All About Pocket Knives

Posted: **Sun Jan 26, 2025 9:48 am**

I didn't find a thread about this knife on the forum, so I decided to create a new one.

Apeldoornse Messen Fabriek = AMEFA

They were used not only by the Dutch. I saw some with a stamp KM on the scales - "Koninklijke Marine" - Royal Netherlands Navy; und "KL" - "Koninklijke Landmacht" - Royal Netherlands Army (RNLA) which have dark green overlays and a slightly different set of tools

I like the can opener. I think it's a pity that Victorinox and others switched to modern can openers. 10 out of 10 of my male friends, when it comes to opening a can, don't use a can opener, but use the main blade of the knife although this clearly spoils the sharpening. Women are more disciplined in this matter - if it says can opener, then they use it

Does anyone have information about the time period in which these knives were produced? I read somewhere that there was a trial and as a result Victorinox began producing DAK instead of Amefa

Posted: **Sun Jan 26, 2025 10:48 am**

Very nice I have don't have one of these and can not offer any more information on them.

I'm with you, I like the can opener

Posted: **Sun Jan 26, 2025 2:44 pm**

I had not seen one either. Thank-you for showing yours. What is the unusual fourth tool for?

Posted: **Sun Jan 26, 2025 8:34 pm**

desert.snake wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2025 9:48 am I.....

There are a few posted here:
viewtopic.php?t=57417

Posted: **Sun Jan 26, 2025 9:28 pm**

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2025 8:34 pm There are a few posted here:
viewtopic.php?t=57417

Thank you! For some reason my search didn't find them

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2025 10:48 am Very nice I have don't have one of these and can not offer any more information on them.

I'm with you, I like the can opener

I see a few on eBay from about the same time for ~$30. It looks like Amefa made them in the 50s and 60s, and then Swiss companies started making DAK. Although judging by the stamps in this lot, in 70s and 82 Amefa made them in the style of a Swiss knife. I think some research is required.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125728702626

Modern Slip Joints wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2025 2:44 pm I had not seen one either. Thank-you for showing yours. What is the unusual fourth tool for?

Do you mean a short triangular awl or a small blade with a side protrusion? If the short blade is a can opener from the early 20th century. A side ledge for resting against the edge of the can so as not to go too deep + the ledge has a sharp square corner to rest against the edge of the can and help in opening. I'll try to make a video later on how to open cans with it

Posted: **Mon Jan 27, 2025 3:10 am**

I was familiar with its type of can opener. I thought the "short triangular awl" might be a tool for maintaining some part of the solider's equipment.

Posted: **Sat Feb 08, 2025 9:07 pm**

If I were to design a modern soldier's knife, knowing the habits of soldiers, I would make it two blades - a normal one for cutting and a second strong, thick one, like a can opener, but the length of a normal blade, so that they could abuse it without any problems

Made a small video. Now I need to find a classic tin can that does not open with a key (like beer or coke in aluminum cans, which is quite difficult now, almost everything comes with an easy opening system) and test this can opener

https://youtu.be/x0uvJVvZslE

Posted: **Tue Feb 11, 2025 10:52 am**

I found a suitable jar and tried to open it, a pretty handy opener. It seems that the later ones in the form of a crab claw are simply a cheapening of the design (one strike by press die and there may be another strike to bend the petal to the side for the stop, sorry if the terminology is lame), since there is no need to make a separate pin, make a hole in the blade and install the pin with a certain orientation (there is a sharp corner on the pin, which it engages with the edge of the can, making it easier to open)

https://youtu.be/TODXAXTEz3c

Posted: **Sun Jul 13, 2025 9:26 am**

The Brown Amefa Knives: 1950 - 1970

On September 19, 1931, Eugen Hollaender founded the Apeldoornsche Messenfabriek N.V. Haagse Import Mij. Olanda. This would later become Amefa. In the 1940s, this company also manufactured and supplied pocket knives to the Wehrmacht. The owner, E. Hollaender, still held German nationality, allowing him to enter into a contract with Germany. Consequently, the knife was also used by the German Wehrmacht.

