Ideal Products Company ????

[Meridian_Mike]

Hello all.....
I found this one yesterday and decided I needed it. I am a bit confused though.
On the tang it says, "IDEAL PRODUCTS, INC."
Looks like horn for handles which doesn't seem to jive with the IDEAL knives I am used to seeing. This one looks to be well made.
Somebody have an idea what this one is all about?
Is it made by the same folks that made the other ideal knives?
(Y'all know what I am talking about?)

AND..... kinda looks like a thumbpost had been broken off?
I am a bit dumbfounded by this one.....

Mike

[peanut740]

Mike,blade looks to have had a swing gard at one time.Bolster pin looks suspicious,may be cobbled.

[Meridian_Mike]

Yep... you are right about that bolster pin. It is definitely a different material.

I might have bought myself a franken-knife.

[BWT]

Don't worry about it Mike, I'm pretty good at it myself, buying cobbled knives. It's not a bad looking knife.

[Meridian_Mike]

Don't worry about it Mike, I'm pretty good at it myself, buying cobbled knives. It's not a bad looking knife.

Well..... it looked pretty nice especially the handles..... Oh well.... I didn't give a lot for it.
I have been looking for older lock backs lately and that is what caught my eye about this one.
I'm still gonna clean it up and love it like my others.... even cobbled knives need love......

Mike

[btrwtr]

Unusual knife but it looks okay. Handles are horn patterned celluloid. Like many other German knives these had protruding steel pivot pins in the nickel silver bolsters. The steel pin has been ground off flush with NSL bolster. Swing guard is missing. Does it lock up okay?

Don't think it is the same company that made the shell (pressed steel) handled pocket knives.

[Meridian_Mike]

SO... you think the handles are cell?
well crap.....
I don't have this one in my hands yet. After I get it in hand, I might decide the seller got me on this one.

[jerryd6818]

SO... you think the handles are cell?
well crap.....
I don't have this one in my hands yet. After I get it in hand, I might decide the seller got me on this one.

Don't worry. You're not by your lonesome. Happens now and then to the best of us. "Into each life a little rain must fall."

[peanut740]

Is the knife stamped with Germany ?

[Meridian_Mike]

Don't worry. You're not by your lonesome. Happens now and then to the best of us. "Into each life a little rain must fall."

LOL...... I recon so.....

Is the knife stamped with Germany ?

Well, I'm not sure.... The other seller's pic doesn't show much. I have been searching the net for "Ideal Products, Inc" knives but all I can find are the fixed blade knives with that name. Those are made in Solingen, Germany.

Mike

[peanut740]

If it is German,that could explain the bolster pin.

[edge213]

Interesting, I look forward to seeing more pictures.

[Meridian_Mike]

If it is German,that could explain the bolster pin.

Really?........ SO, German makers used a harder (steel?) pivot pin as a rule? ......Interesting.

[btrwtr]

If it is German,that could explain the bolster pin.

Really?........ SO, German makers used a harder (steel?) pivot pin as a rule? ......Interesting.

Not a rule but not at all unusual to see a German made knife with NSL bolsters and steel pins. It would be unusual and suspect to see a USA made folder with this combination.

[Meridian_Mike]

10-4.... Thanks for enlightening me Wayne!

[Gunsil]

Maybe not a "rule", but when I see a folder with nickel bolsters and steel pivot pin I always think German made, and many are. Like Wayne says it would be unusual to see this combo in American made folders, or even British ones, it is more of a German trait.

[Meridian_Mike]

Maybe not a "rule", but when I see a folder with nickel bolsters and steel pivot pin I always think German made, and many are. Like Wayne says it would be unusual to see this combo in American made folders, or even British ones, it is more of a German trait.

10-4... I have learned something new.
Thanks y'all........

Mike

[philco]

Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings has a listing for Ideal Products Inc. Solingen Germany with the only information shown being c. 1950-1970.

[Meridian_Mike]

Thanks Phil.....
SO, it is probably a Solingen Germany knife made between 1950-1970.

Recon this ole boy still will have cell handles?
Did the Germans use that stuff too?

I sho' was hoping it was horn.

[peanut740]

If it is German,it should be stamped.I doubt it would have been inked on.

[Meridian_Mike]

Well.... I went looking around the bay for another Ideal Products folder. I did find this one..... Not Ideal Products but.....It is an Ideal Shirt Co, Solingen Germany.

Some similarities to mine.

Steel pin in the nickel silver bolster and it also has the hole in the tang where something is missing...... LOL.

Mike

[peanut740]

Mike,that is a different pattern and likely originally had a swing guard. I can't recall a Barlow with a swing guard like yours.

[Meridian_Mike]

Well.... dog gone it.....
I went and did a quick google image search and dang it, I found another knife like mine only in better shape.
BUT guess what.... Same open hole in the tang.

So..... now what?
LOL.....

[Sharpnshinyknives]

Well.... dog gone it.....
I went and did a quick google image search and dang it, I found another knife like mine only in better shape.
BUT guess what.... Same open hole in the tang.

IDEAL 1.jpgIDEAL 2.jpg

So..... now what?
LOL.....

Mike, I think that looks like Cell material as well, that was my first impression when I first saw this. I’m guessing that they engineered that swing guard wrong and it either broke or most people removed it because it didn’t work properly. A little off on the tolerances can make a big difference over time.
SSk

[Meridian_Mike]

10-4.....

You see..... I obsess over things until I know or at least have a good explanation.
(Yes, I have a bad case of OCD)

Thanks for helping everyone!
I feel better now.

Mike