Posted 9 years ago
Bndtech
(1 item)
I have searched for years and there is nothing on the net about this handmade knife. Everything on the knife that is metal except the main blade was handmade, right down to the pins that hold the tools together. This knife is very large and the tools have been carefully filed to look like the Boy Scout knife. I do not know what year or value. Can anyone lend me some advice?
This is one of about 12 or 15 similar designs of pocket knives, some quite large, made in Japan in the late 1940s and early 1950s. They are crudely made out of scrap materials and appear "handmade". The US made a point of importing cheaply made toys and other consumer goods from Japan as part of our effort to help their struggling economy after WWII. This is why "Made in Japan" used to be a derisive term. Then they got smart and started selling us high quality cars, cameras, and stereo equipment. These knives sold for about $1 in the 1950s. Only recently the prices have gone up but they are still only worth about $15.
Your knife was NOT hand made from scraps, and is worth allot more than 15 bucks! I can't tell you just how much, as "MOST ALL of US" are NOT allowed to do so at CW, but i can offer you the link below as an example of your knife.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/622609582/vintage-reliance-japan-stag-jumbo?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=co+japan+knife&ref=sr_gallery-1-18
I like this, it reminds me of one my grandfather had. I have a small collecion myself. Sorry to 'but in' the "boys only club" he he!