Secret Knives

[Ridgegrass]

First time I handled one of these I darn near broke it trying to open it. They have no nail nick. When I finally got it open, (by accident), I thought "what a dumb place for a cap lifter"! After fooling with it for a while I found the secret. It's the relationship of the tang hook to a little sliding slug inside the body. (Top pic., about 1/2" left of the tang) To open, one holds the knife head down, squeezes the blade closed and lightly taps it on any surface or the palm.This allows the slug to slide out of the hook, freeing the blade. The backspring pops the blade partway out and a simple pull opens the knife. To close one simply pushes the blade against the backspring and taps the opposite end. The little slug slides back into the hook and its locked again. I have 4 of these and haven't seen any in years. The shell knife on the bottom is an Imperial, USA. The other two are marked simply "Made In Germany" and are of nicer quality. I'm guessing they are circa the fifties. I've had a lot of fun when "astute" collectors try for some minutes to figure one out.
Levine's Guide mentions them on pp.286-287 but does include these neat little examples. Does anyone have any like these or similar? J.O'.

[TPK]

First time I handled one of these I darn near broke it trying to open it. They have no nail nick. When I finally got it open, (by accident), I thought "what a dumb place for a cap lifter"! After fooling with it for a while I found the secret. It's the relationship of the tang hook to a little sliding slug inside the body. (Top pic., about 1/2" left of the tang) To open, one holds the knife head down, squeezes the blade closed and lightly taps it on any surface or the palm.This allows the slug to slide out of the hook, freeing the blade. The backspring pops the blade partway out and a simple pull opens the knife. To close one simply pushes the blade against the backspring and taps the opposite end. The little slug slides back into the hook and its locked again. I have 4 of these and haven't seen any in years. The shell knife on the bottom is an Imperial, USA. The other two are marked simply "Made In Germany" and are of nicer quality. I'm guessing they are circa the fifties. I've had a lot of fun when "astute" collectors try for some minutes to figure one out.
Levine's Guide mentions them on pp.286-287 but does include these neat little examples. Does anyone have any like these or similar? J.O'.

I can remember reading about these knives somewhere here on the AAPK but for the life of me, I can't remember where it was. Maybe someone who remembers will stumble across this thread & provide you with the link.

It's like hunting or fishing. They are out there..., Ya just gotta find em.

[Ridgegrass]

Thanks TPK.. They're fun. J.O;.

[Doc B]

I've heard them called "trick knives".
Here's a couple threads...
viewtopic.php?t=41372
viewtopic.php?t=18190

[Ridgegrass]

Thanks DocB. I have heard them called "trick" too. One of my German's is black on one side and white on the other. J.O'.

[knife7knut]

Thanks DocB. I have heard them called "trick" too. One of my German's is black on one side and white on the other. J.O'.

That one is probably part of a set of two knives that was a "magic trick" in the 1950's. I have a set of them in the original box with the instructions on how to perform the trick.

[edgy46]

My older brother had one, and would not show me how it worked. That is probably why I have way to many.

[OLDE CUTLER]

The one I have was made by Imperial. When I first got it it had printed on the handles "Roy Rogers Trick Knife". After carrying it in my pocket for a time, the printing completely wore off.

[Gunsil]

"Secret knife" to some collectors of antique knives refers to a French style of knife made when carrying a knife in France was illegal. As others have said here the little OP knives are usually called "trick" knives by most collectors. Here in the NE they are pretty common, I probably see at least one every other large flea market or so, or at least did before the virus caused all the fleas near me to close. Most I see are the Imperial version, only occasionally see the German version. I guess most of the knife guys I know are pretty astute, everybody in my local knife clubs knows them and will not be fooled. There are other "trick" knives out there that are more puzzling. Away from home for a couple weeks or I'd post my favorite.

[kootenay joe]

Gunsil do you have a picture of the French "Secret knife" ? I bet they are now rare. Do you know approximate years when knife carrying in France was illegal ? I have not heard of these before.
kj

[Mumbleypeg]

I have one, or maybe two of the “trick” knives around somewhere. I had fun having the grandkids try to figure out how they work. Sent one along to someone (Phico I think) in the POS exchange several years ago. I think all those I’ve had were made by Imperial.

There are several threads here about these and similar knives. Just do a search for “trick knives”.

Ken

[Old Folder]

Below is my "Roy Rogers" trick knife. Manufactured by "Imperial Ireland" Never carried, never sharpened.
The lower three pictures are from my 1952 toy catalog. I added those so that you can see what was popular in the same era as the Roy Rogers Trick Knife. Some of these knives have very high value. Especially knives on original display cards.

[usher]

What you all carry as a secret knife?

[Ridgegrass]

Thanks Old Folder. That's good stuff. J.O'.

[TPK]

Below is my "Roy Rogers" trick knife. Manufactured by "Imperial Ireland" Never carried, never sharpened.
The lower three pictures are from my 1952 toy catalog. I added those so that you can see what was popular in the same era as the Roy Rogers Trick Knife. Some of these knives have very high value. Especially knives on original display cards.

That's a really cool old knife Dan! I also enjoyed looking at the catalog pictures.
Thanks for sharing!

[Old Folder]

Thanks Old Folder. That's good stuff. J.O'.

Thanks Ridgegrass.

[Old Folder]

Below is my "Roy Rogers" trick knife. Manufactured by "Imperial Ireland" Never carried, never sharpened.
The lower three pictures are from my 1952 toy catalog. I added those so that you can see what was popular in the same era as the Roy Rogers Trick Knife. Some of these knives have very high value. Especially knives on original display cards.

That's a really cool old knife Dan! I also enjoyed looking at the catalog pictures.
Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Tom.
I have two (2) of the knives pictured within the toy catalog lower page.
I think the young man who owned the "Dick Tracy" knife solved many crimes. (The whistle still works also)
Both are "Glow in the dark"

[TPK]

Below is my "Roy Rogers" trick knife. Manufactured by "Imperial Ireland" Never carried, never sharpened.
The lower three pictures are from my 1952 toy catalog. I added those so that you can see what was popular in the same era as the Roy Rogers Trick Knife. Some of these knives have very high value. Especially knives on original display cards.

That's a really cool old knife Dan! I also enjoyed looking at the catalog pictures.
Thanks for sharing!

Thanks Tom.
I have two (2) of the knives pictured within the toy catalog lower page.
I think the young man who owned the "Dick Tracy" knife solved many crimes. (The whistle still works also)
Both are "Glow in the dark"

GLOW IN THE DARK KNIVES! Now I've seen everything! LOL!
COOL DAN!

[Hideaway Knives]

Simple and slick, I like it