All About Pocket Knives

I collect small or odd vintage knives. I picked up one recently and haven't seen one like it before. I don't see any marks to go by on the blade base or anywhere else. It's about 3.75" long when closed. The pivot pins and center pin are screws but it uses brass pins to hold the scales on. The blades are double edged with the back edge being slightly less sharp. The scales are either bone, antler, or horn of some kind. The really odd part is there is a circular bump in the middle that I have no idea why it's there.

Wondering if anyone has seen this before or if anyone knows any history behind it. Here are some pics:

Hello welcome to AAPK, sorry I have no idea what it is , but it sure is different never saw one before .

Bone handles, but that's all I got. I have never seen one like it.
Can't wait to see what others have to say.
Very cool!

It’s a nifty for sure. Not helpful because never seen one like it before. Bone scales. The screw pivot pins an unusual for sure. The center is decorative and may serve to cover the blade tips when closed. Gives me a European vibe. Not thinking it was born in the USA.

Good afternoon The knife is definitely interesting with its unusual shape.
In my opinion, this is a Soviet prison knife. The so-called CLC knife, or "ИТК" in Russian (Corrective Labor Colony, a penal institution in the USSR). It is likely that the place of manufacture was Western Ukrainian SSR 1950–1980.
I just saw a similar knife on the local trading platform OLX.ua.

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 1:28 pm Good afternoon The knife is definitely interesting with its unusual shape.
In my opinion, this is a Soviet prison knife. The so-called CLC knife, or "ИТК" in Russian (Corrective Labor Colony, a penal institution in the USSR). It is likely that the place of manufacture was Western Ukrainian SSR 1950–1980.
I just saw a similar knife on the local trading platform OLX.ua.

Thank you for the great information!! I will check in that direction and see what I can find.
Do you know any reason for the odd circle shape in the middle?

I probably should not say anything because I have never seen this pattern before, but it looks much older than 1950. It also has more of a European look than Russian.

MrUgly12345 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:03 pm

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 1:28 pm Good afternoon The knife is definitely interesting with its unusual shape.
In my opinion, this is a Soviet prison knife. The so-called CLC knife, or "ИТК" in Russian (Corrective Labor Colony, a penal institution in the USSR). It is likely that the place of manufacture was Western Ukrainian SSR 1950–1980.
I just saw a similar knife on the local trading platform OLX.ua.

Thank you for the great information!! I will check in that direction and see what I can find.
Do you know any reason for the odd circle shape in the middle?

I saw something similar in old-style European knives. Maybe Sheffield or Solingen. There is some probability that the craftsman who made your knife saw antique Western knives and repeated the design. This, for example, happened with knives in the form of shoes (shoes, boots). The master, before his imprisonment, saw somewhere a knife in the shape of a shoe and, while in a colony, made a similar knife, so to speak, based on his motives. This was done secretly from the prison guards. The manufactured knives were exchanged in every possible way for cigarettes from free citizens. The exchange took place in different ways. Most often, a civilian would throw a pack of cigarettes over the fence, and in return they would throw a knife at him. In this case, choosing a knife was impossible.
Below are photos of an automatic prison knife in the shape of a sneaker. It was manufactured in Correctional Labor Colony no. 2 (USH 349/2) Yekaterinburg city:

edge213 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:36 pm I probably should not say anything because I have never seen this pattern before, but it looks much older than 1950. It also has more of a European look than Russian.

The knife is truly unique of its kind. However, here you need to know some points. Important details should not be ignored. Tell me, did you notice the iron bolsters, which were covered in rust in some places? They are probably made of iron. I noticed that the master used screws instead of axial bushings. And the spring bushing is also made of a screw. The knife has iron liners. All the work was done clumsily and without sophistication. There are no manufacturer's stamps on the blades. All these nuances immediately suggest that the master did not have nickel silver bolsters, did not have a normal rod for the axial bushings and did not have the necessary mechanisms, devices for high-quality processing of parts and subsequent assembly of the knife.
If this knife was made at the Solingen factory, then shame on the manufacturer. And if it was made by a prisoner, then he deserves respect for being able to create this knife practically on his knees.

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:21 pm

edge213 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:36 pm I probably should not say anything because I have never seen this pattern before, but it looks much older than 1950. It also has more of a European look than Russian.

The knife is truly unique of its kind. However, here you need to know some points. Important details should not be ignored. Tell me, did you notice the iron bolsters, which were covered in rust in some places? They are probably made of iron. I noticed that the master used screws instead of axial bushings. And the spring bushing is also made of a screw. The knife has iron liners. All the work was done clumsily and without sophistication. There are no manufacturer's stamps on the blades. All these nuances immediately suggest that the master did not have nickel silver bolsters, did not have a normal rod for the axial bushings and did not have the necessary mechanisms, devices for high-quality processing of parts and subsequent assembly of the knife.
If this knife was made at the Solingen factory, then shame on the manufacturer. And if it was made by a prisoner, then he deserves respect for being able to create this knife practically on his knees.

