All About Pocket Knives

A few years back I found and old catalog from a
Florida importer. Inside was this great listing
for an Underwater Jet-spring flip lock.

The actual knife is a 1950s Bonsa springer made in Germany. I also own the full 1950s Bonsa catalog where the original knife image is from.

I have one of these arriving today. I’ve had a few in the past I gave to friends. I love the old Germans but can’t keep them around. Everyone I know asks me for mine.

I’ll post a ton of pictures when the new one arrives. This should be fun

Beautiful piece.

BestVintageKnives wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 4:25 pm Everyone I know asks me for mine.

That's one cool knife. Can I have it


Just kidding dude. Thanks for posting.

ThatWeirdKnifeGuy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 4:34 pm

BestVintageKnives wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 4:25 pm Everyone I know asks me for mine.

That's one cool knife. Can I have it

Just kidding dude. Thanks for posting.

I’ve never really sold many knives. I’m a collector but I try to help everyone. I find so many that my friends get many of them.

Very cool knife and ad. Did you test it under water? I would imagine most autos would function under water due to low resistance.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 4:43 pm Very cool knife and ad. Did you test it under water? I would imagine most autos would function under water due to low resistance.

I was holding it a minute ago and wondered if I should do a test under water. Lol.

It’s suppose to be 76 today. I may jump in the pool and try it. Haha!

Neat to see the sportsman logo on the base of both blades.

She’s not mint but better than some others I’ve had. I had one with a snapped blade. Sure you could have the blade replaced but you could never call it mint after you replaced the blade. That would be dishonest.

Neat ad & great old knife…Funny how some details in these old ads the knives are depicted inaccurately.

wiseguy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 10:31 pm Neat ad & great old knife…Funny how some details in these old ads the knives are depicted inaccurately.

That’s a great observation. You have to be really careful with paper. It pays to be thorough and have many years worth of a particular ad before you can full understand it sometimes.

In the past and even now people want to sum up a 30 year history in one sentence. Good luck!

One of my mentors in the hobby always says
“knowledge is power.”

Not bad…

wiseguy wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 10:31 pm Neat ad & great old knife…Funny how some details in these old ads the knives are depicted inaccurately.

Here is the original Bonsa catalog I own. Dated 1957.

Bonsa model #9239 is the 11 & 1/2 cm single blade model. This has the same model number “w/saw” added at the end.

Soon this will all be available online for my friends and members. Bring everyone out of the dark ages…

I love how perfectly the old world German craftsmanship is.

The fit of the bolster to the liners is so precise. They didn’t just bend over an ill fitting piece of steel and leave big gaps there.

You can get fish guts and worm guts stuck in some of those ill fitting bolsters. Then dog hair and food crumbs and pocket lint.

These old ones were perfection.

The bolsters weren't fitted.
They were soldered in place, just like early Italian knives.
The information is already available and the 9239 was 11CM, not inches!

BestVintageKnives wrote: ↑Sat Dec 27, 2025 3:35 pm A few years back I found and old catalog from a
Florida importer. Inside was this great listing
for an Underwater Jet-spring flip lock.

The actual knife is a 1950s Bonsa springer made in Germany. I also own the full 1950s Bonsa catalog where the original knife image is from.

I have one of these arriving today. I’ve had a few in the past I gave to friends. I love the old Germans but can’t keep them around. Everyone I know asks me for mine.

I’ll post a ton of pictures when the new one arrives. This should be fun

Yes this was the first time the Bonsa 9239 w /saw was pointed out as being in this catalog.

Myths and rumors abound regarding the Black Beauty makers as Mauro Mario.

Only one account of a guy saying he received a Mauro Mario when he ordered one from and old ad. But there were half a dozen other companies that sold them too and with extremely similar ads. I think you would have to disregard that one account. Anything is possible but that’s the one supposed account. Easily explained away. I’ll bet whoever said that it’s not know what knife he got etc etc.

There is proof people may have gotten a Made In Italy stamped knife. I love sleuthing these minute details and providing proof of everything.

I love the fit and finish of the old Germans. The top bolsters fit correct and look sooo good. The aesthetic of the old vintage pieces can’t be topped. The proper fit is what separates the men from the boys as they use to say

Once you notice things like this you can’t unsee it.