After World War II, pocket knives became part of the equipment of Dutch soldiers. It began in the early 1950s when a Dutch company, AMEFA (Apeldoorn Knife Factory), started producing four-piece pocket knives. The very first and only knife in the M1952 series, was made by Instalex (International Steel Goods Export Company), a subsidiary of AMEFA. It was issued in the mid-1950s.

In the 1950s, knives were only marked "KL" without the year. Between 1945 and 1949 (the Dutch East Indies period), these knives didn't even have a "KL" marking. The knife has a sheepsfoot blade and an "old-style" can opener (1891-1946). Amefa doesn't know how many knives were released.

In the early 1950s (before KL61), Amefa produced knives with reversed bottle and can openers compared to later models.

The Dutch M1952 army knives were made by AMEFA – the logo is on the ricasso – and had a handle with brown fiber grip plates and a D-ring. These models were issued in limited numbers between 1950 and 1983. The first models only had the KL (Royal Netherlands Army) designation on the handle and no date.

In addition to the KL knives, KLU (Royal Netherlands Air Force) versions were also issued in 1963, 1964, and 1965.

There was no production in 1967, 1968, and 1969. The next issue was in 1970 and was also the last. 1971 saw the end of production, marking the end of the Model 1952 era and the beginning of the "Alox" knives (Model 1961) from Amefa.

BTW - I have the complete M1952 serie

Posted: **Sun Jul 13, 2025 10:41 am**

Some info and a test of can openers here.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... an+openers

Posted: **Sun Jul 13, 2025 11:17 am**

Agamemnon wrote: ↑Sun Jul 13, 2025 9:26 am The Brown Amefa Knives: 1950 - 1970

On September 19, 1931, Eugen Hollaender founded the Apeldoornsche Messenfabriek N.V. Haagse Import Mij. Olanda. This would later become Amefa. In the 1940s, this company also manufactured and supplied pocket knives to the Wehrmacht. The owner, E. Hollaender, still held German nationality, allowing him to enter into a contract with Germany. Consequently, the knife was also used by the German Wehrmacht.

After World War II, pocket knives became part of the equipment of Dutch soldiers. It began in the early 1950s when a Dutch company, AMEFA (Apeldoorn Knife Factory), started producing four-piece pocket knives. The very first and only knife in the M1952 series, was made by Instalex (International Steel Goods Export Company), a subsidiary of AMEFA. It was issued in the mid-1950s.

In the 1950s, knives were only marked "KL" without the year. Between 1945 and 1949 (the Dutch East Indies period), these knives didn't even have a "KL" marking. The knife has a sheepsfoot blade and an "old-style" can opener (1891-1946). Amefa doesn't know how many knives were released.

In the early 1950s (before KL61), Amefa produced knives with reversed bottle and can openers compared to later models.

The Dutch M1952 army knives were made by AMEFA – the logo is on the ricasso – and had a handle with brown fiber grip plates and a D-ring. These models were issued in limited numbers between 1950 and 1983. The first models only had the KL (Royal Netherlands Army) designation on the handle and no date.

In addition to the KL knives, KLU (Royal Netherlands Air Force) versions were also issued in 1963, 1964, and 1965.

There was no production in 1967, 1968, and 1969. The next issue was in 1970 and was also the last. 1971 saw the end of production, marking the end of the Model 1952 era and the beginning of the "Alox" knives (Model 1961) from Amefa.

BTW - I have the complete M1952 serie

Interesting, thanks.

All About Pocket Knives

DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife

DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife

Re: DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife

Re: DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife

Re: DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife

Re: DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife

Re: DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife

Re: DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife

Re: DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife

Re: DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife

Re: DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife

Re: DAK Amefa - Dutch Army Knife