All About Pocket Knives

Picked up this old folding knife with an interesting locking/unlocking mechanism. Maybe known as a fulcrum lock release as it is used to disengage the lock on the spring so the knife can be closed.
Came with a Schrade sheath but it's not a Schrade as far as I know. The only mark on it is a large capital letter "G" on the blade.
Drop point. Lanyard hole. Stag? scales. All brass pins. All solid scales and bolsters. Heavy, 160grams.
To me it looks military but there are no marks. Any help in identifying it is much appreciated. TIA

Ittsukan wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:54 am Picked up this old folding knife with an interesting locking/unlocking mechanism. Maybe known as a fulcrum lock release as it is used to disengage the lock on the spring so the knife can be closed.
Came with a Schrade sheath but it's not a Schrade as far as I know. The only mark on it is a large capital letter "G" on the blade.
Drop point. Lanyard hole. Stag? scales. All brass pins. All solid scales and bolsters. Heavy, 160grams.
To me it looks military but there are no marks. Any help in identifying it is much appreciated. TIA

What a find. A really cool old knife.

doglegg wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 11:30 am

Ittsukan wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 5:54 am Picked up this old folding knife with an interesting locking/unlocking mechanism. Maybe known as a fulcrum lock release as it is used to disengage the lock on the spring so the knife can be closed.
Came with a Schrade sheath but it's not a Schrade as far as I know. The only mark on it is a large capital letter "G" on the blade.
Drop point. Lanyard hole. Stag? scales. All brass pins. All solid scales and bolsters. Heavy, 160grams.
To me it looks military but there are no marks. Any help in identifying it is much appreciated. TIA

What a find. A really cool old knife.

very cool indeed

An oldie for sure, and cool. ???? Looks German ? J.O'.

Ridgegrass wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 9:32 pm An oldie for sure, and cool. ???? Looks German ? J.O'.

I wondered if it might be German but only because I own a German knife with a similar lock. I call the locking/unlocking lever that is pinned through the bolster's integral hand guard a cam. When not hinged up out of the way it prevents the slip joint back spring rising locking the blade closed and open. Mine also has stag side covers. I bought mine new in a sportings goods store in France in 1972. Mine was marketed for hunting and general outdoor recreation. I see nothing that would connect Ittsukan's to any military.

Just has that feeling to me. That's all. Any thoughts on the capital "G" on the blade?

Have you ever read of any military issueing stag handle knives? I have not. Knife makers use stag to attract civilian customers, especially hunters. I'm assuming your judgement that it is stag is correct. It could be plastic for all I know but even then plastic and bone are made to look like stag to attract the same customers.

Handguards do not make a knife a weapon. To safely clean slimmy salmon you need a handguard or downward handle projection to keep your hand from sliding forward down the edge. Guess how I learned that. In addition to making your knife's handguard more effective your knife's locking system requires an upward bolster projection for the lock lever.

You seem to be thinking something completely different than what the discussion is about. To me, having handled a number of vintage military knives, this seems like it could be military also. But that is not confirmed and I never said it was. It just has that feel, to me.
Never mentioned hand guards and your assumption about the lever is incorrect.
Perhaps you know about the capital "G" stamped on the blade?
I think this is the biggest clue as to this knife's origin, which is the information I'm really after.

"Have you ever read of any military issueing stag handle knives?"

Yes. Mostly through the Boer War and WWI. Also on many dress and parade bayonets and daggers as well as custom personal purchases by military personnel.

Here's a small quote from Military Knives, A Reference Book regarding the Wilkinson RBD knife. One of the earliest issued "commando" knives. If you like I'll dig out some other examples.

"The original grip for the RBD may have been stag horn. It was definitely stag horn by 1890. By 1902, Wilkinson offered a small knife with a 9 x 1-1/2 inch
blade and a larger one with a 10 x 1-1/2 inch blade. These knives were made only at Wilkinson’s Acton Works."

"To safely clean slimmy salmon you need a handguard or downward handle projection to keep your hand from sliding forward down the edge."

Many Finnish and Swedish knives marketed for fish cleaning and fileting have no guard.

"In addition to making your knife's handguard more effective your knife's locking system requires an upward bolster projection for the lock lever."

The lever on this knife does nothing to make the guard more effective.
The lever on this knife is attached to the spring, not the bolster. It would work just the same without a guard. But no one is talking about the guard. Not sure why you're bringing it up.

I can't help identify your knife, Ittsu, but I do have this one to compare. When I first posted this knife I didn't know anything about it's origins other than it was coming from Germany via eBay, and after some discussion the general consensus was Germany, which was helped to determine by the VERY faint Henckels 2 figure stickman stamp on the blade. It feels like German to me too.
Mine has a ring-fulcrum release as seen in the last 2 pictures. In the first it's laying flat as it is when not in use, and in the second it's ready to be pressed against the blade tang so as to release the locked blade to fold closed, even though the ring would indicate you pull it. I must say, I prefer the ring type over the long metal lever as seen on your knife, mostly because it seems less intrusive. I must also say, I prefer the fishtail swell center design on your knife, as opposed to whatever you'd call the design on my knife.
Mine is also heavy which is likely due to the 5mm spring and dagger blade, has NS hardware but for brass pins, and very nice genuine stag covers that unfortunately my camera didn't capture. It's 9" open.
Sorry I couldn't help, buddy, but perhaps the big ole'' "G" is for Germany! lol! You have a beautiful older knife there, I hope you find the information you seek!

Thanks. Great looking knife you have there.

Thank you kindly, Itt, I appreciate your commenting.

I don't have anything definitive at all for you. I can only say though that it looks like an old English or French hunting knife to me. The font and placement on the blade, instead of at the tang, of the mystery G seem English to me. The guard looks like it was fashioned in a shop that's familiar with shot pullers. Lanyards are obviously pretty common, but it seems like the British were particularly fond of them, especially when hunting.

Again, though, this is anecdotal at best. I'd also echo the prevailing concensus in here that it's super cool and I'm jealous of it's owner but glad it's you. Enjoy it

Thanks for the input. So far, it's really remaining a mystery. I'll have to check out your Etsy when it's back up and running. Take care