All About Pocket Knives

No youre wrong wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 12:20 pm This is a late 1950s/early 60s Japanese model. It seems there are endless variations of handle shapes and ricasso stamps.

Sure they copied other models like the Spriners and stilettos and swing guards but they also designed a wide variety of original styles.

The Japanese weren’t just a one tricky pony when it came to creativity.

JonTerry wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 12:23 pm

No youre wrong wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 12:20 pm This is a late 1950s/early 60s Japanese model. It seems there are endless variations of handle shapes and ricasso stamps.

Sure they copied other models like the Spriners and stilettos and swing guards but they also designed a wide variety of original styles.

The Japanese weren’t just a one tricky pony when it came to creativity.

Cheers mate,
This one has Bone one side and hardwood the other ?

millern wrote: ↑Sat Feb 04, 2023 1:51 pm Great looking old leverlock! The mismatched back scale adds to the interest, I think. It seems to have been nicely installed!

No youre wrong wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 3:20 am Yes

Many other obvious things about the knife that make it different than a shell puller model.

JonTerry wrote: ↑Sun Feb 05, 2023 10:23 am I should also add, that I bought this in the UK, now don't get me wrong Knives (like stones) do travel around and this may of come via the USA at some point, I have many knives that did, but perhaps these were made for a European market ??

Im guessing that it would be before my Dads 4th Birthday (May 12th 1958) when the UK banned Auto's/Switchblades, which in the Scheme of things did not leave a big window for imports from Japan post WW2 as trade didn't really start until circa 1951, to be blunt the Korean War saved Japans ass economically.
Right I'm doing a typical JT tangent here.......so back to the point we have a 7 year window where Japan may of imported these knives to the UK, otherwise this came in through the back door.
I would presume more important trade items than pocket knives would have been on the agenda for Japan in the early stages, so I would put this as a late 50's import if it came direct to the UK from Japan. BUT WHO MADE IT ???

JT

Bill DeShivs wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 3:17 am The Marshall Plan allowed the Japanese to make and export knives immediately after WW2, while Germany could not export cutlery until 1950.
Of course, it took the Japanese time to make knives that were suitable for export to other countries.

Bill DeShivs wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:48 pm I can't pin it down any further.
The Japanese really didn't understand many things about knives that were suitable for export-especially to the US.
As mentioned, the pullers didn't fit any shotgun shells-and markings were all over the place.

Bill DeShivs wrote: ↑Mon Feb 06, 2023 9:26 pm I'll explain it.
American and Asian cultures were very different.
The Japanese were struggling to develop things that were attractive to American buyers. Before WW2, there were no Japanese lever locks, there were no camping knives. Japan was an isolated country in many respects.
The Marshall plan was instituted to jump start the devastated Japanese economy. Japan was actively trying to develop items that Americans wanted at a price cheaper than what was available.
You wouldn't remember when "Made in Japan" meant cheap junk. Later- beginning in the late 1960s, the Japanese developed a talent for making very good copies and products.