All About Pocket Knives

I’ve come across ATCO knives my whole life as I search shops and flea markets. All very much like this one I got in a bundle deal. Goings has the mark listed as “Current” and no details. My gut tells me that they were Manufactured during the 1960s, and no longer in business. Many years ago a fellow collector spitballed that the mark was American Tool Co. Japan, or American Tackle Co. Japan. From what I see the blades are carbon steel, bolsters are steel or nickel. Scales are cattle bone or possibly hog bone. (A lot of pork consumed in Japan). I’d like to know more from the brain trust. Regards.

Goins’ Encyclopedia shows a listing for ATCO Japan, but has no other information. Which usually means he has seen the stamp but was unable to find any information about it. Levine’s Guide has ATCO Japan listed also, says “import brand”, dates listed as “recent”.

That’s all I could find.

Ken

Thank you Ken,

I appreciate the response. Maybe I'll get it figured out. Might try another angle and see if I can search Japan import titles to find out who they were.

I've seen ATCO knives also marked "Italy", and appear to me clearly better quality than the Japan ones. Not sure if they are connected.

The only ATCO knife I have or have seen is this camper/scout model. My Ritchie & Stewart 5th edition lists ATCO, Japan, current, but was copyrighted in 2007. Mine is bone handled in what I call "night and day bone". The mark side is very light colored and the pile side is very dark colored. Mine has brass liners, so it was not as cheaply made as those with steel liners like some of the Sabre Japanese knives. The center divider however is steel, and the oval shield is nickel silver.