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Tang Stamp ID?
Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 11:20 pm
by DMLEATH
I can’t quite read the letters on this one. Can someone point me in the direction to research? Thanks so much!
Re: Tang Stamp ID?
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2022 6:53 pm
by 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.
Re: Tang Stamp ID?
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2022 9:40 pm
by 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
Re: Tang Stamp ID?
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2022 10:36 pm
by kootenay joe
Very attractive pen knife. I wonder if blades are a stainless steel ?
kj
Re: Tang Stamp ID?
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2022 3:25 pm
by 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?
Re: Tang Stamp ID?
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2022 4:37 pm
by kootenay joe
DMLEATH wrote: ↑Tue Jun 14, 2022 3:25 pm
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
Re: Tang Stamp ID?
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2022 6:02 pm
by 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