Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
- Rookie
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 2223
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:13 pm
- Location: Meadville, PA
Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
An interesting set of circumstances ended up with me going to an estate sale not far from Tidioute, PA. I was going to look at a few case knives and other antique items, and ended up finding and buying this old Elephant Toe knife.
It is stamped on both blades "Magnetic Cutlery" which I researched and learned was an importer from Philadelphia, who had knives made in Germany, approximately from 1900-1933 date range. Bolsters are iron, liners are brass. Measures 4 3/8 inch closed.
I learned the name was used under the D. Peres brand in Germany. I also saw some reference to Union Knife (not sure if this is accurate, but interesting this knife came out of an estate in Tidioute).
I've never saw a Magnetic Cutlery made elephant toe knife before. I have the "Antique Sunfish Pocketknives" book by Russ Altamore, and also the info from Scott King's old Elephant Toenail website, and in scouring through both I see no mention of D. Peres or Magnetic Cutlery.
I was hoping some of the experts from the group here could comment on if they have ever encountered a Magnetic made elephant toe pattern before? Hopefully David (PA Knives) can give a bit of info with his wealth of knowledge of PA based brands. And I know Roger (peanut740) is a respectable collector of antique knives in this pattern.
It is stamped on both blades "Magnetic Cutlery" which I researched and learned was an importer from Philadelphia, who had knives made in Germany, approximately from 1900-1933 date range. Bolsters are iron, liners are brass. Measures 4 3/8 inch closed.
I learned the name was used under the D. Peres brand in Germany. I also saw some reference to Union Knife (not sure if this is accurate, but interesting this knife came out of an estate in Tidioute).
I've never saw a Magnetic Cutlery made elephant toe knife before. I have the "Antique Sunfish Pocketknives" book by Russ Altamore, and also the info from Scott King's old Elephant Toenail website, and in scouring through both I see no mention of D. Peres or Magnetic Cutlery.
I was hoping some of the experts from the group here could comment on if they have ever encountered a Magnetic made elephant toe pattern before? Hopefully David (PA Knives) can give a bit of info with his wealth of knowledge of PA based brands. And I know Roger (peanut740) is a respectable collector of antique knives in this pattern.
Carl B.
- royal0014
- Silver Tier

- Posts: 7047
- Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:21 pm
- Location: ♥Sweet Home Alabama♥
Re: Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
Can't help, but I will comment; that's a handsome old knife
Chris
i woke last night to the sound of thunder
how far off i sat and wondered
started humming a song from nineteen sixty two
aint it funny how the night moves
i woke last night to the sound of thunder
how far off i sat and wondered
started humming a song from nineteen sixty two
aint it funny how the night moves
- edgy46
- Posts: 3310
- Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 2:40 am
- Location: S. W. Ohio
- 1967redrider
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 21468
- Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:23 pm
- Location: Alexandria, VA
- Contact:
Re: Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
Great looking knife! There's 4 pages of posts on Magnetic Cutlery, hope you can find some answers.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... mit=Search
.
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... mit=Search
.
Pocket, fixed, machete, axe, it's all good!
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
You're going to look awfully silly with that knife sticking out of your @#$. -Clint Eastwood, High Plains Drifter
CHRIST IS KING
- Rookie
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 2223
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:13 pm
- Location: Meadville, PA
Re: Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
I read through a lot of them in doing a bit of research. Seems mostly Magnetic was used for figural or novelty style knives, not old historic patterns with jigged bone.1967redrider wrote: ↑Thu Aug 07, 2025 12:24 pm Great looking knife! There's 4 pages of posts on Magnetic Cutlery, hope you can find some answers.![]()
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... mit=Search
.
Carl B.
- PA Knives
- Posts: 1927
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:53 pm
- Location: The "Magic Circle" in NW Pennsylvania
Re: Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
Well first let me say congrats forscoring a very nice vintage knife. Sorry I wasn't there. I love Tidioute. Unfortunately that brand has nothing to do with the historic cutlery companies from that area. But again it's a beauty The company dies have ties to Penn though. The company was in Philadelphia and imported from Germany
Contributions to Knife Magazine ,
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery: An American Tradition, The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery: An American Tradition, The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
- Rookie
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 2223
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:13 pm
- Location: Meadville, PA
Re: Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
Thank you for confirming David. I appreciate your historical knowledge. In your travels, do you remember seeing another Magnetic Cutlery in an elephant toe pattern?PA Knives wrote: ↑Thu Aug 07, 2025 7:50 pm Well first let me say congrats forscoring a very nice vintage knife. Sorry I wasn't there. I love Tidioute. Unfortunately that brand has nothing to do with the historic cutlery companies from that area. But again it's a beauty The company dies have ties to Penn though. The company was in Philadelphia and imported from Germany
Carl B.
- PA Knives
- Posts: 1927
- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:53 pm
- Location: The "Magic Circle" in NW Pennsylvania
Re: Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
Yes I have seen one other. It's a rare bird
Contributions to Knife Magazine ,
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery: An American Tradition, The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
Author of "Great Eastern Cutlery: An American Tradition, The History of the Northfield & Tidioute Brands" & "Tidioute: A Town With an Edge" “The Chronicles of Cooper Cutlery”
-
msteele6
- Posts: 2046
- Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:29 pm
- Location: Houston, TX
Re: Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
Here's one I owned, not bone but definitely traditional w/cocobolo handles:
- peanut740
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 8122
- Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:32 pm
- Location: Ohio, along the river
- Contact:
Re: Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
American made toe.Made by Clay Cutlery Andover NY.I had a very rough Magnetic years ago,and several Clays.The Clay tells are the length and the very wide tang on the pen blade.Clay bought the factory in Andover from Platt Brothers and the factory burned down around 1920 or so and not rebuilt.
Roger
- Rookie
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 2223
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 12:13 pm
- Location: Meadville, PA
Re: Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
Wow, great info Roger! I had a hunch you would shed a little light on this. Thank you sir.peanut740 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 2:46 pm American made toe.Made by Clay Cutlery Andover NY.I had a very rough Magnetic years ago,and several Clays.The Clay tells are the length and the very wide tang on the pen blade.Clay bought the factory in Andover from Platt Brothers and the factory burned down around 1920 or so and not rebuilt.
Carl B.
- peanut740
- Gold Tier

- Posts: 8122
- Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:32 pm
- Location: Ohio, along the river
- Contact:
Re: Magnetic Cutlery - Elephant Toe
You're welcomeRookie wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:36 pmWow, great info Roger! I had a hunch you would shed a little light on this. Thank you sir.peanut740 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 2:46 pm American made toe.Made by Clay Cutlery Andover NY.I had a very rough Magnetic years ago,and several Clays.The Clay tells are the length and the very wide tang on the pen blade.Clay bought the factory in Andover from Platt Brothers and the factory burned down around 1920 or so and not rebuilt.
Roger