All About Pocket Knives

does anyone know how much they could be worth? they are pretty old. probably from the 70s or so. they say SKB, Japan or KIP, Japan or stainless japan. i will try to get pictures up soon if it'll help. thanks

I hate to suggest another forum as I really like this one, but the bladeforum.com may be a better place for an answer. Good luck

CAlife,

JMO here.

I don't believe that the Japanese knives hold the same allure for collectors as US made cutlery. Browning is a good example...many nice knives... some made in the U.S. for a few years...many more made in Japan... just not the same interest in collecting them in general.

Oh, there certainly are collectors who value the bladework of the Japanese...and chefs, for sure, rave about the quality of a good Japanese knife in today's kitchens. But it is so difficult to get the history with pocketknives and the like, as they were made by many small buinesses, with generic stampings...who are long gone. .

Now swords...whoa Nellie!! That's a whole different ballgame. Much more stringent rules, traditions, and highly collectable.

Bill

My Grandfather was a big, big case fan. Peanuts were his favorite pattern ( probably why they are mine too) and he had Japenese peanut and a case peanut sitting on the table comparing them. Telling me one thing about this one and another thing about that one. He swore up and down that the Japenese peanut was of equal quality. And this coming from a made in the USA kinda guy. I have that Japenese peanut now and to me it's worth a mint.
Having said that I wouldn't shy away from buying an older Japanese made knife.
Skip

I agree that the Japanese can make nice knives, the equal of many Case knives, and I hope my post didn't sound otherwise, as I thought I communicated that feeling. Maybe I didn't.

However, I feel pretty strongly that you will have a difficult time realizing a profit selling old Japanese pocketknives on eBay. I once purchased a 1950s-60s "Camp King" style knife, with original leather sheath, just to check out the straight jigging so characteristic of the Japanese folders with bone scales. It cost me $3.95.
I think this is especially so, when compared to American made knives such as Case, or any old pa knives { }. And, I thought the original poster was asking about monetary worth.

Bill

Bill,
Sorry I hope my post didn't sound like I was offended. Not At All..
I agree 100% that the knives will not be worth a whole lot. I was just saying that to me the knife was worth alot beacause my grandfather gave it to me. Again, sorry for any miss-interpretation there.
Skip

no problem. being knew to pocket knives and all, i have no clue what others opinions of them are. i have plenty of them(bought about 60 for maybe 2.50 a piece, not real sure though) so i wanted to know what others thought. thanks for everyones input