I am loving reading all the information. Would you like me to unscrew the screw pins and take more pictures of the pieces? That might help with more details.

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:57 pm
Below are photos of an automatic prison knife in the shape of a sneaker. It was manufactured in Correctional Labor Colony no. 2 (USH 349/2) Yekaterinburg city:

In the caregory of things I never knew I needed until I saw it... A switchblade tennis shoe!!

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:57 pm The master, before his imprisonment, saw somewhere a knife in the shape of a shoe and, while in a colony, made a similar knife, so to speak, based on his motives. This was done secretly from the prison guards. The manufactured knives were exchanged in every possible way for cigarettes from free citizens. The exchange took place in different ways. Most often, a civilian would throw a pack of cigarettes over the fence, and in return they would throw a knife at him. In this case, choosing a knife was impossible.
Below are photos of an automatic prison knife in the shape of a sneaker. It was manufactured in Correctional Labor Colony no. 2 (USH 349/2) Yekaterinburg city:

Did you buy a knife or a story?

No way that switchblade knife was made secretly in a Soviet prison. I don't believe the cigarettes being tossed over the fence for a cheap pen knife either

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:21 pm

edge213 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:36 pm I probably should not say anything because I have never seen this pattern before, but it looks much older than 1950. It also has more of a European look than Russian.

The knife is truly unique of its kind. However, here you need to know some points. Important details should not be ignored. Tell me, did you notice the iron bolsters, which were covered in rust in some places? They are probably made of iron. I noticed that the master used screws instead of axial bushings. And the spring bushing is also made of a screw. The knife has iron liners. All the work was done clumsily and without sophistication. There are no manufacturer's stamps on the blades. All these nuances immediately suggest that the master did not have nickel silver bolsters, did not have a normal rod for the axial bushings and did not have the necessary mechanisms, devices for high-quality processing of parts and subsequent assembly of the knife.
If this knife was made at the Solingen factory, then shame on the manufacturer. And if it was made by a prisoner, then he deserves respect for being able to create this knife practically on his knees.

I personally don't buy the "Russian prison knife" stories.
I just don't believe there are knives of any quality being secretly made in Russian prisons then being exported into the US or anywhere else. I will never believe the OP knife was made in ANY prison.
Also, it is not uncommon to find a quality knife that appears to be Sheffield or Solingen or American made without a tang stamp.

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 2:19 am

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:57 pm The master, before his imprisonment, saw somewhere a knife in the shape of a shoe and, while in a colony, made a similar knife, so to speak, based on his motives. This was done secretly from the prison guards. The manufactured knives were exchanged in every possible way for cigarettes from free citizens. The exchange took place in different ways. Most often, a civilian would throw a pack of cigarettes over the fence, and in return they would throw a knife at him. In this case, choosing a knife was impossible.
Below are photos of an automatic prison knife in the shape of a sneaker. It was manufactured in Correctional Labor Colony no. 2 (USH 349/2) Yekaterinburg city:

Did you buy a knife or a story?

No way that switchblade knife was made secretly in a Soviet prison. I don't believe the cigarettes being tossed over the fence for a cheap pen knife either

Miller Bros I 100% agree with you!!

MrUgly12345 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 1:20 am

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:21 pm

edge213 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:36 pm I probably should not say anything because I have never seen this pattern before, but it looks much older than 1950. It also has more of a European look than Russian.

The knife is truly unique of its kind. However, here you need to know some points. Important details should not be ignored. Tell me, did you notice the iron bolsters, which were covered in rust in some places? They are probably made of iron. I noticed that the master used screws instead of axial bushings. And the spring bushing is also made of a screw. The knife has iron liners. All the work was done clumsily and without sophistication. There are no manufacturer's stamps on the blades. All these nuances immediately suggest that the master did not have nickel silver bolsters, did not have a normal rod for the axial bushings and did not have the necessary mechanisms, devices for high-quality processing of parts and subsequent assembly of the knife.
If this knife was made at the Solingen factory, then shame on the manufacturer. And if it was made by a prisoner, then he deserves respect for being able to create this knife practically on his knees.

I am loving reading all the information. Would you like me to unscrew the screw pins and take more pictures of the pieces? That might help with more details.

Do not disassemble the knife, then it is unlikely that you will be able to put it back together. But additional photographs can be taken in normal daylight.
I think the scales on the handle are made from the tibia of a cattle, possibly a cow.

Miller Bro's wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 2:19 am

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:57 pm The master, before his imprisonment, saw somewhere a knife in the shape of a shoe and, while in a colony, made a similar knife, so to speak, based on his motives. This was done secretly from the prison guards. The manufactured knives were exchanged in every possible way for cigarettes from free citizens. The exchange took place in different ways. Most often, a civilian would throw a pack of cigarettes over the fence, and in return they would throw a knife at him. In this case, choosing a knife was impossible.
Below are photos of an automatic prison knife in the shape of a sneaker. It was manufactured in Correctional Labor Colony no. 2 (USH 349/2) Yekaterinburg city:

Did you buy a knife or a story?

