All About Pocket Knives

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.

Great old knife

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

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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

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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.

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

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

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?

Yes I have seen one other. It's a rare bird

Here's one I owned, not bone but definitely traditional w/cocobolo handles:

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.

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.

Wow, great info Roger! I had a hunch you would shed a little light on this. Thank you sir.

Rookie wrote: ↑Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:36 pm

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.

Wow, great info Roger! I had a hunch you would shed a little light on this. Thank you sir.

You're welcome