Big knives and....Christmas Tree lights?

[ThatWeirdKnifeGuy]

I asked about this in another thread but doing so here again in a more appropriate thread.

I have this big ol display knife. Its 6 inches closed, 11 overall with a beefy blade. But the bolsters are hollow and there's a little play. Not meant for using it seems

So salesman's display is the obvious first choice. There seems to have been a novelty and ad knife manufacturer in Japan in the 60's and 70's that used an Empire stamp. This again seems to be the obvious first choice, and was indeed the prevailing theory and where the issue of origin was laid to rest, in what represents the only other example like this I could find being discussed.

However, I've never seen any of the actual specimens. Im not an expert by any means, so I'm also asking if any of you have? Seen this knife but smaller?

I'm also wondering about the stamp being Nippon and not Japan? Didn't they quit using that on knives for export in the 1920's? Could it be made for a domestic market?

The name Messervey's is interesting. It's an old New England name. I've found a possible interesting link I'm presenting for comment and consideration.

http://www.oldchristmastreelights.com/b ... servey.htm

It seems this fellow, whose specialty was Christmas lights, and was known for using intricate Japanese bulbs, listed his main occupation as an importer. He brought over alot of lights, but also gifts and novelty products.

My theory is that this knife is actually from the 1920's or perhaps teens. It was made for Bert Messervey's company, Messervey's Industries. I think it's original intended use is as a display piece. Possibly the salesman's display, but for a line that was never produced. I would assume that the aforementioned Empire novelty knife company did in fact make the knife in possibly its early days? Or the modern iteration may be a revival of an old name.

Or maybe someone will look at the materials and say 70's, nice try. Any thoughts?

Bert himself was a pretty interesting guy. The story of his untimely end is wild, and tragic.

[wlf]

Doesn't look 1920s cutlery.

[New_Windsor_NY]

I.....

My eyes could be playing tricks on me.....
but it looks like there are remains of a previous
tang stamp below the "EMPIRE" tang stamp.

[ea42]

Here's a previous post regarding that model knife. The one in that post shows a plastic handle which would definitely date it as more modern. My first thoughts when seeing your knife was that it was rehandled as those handles are just soooo fat compared to the bolsters, but I can't say for sure as it's the first time I've seen that knife and stamp.

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=44659

Eric

[Modern Slip Joints]

You may be over thinking its size. Folders with 5 1/4" to 5 1/2" handles are common. Case 72 Bulldogs and 050 Coke Bottles come right to mind. Many manufactures make similar knives. While less popular, 6" to 6 1/4" folders are readily available. SMKW has them in their Marbles and Rough Ryder lines. There are 6" Stockmans and Trappers that were made by well respected German factories. Heck, SMKW sells 8" Trappers off and on. I have a Frost Stockman that's about 8". All the big folders I've handled were solidly made. While I see the 8 inchers as novelties or something to help shoppers spot the knife display case from across the room, the 6 inchers are users. It looks like you just have a 6 incher that was not as well made as the Chinese 6 inchers SMKW is currently selling.

[ThatWeirdKnifeGuy]

Doesn't look 1920s cutlery.

You're not wrong there. The style and condition don't say 1920's. But it also doesn't seem 1970's Japan

I.....

My eyes could be playing tricks on me.....
but it looks like there are remains of a previous
tang stamp below the "EMPIRE" tang stamp.

I got out my loop to check that out. It seems there's some grain pattern intersecting with the circular scratches from the open/close action resulting in shapes which look like faint letters. No actual missing stamp as far as i can tell.

Here's a previous post regarding that model knife. The one in that post shows a plastic handle which would definitely date it as more modern. My first thoughts when seeing your knife was that it was rehandled as those handles are just soooo fat compared to the bolsters, but I can't say for sure as it's the first time I've seen that knife and stamp.

https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... hp?t=44659

Eric

The handles are actually really throwing me off I think. They are indeed wood, but perhaps heavily lacquered? I don't know wood all that well.The hollow bolster is pressed in at one spot so i can see end grain. I wonder if the knife from that post is also wood? Op says he thinks its sythetic, but it looks pretty wood-ish. Also the price tag in that picture claims its 1918-1921.

You may be over thinking its size. Folders with 5 1/4" to 5 1/2" handles are common. Case 72 Bulldogs and 050 Coke Bottles come right to mind. Many manufactures make similar knives. While less popular 6" to 6 1/4" folders are readily available. SMKW has them in their Marbles and Rough Ryder lines. There are 6" Stockmans and Trappers that were made by well respected German factories. Heck, SMKW sells 8" Trappers off and on. I have a Frost Stockman that's about 8". All the big folders I've handled were solidly made. While I see the 8 inchers as novelties or something to help shoppers spot the knife display case from across the room, the 6 inchers are users. It looks like you just have a 6 incher that was not as well made as the Chinese 6 inchers SMKW is currently selling.

The hollow bolsters are what solidify it as a display thing and not a user, in my opinion. The size would only be a function for visibility and not utility, because this big ol blade with a pivot thats probably too small and no structural support make it feel quite flimsy and way out of balance, even with all that wood.