Algonquin Indian Knife

**sailor613** · 05-04-2012, 04:44 PM

I have an Algonquin Indian knife in its original smoke cured sheath. It is a 4 1/2 in blade with a 5 1/2 in handle. The blade is marked "MONOPOL SOLINGEN" and "MADE IN GERMANY" on the obverse. The handle is deer antler (single tyne) The MONOPOL company is known for scissors, tweezers and straight razors. I can find very little info on the company or when it made knives for trade goods. Can anyone shed some light on the MONOPOL company so I can determine the age of the knife.
Thanks Sailor613

**DJD** · 05-04-2012, 05:22 PM

Welcome to the forum.

People mark anything they feel like on knives. What the mark says can sometimes be of help in determining the age of the knife, but in many cases, it can be misleading, both accidentally or purposely. Much better to examine the knife and actually see how it is made and marked. This can be done if you post clear pictures of the knife. Read this:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...t-get-answered

DD

**sailor613** · 05-05-2012, 01:50 PM

Looking for any information on Knives from the MONOPOL factory in Solingen Germany or information on the MONOPOL company itself. I have recently acquired a deer antler handled MONOPL Knife from the Canadian Algonquin Native Indian tribe and I am trying to determine it's age and when it may have come over as trade goods. Any information would be greatly appreciated. sailor613

**polish avenger** · 05-05-2012, 02:12 PM

POST PICTURES!!! Please follow directions.
-Mark

**Ishrub** · 05-05-2012, 04:55 PM

John WALTER's TOOLMAKERS AND METALSMITHS AN ILLUSTRATED REGISTER OF TRADEMARKS AND BRAND NAMES, 1871-1945 (2012)

http://www.archivingindustry.com/cut...lermarks-1.pdf

Page 57
Monopol (1895, no. 1070): Friedr. Baurmann
& Söhne, Solingen. Registry class: 9b.
Style: formal script.
Monopol (1898, no. 31770): Gottlieb Corts,
Remscheid. Registry class: 9b. Style: a
mixture of handwriting and formal script,
with a particularly angular ‘M’.
MONOPOL: Friedr. August Göbel

http://www.industryarea.com/Monopol_...1/company.html

Pfaffenberger Weg 246
42659 Solingen, Germany
Telephone:
Fax: +49 (0)212 202153
+49 (0)212 10945
Webseite: www.scheren-solingen.info
Distribution area: worldwide,
Correspondence: Français, English, Deutsch,
Type of company: Manufacturer,

Monopol Schneidwaren was founded in 1880. As a manufacturer of slitting shears and tweezers, the company offers a wide range of innovative products and services.

http://straightrazorplace.com/razors...7-day-set.html

Post #9 "Monopol is one of the brands of the Friedr. Baurmann & Sohne.. I bought the last of the straight razors they had in 2004 and sold them on eBay and at my original web site. Kurt - the guy who owns Baurmann now - is an interesting character. He spent five years in Algeria including the four years of the Algerian War. He participated in the Foreign Legion mutiny and was banished to the desert with the other members of the Legion who participated. He doesn't speak a word of English and I do not speak any German so I communicated with him through online translator programs.

Baurmann Friedrich & Söhne Inh. Kurt Brückmann
Pfaffenberger Weg 246, 42659 Solingen, Germany
0212 202153‎ "

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-pi...item3a73aada9c

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Monopol-So...item2a167cffeb

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-MO...item3f16f5ed40

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aique-all-...item20c541b720

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-MO...item41654df1ae

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Monopol-So...item2a167d918d

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GERMAN-WWI...item5892fd5d8e

**Sidehill Gouger** · 05-05-2012, 07:24 PM

Knief? There was no "Germany" until long after what is normally considered the fur trade period. Maybe the great white Chief Nelson Rockefeller traded this knife to the Algonquin in 1952 right before the Albany Rangers massacred their entire village? Or not.

