Tang Stamp ID?

[DMLEATH]

I can’t quite read the letters on this one. Can someone point me in the direction to research? Thanks so much!

[EyeBJoe]

DMLEATH, the bone on your knife looks to be German in my opinion. Looking at a reprint of a book entitled "German Tool And Blade Makers", there is a listing for the name "KAKAIME" associated with a maker, Karl Kaiser. There is no additional information on which to base a search. I have no idea whether this is correct to your knife but it is the closest I could find. Good luck in your search.

Joe D.

[ea42]

Wow Joe you nailed it, good eyes! There seem to be more of their razors out there than knives. Here's a bit more info copied off the web:

Karl Kaiser. Solingen-Merscheid: Olgastrasse 17 in 1922. Brand name: 'Kakaime' (1922).

Eric

[kootenay joe]

Very attractive pen knife. I wonder if blades are a stainless steel ?
kj

[DMLEATH]

Wow thanks for that lead! It feels like a quality knife. I will research that some more. How would I determine if blades are SS?

[kootenay joe]

Wow thanks for that lead! It feels like a quality knife. I will research that some more. How would I determine if blades are SS?

I don't know of a non-destructive method. If you plunge a blade into a potato and wait 15 minutes, if the steel is non-stainless then it will be corroded permanently.
Stainless steel was first developed circa 1920 but it did not catch on with most knife users until after WW II. So a pre WW II knife of this size and pattern with stainless blades would be rare.
99% of the old pocket knives i have seen that have non-stainless blades and are in never used condition, show at least a spec or 2 of black oxidation. I do not see there on this knife.
Most likely the blades are non-stainless (aka "Carbon steel") and has lived in a dry area and been very well cared for.
I find this knife most attractive.
kj

[ea42]

Judging by the spiderwebbing and some of the light spots in the close-ups I'd wager that it's carbon steel. Definitely well taken care of, looks unused.

Like Roland mentioned I wouldn't go trying to patina the blades to see if they're stainless. If they're carbon steel you'll ruin that nice finish.

Eric