No way that switchblade knife was made secretly in a Soviet prison. I don't believe the cigarettes being tossed over the fence for a cheap pen knife either

I won't argue with you. It doesn't surprise me that you don't believe me. After all, you most likely don’t know what a shortage of personal goods is. In the USSR, knives were made by enterprises that did not specialize in knife products. And the knives produced at the enterprise had a poor design and poor quality of assembly and fitting of parts. And buying a knife in the USSR was not so easy. Not every person had a knife. On our street, only one boy had a folding knife and we were all terribly jealous of him. I got my first folding knife when I was 17 years old. My uncle gave it to me. He exchanged it for cigarettes, tea and sugar from prisoners in the city of Nikolaev, Ukraine. The knife is called a barrel. Now I no longer have it. But I found almost the same one on the Internet. Here look

Here's another one similar

And one more, but this one was most likely made relatively recently. It was sold in Ukraine in 2016.
The seller claimed that this was a direct delivery from CLC prison.

edge213 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 2:32 am

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 11:21 pm

edge213 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 10:36 pm I probably should not say anything because I have never seen this pattern before, but it looks much older than 1950. It also has more of a European look than Russian.

The knife is truly unique of its kind. However, here you need to know some points. Important details should not be ignored. Tell me, did you notice the iron bolsters, which were covered in rust in some places? They are probably made of iron. I noticed that the master used screws instead of axial bushings. And the spring bushing is also made of a screw. The knife has iron liners. All the work was done clumsily and without sophistication. There are no manufacturer's stamps on the blades. All these nuances immediately suggest that the master did not have nickel silver bolsters, did not have a normal rod for the axial bushings and did not have the necessary mechanisms, devices for high-quality processing of parts and subsequent assembly of the knife.
If this knife was made at the Solingen factory, then shame on the manufacturer. And if it was made by a prisoner, then he deserves respect for being able to create this knife practically on his knees.

I personally don't buy the "Russian prison knife" stories.
I just don't believe there are knives of any quality being secretly made in Russian prisons then being exported into the US or anywhere else. I will never believe the OP knife was made in ANY prison.
Also, it is not uncommon to find a quality knife that appears to be Sheffield or Solingen or American made without a tang stamp.

Knives were made not just in prison, but in the Correctional Labor Colony - CLC. CLCs had equipment for the production of a specific product: work clothes, bolts and nuts, assembly of household items that did not require proper qualifications, and so on. In some colonies they sewed uniforms for police officers, rescue workers, employees of medical institutions, and the military. In others, they prepared sauerkraut, pickles and soups, baked cookies, forged fireplace sets, made doll houses and boxes, welded bus stops, football goals and equipment for playgrounds. What am I talking about? And to the fact that if the CLC had the necessary equipment, then the prisoner could make one part to carry out the plan, and another for himself. All this was not advertised. It happened that guards took knives made by prisoners. As for the export of prison products abroad, this is unlikely. I think that all such knives that came to the USA were brought there after the collapse of the USSR. Perhaps even now our citizens are bringing such knives to the USA or Europe.

Here are more automatic folding prison knives

Here are also folding prison knives that have been manufactured in our time. They are also sold on online auctions. These knives are very overpriced. Price $100–170

Here's another Soviet prison knife

There are reviews on YouTube. I hope I don't get banned for this link
https://youtu.be/Rrg5sIcYNoY?si=9_PerN-HWvxrpWgF

https://youtu.be/MWHrMlzUHHo?si=9Bvv6yryvgHHis4u

https://youtu.be/RDptG_T6uvQ?si=m4_XyZBYyWLX5bGv

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 9:21 am Here are also folding prison knives that have been manufactured in our time. They are also sold on online auctions. These knives are very overpriced. Price $100–170

Georgyi!
In your 2nd and 3rd pictures there are 2 black handled knives, 1 open and 1 closed, with just 1 short bolster at the top and they're sitting just above the tape measure. I have seen YouTube videos of that knife and I really like it, would be be able to supply a link about how I could order one, please?
Thanks,
Mark.

Madmarco wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 9:36 pm

Georgiy_Velchev wrote: ↑Mon Apr 22, 2024 9:21 am Here are also folding prison knives that have been manufactured in our time. They are also sold on online auctions. These knives are very overpriced. Price $100–170

Georgyi!
In your 2nd and 3rd pictures there are 2 black handled knives, 1 open and 1 closed, with just 1 short bolster at the top and they're sitting just above the tape measure. I have seen YouTube videos of that knife and I really like it, would be be able to supply a link about how I could order one, please?
Thanks,
Mark.

Mark, I can give you a link to these knives. It's not difficult for me. But there may be problems with its delivery from Russia to Canada. Currently, shipping is only possible through an intermediary. He will take a percentage for his service. If this doesn't bother you, I'll give you a link to the seller. If the seller does not have his own intermediary to complete this transaction, then I will help with the intermediary too. You transfer money to an intermediary, he buys the necessary lots for you, sends them to Kazakhstan, and from there he sends the parcel to Canada.
Only I need to know whether I will be banned for these links?