives can be found with both the TSCO Chattanooga TN tang stamp as well as the Parker Cut. Co. Tang Stamp with the Parker Eagle. All had a blade etch for the year of Corvette it was for and had a seriel number stamped on the front bolster. Most of the ones I've seen had different boxes than yours . All the boxes had the same graphics, but some had TSCO printed on them and some had Parker Cut Co on them.
The particular ones I've seen are listed below. The first group has the blade etch of "THE VETTE SERIES" with the year. I have listed them by the Year, The Tang Stamp, and the color of handle.
1953 TSCO (Gold)
1954 TSCO (Red)
1955 TSCO (Dark Blue)could just be a variation of color mix
1955 TSCO (Purple)
1956 TSCO (Brown)
1956 TSCO (Olive)
1957 TSCO (Tan)
1957 TSCO (Pinkish Tan) could just be a variation of color mix
1958 TSCO (Tan)
1959 Parker (White)
1960 Parker (Red)
1961 Parker (Yellow)
1962 Parker (green)
1963 Parker (Brown)
1964 Parker (Gold)
There is also one with a blade etch like yours "The Vette Series 1953-1976" with the TSCO tang stamp and has black handles, but does not have a year on the handle like yours. I'm wondering if these with the brown box like yours was the first ones?

Below are photos of the different boxes.
TSCO

PARKER

[kootenay joe]

Smitty, great info but OP knife has a different box and handle is not the 1954 red. It appears to be a black handle. Maybe this was a later run after original run sold out ?
kj

[Papa Bones]

Smitty, great info but OP knife has a different box and handle is not the 1954 red. It appears to be a black handle. Maybe this was a later run after original run sold out ?
kj

The OP's question was who made the knives. I addressed that. The photo's of the boxes were just to show the slight change between the TSCO & Those with Parker on them. Also in the last couple of sentences I addressed his knife and one just like his with the same box but it didn't have the year on the handle. It is hard to find much info on these knives, but His and the other black handle could have either been a first issue or possibly a last issue. Or they could have been a special issue at a premium. It would be great if we could find someone who collected them all and still had all their receipts, and dates.

[zed6309]

Thanks for all the info Smitty much appreciated I was thinking this came out in 76 confusing having 1953-1976 on it ? I thought it was Japanese as had that feel about it , I'm guessing there not overly collectable? I didn't pay too much for it and it looks nice displayed with my other stockmans