**Pipeman** · 05-05-2012, 08:09 PM

Trade knife?? I don't think so ;-))

**sailor613** · 05-05-2012, 08:55 PM

ISHRUB, Thanks for the reply. The signature on the blade is MONOPOL in the written format with underline from the "L" and the leaning "M" same as on the older straight razors. I have looked extensively and as yet have not seen another knife with this trade mark or been able to determine when MONOPOL actually made Knives. A real Mystery.
sailor613

**sailor613** · 05-05-2012, 08:59 PM

SIDEHILL, You are correct. The MONOPOL Co. started in 1880. After extensive search have failed to find a single other blade with this trade mark. Company only makes straight razors, scissors, tweesers ect. therefore suspect this blade was produced when company was young around the turn of the century for export.

**sailor613** · 05-05-2012, 09:02 PM

Pipeman concur. Suspect this is early 1900's. Have been unable to find a single other blade with the MONOPOL trademark.

**Ishrub** · 05-05-2012, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by sailor613

SIDEHILL, You are correct. The MONOPOL Co. started in 1880. After extensive search have failed to find a single other blade with this trade mark. Company only makes straight razors, scissors, tweesers ect. therefore suspect this blade was produced when company was young around the turn of the century for export.

Could the item marked as a 'Monopol' blade actually be a crooked knife made from half a pair of scissors/shears or a straight razor?

You are driving us nuts with out any photos or description of this knife.

Other references for 'Algonquin Indian knife' refer to 'crooked knives' which from my reading elsewhere were mainly self made knives from scaveneged steel from other broken blades or worn-out tools. I did see one reference to Husdon Bay Company listed “mocotaugan” knives http://www.mocotauganthebook.com/pdf...nMain28-33.pdf.

**Pipeman** · 05-05-2012, 10:03 PM

Here's a crooked knife I made a few years ago, traditionally made with wooden handles with a file blade, sometimes broken blades. I have made antler handled crooked knives but have never seen an early crooked knife with other than wooden handles. I used to buy a great many antique crooked knives, always Mi'kmaq. Never have seen a modern day Algonquin canoe builder use a crooked knife. I have seen the odd crooked knife with a broken straight razor blade.

Regards

Robin

[IMG]

[/IMG]
[IMG]

[/IMG]

**sailor613** · 05-05-2012, 10:25 PM

Thanks. This is not a crooked knife. Pictures to follow tomorrow. Cheers.

**sailor613** · 05-06-2012, 01:52 PM

As promised here are pictures of MONOPOL bladed Algonquin Native Indian knife. The scabbard is traditionally tanned moose hide (it is first scraped then chewed to soften the leather and then smoked to preserve it. Still has smoke odor). Clasp is rough glass trade bead. Believe deer tine (antler) may have been added latter. Note "Made in Germany" stamp which probably meant for export. " MONOPOL Solingen" is very clear on the other side. Determining when MONOPOL knives were made would help to date this item. Again any information would be greatly appreciated. sailor613.

**sailor613** · 05-06-2012, 02:09 PM

Robin see photos in recent post.

**Pipeman** · 05-06-2012, 02:10 PM

I figure it's a typical mid 20th century German hunting knife with a replaced handle and a fairly recent "sheath".

Regards

Robin

**sailor613** · 05-06-2012, 02:11 PM

Ishrub. See photos in recent post.

**sailor613** · 05-06-2012, 02:13 PM

Mark, See recently posted pictures

**sailor613** · 05-06-2012, 02:15 PM

Robin, Could be correct but no one has been able to confirm MONOPOL branded blades were made and when. This can't be the only one out there.

**Pipeman** · 05-06-2012, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by sailor613

Robin, Could be correct but no one has been able to confirm MONOPOL branded blades were made and when. This can't be the only one out there.

Actually, I AM correct ;-)) Marks tell part of the story only. The blade is very typical of mid 20th century German hunting knives, the mark is modern, the sheath is modern, the antler handle looks recently added. I would say it's no older than the 50s.

Regards

Robin