bonsa knife

[halcurties]

I had been admiring a knife in an antique shop for a few weeks. My wife got it for me for Father's Day. I want to know more about it. It has "Bonsa" and "Solingen" inscribed on the blade where it meets the handle. On the other side of the blade by the handle it says Rustfree in German. ("Rostfrei") The handle is 5 1/2 inches long and the blade is thin and 4 1/2 inches long. The handle is made of French Ivory. It is so long and narrow that it seems it could be a letter opener. The handle has "C.A. Pemberton Co. Ltd. of Toronto" inlayed on it on one side, and on the other side there is a solid brass pocket clip. It is quite a beautiful piece of work. The dealer said it was from the 1930's. Any idea about its history or its value?

 

[bob bowie]

Hi,

Your knife sounds like a Melon Tester, it is a knife used to sample produce, meat's, etc.... Bonsa is a trademark of Boentgen & Sabin, who made knives from 1867 to 1983.

Try reposting this in Bernard Levine's forum for more information.

HTH.

 

[dosagaki]

Hi,

Your knife sounds like a Melon Tester, it is a knife used to sample produce, meat's, etc.... Bonsa is a trademark of Boentgen & Sabin, who made knives from 1867 to 1983.

Try reposting this in Bernard Levine's forum for more information.

HTH.

Bonsa made lots of 'contract' knives like yours for American companies after the war. Here's one made for Walter Peabody, an American collector and dealer in South FL in the early 1960's. He used the name Welcraft and his last name on the 'tang'. B&S used a tang stamp of a leg kicking a ball.. This is a multi blade, similar to a 'SAK'. Same quality or better. Sorry, I have no idea how to insert a photo here...