Posted 6 years ago
fortapache
(3437 items)
I have seen similar pieces like this but this one has a full size fork and spoon. In photo #2 an actual full size fork. It is not a salad fork but a dinner fork so as can seen full size. Same for the spoon although I was lazy and didn't use a spoon. The knife blade is a typical knife blade for a pocket knife of this size. Probably a bit better than the typical dinner knife. And if you are camping the meat is probably steak which is the easiest meat to cook and the knife blade will work well as a steak knife.
There are 5 other tools, there is a flat head screwdriver, corkscrew, scissors, bottle/can opener and pointy thing. The pointy thing blade is on most pocket knives. This one seems to have many useful features plus it looks nice.
I had one similar in the Scouts. It was a long time ago, but I think it was Japan made also. It was impracticable to hold the thing with the spoon and fork folded to use the saw blade etc. It weighed a ton too.
This is one of the things that the US ordered and bought from Japan after the war to help re-build their manufacturing infrastructure. Your knife is, I believe, the largest of a line of similarly constructed folders that includes eight or ten different sizes and tool combinations. It originally had a leather belt holster, complete with chromed studs.
The metal on these knives appears to have been stamped from whatever scrap steel was lying around and the fit & finish would never be acceptable today. Some of the tools, notably the scissors are somewhat less than serviceable.
I often thought it would be fun to collect all of them but I never got around to it. Virtually worthless at one time, their value is increasing as time goes on but it would still be possible to acquire quite a few examples at minimal cost relative to vintage American pocket knife prices.
I often wonder what the Japanese workers, who had a tradition of impeccable craftsmanship, thought of all the cheap tin toys and other crap America ordered from them back when "made in Japan" was synonymous with "junk."
Thank you very much Toyrebel. I can see how that would make it hard to use. Actually I can feel that as I pick it up and try to use. You have to unfold the fork to use the knife blade.
Thank you very much Thomas. Yes I think he would have liked it.
Thank you very much Uncle Ron for all that information. Checking finished auctions. Looks like they are still affordable.
Thank you
Newfld
fattytail
Toyrebel
hunterqlee
buckethead
yougottahavestuff
Brunswick
bottle-bud
truthordare
blunderbuss2
Thank you hotairfan.
Thank you
vetraio50
elanski
I have the same knife still use it when camping I love it
Thank you very much OLECODY. Good you still use it.
Thank you
antiquerose
Watchsearcher
jscott0363
OLECODY
PhilDMorris
danderson
Thank you SEAN68.
I have on of these knives but mine has all kinds of markings on it looks like a name and a few digits behind it also has an animal scratched into blade thought I was looney at first then a couple more people said it was there too
Thank you very much best. I will look for that on mine.
The full size spoon & fork is a real bonus. I love these but one of those things I never got to have. Just never seen the right one also !~
Thank you very much Phil. I still need to use this thing.