Flea market score, a Dreizack traditional folder...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

Joined
Aug 4, 2013
Messages
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I know almost nothing about this knife, which I think was made in Germany.
Other than the 'Dreizack' tang stamp, nothing else is marked on it.
I would guess the blade is made of a carbon steel, and the handle scales look like a walnut. Other than that, as Schultz in 'Hogan's Heroes' would say... "I know nothing!" ☺
Condition is not new, but extremely nice, with what seems to be the original factory edge.
Looking online for it has given me no exact matches, but with so many of you guys having pretty diverse "accumulations" of knives, maybe someone here can fill Shultz here on what the deal is ;)
I paid $15 for it, so I think I did well, no matter what it may wind up being :)



 
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It seems this knife was made by the famous chef/kitchen knife maker, Wüsthof, in Germany.
Not sure when it was made, but seems it may have many decades of age to her.
 
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I have tried finding a time frame when they may have made this knife, but to no avail... Yet ;)
It's a pretty large folder, about a 4 1/2 inch blade, and almost a full 10 inches long overall when opened.
I was hoping to find a tang stamp chart to help pinpoint it's age using that, but thus far it's been a tough nut to crack. I have not found one single specimen online that would be a match to this one. In a way that's real good, since she may be a pretty rare bird. This collecting stuff is fun, the learning never stops :)
 
That's a great score! Love flea market finds! I look at it and see a traveling steak knife. Unfortunately I can't get the time to hit my local markets. Gotta get back out there Good job, OP.
 
Shankenstein said:
That's a great score! Love flea market finds! I look at it and see a traveling steak knife. Unfortunately I can't get the time to hit my local markets. Gotta get back out there Good job, OP.
Click to expand...

Now that you say it, the handle shape does kind'a have a kitchen knife shape to it :)
The lock seems similar to those used on those South African, (Okapi?), knives. Seems like a very obsolete, (although useable), system. It's another reason I'm thinking she may be older than her condition may portray.
The blade has a nice distal taper, and it overall has an old school feel and look about her. She may be one of those knives that will always have a mysterious history to her ;)
 
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Nice score Jimmy.:thumbsup:
I found a German knife similar to yours with the same lock at an antique store in 2012.
Mine's a bit shorter than yours with a 4" blade and 8 7/8" opened.
I really like how solid they lock up in the open position.

GEC made a version in 2013 or 14 called the Bullock iirc.

Otter-messer still makes a similar knife to this day.

Sorry about the missing pics, PB and all, but for a bit of info about the style of knife here is my inquiry in the Bernard Levine forum from back then.

And there's a little info in my post here in Trads. from when glennbad rebuilt it for me.

You should ask about the stamp in the Bernard Levine's knife collecting and identification forum, I bet you get some answers there.:)
 
mykel m said:
Nice score Jimmy.:thumbsup:
I found a German knife similar to yours with the same lock at an antique store in 2012.
Mine's a bit shorter than yours with a 4" blade and 8 7/8" opened.
I really like how solid they lock up in the open position.

GEC made a version in 2013 or 14 called the Bullock iirc.

Otter-messer still makes a similar knife to this day.

Sorry about the missing pics, PB and all, but for a bit of info about the style of knife here is my inquiry in the Bernard Levine forum from back then.

And there's a little info in my post here in Trads. from when glennbad rebuilt it for me.

You should ask about the stamp in the Bernard Levine's knife collecting and identification forum, I bet you get some answers there.:)
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up on the modern day Otter Messer version and the information share.
Here is a picture I found online on one of the Otter Messer knives, and it does look like the same basic pattern, (whatever the pattern may officially have been or still is). I know Mr. Levine said yours was a "Folding Butcher" knife, but since the pics on that thread have expired, I was not able to compare yours to mine to see if it has enough of the same lines to place mine as a "Folding Butcher" knife too. Also, although Mr. Levine calls it a "Folding Butcher Knife", it seems that the few modern renditions are/have been named with different labels. The GEC Bullock, for instance.
Unlike patterns like the Trapper, Canoe, and the Whittler, this pattern seems to not be holding a standardized label.
In any case, I know more about it now than I did when I first purchased it yesterday morning :)

Modern day made Otter Messer...


I did post up my pics and what little I know about my knife on the Bernard Levine forum, hoping someone will chime in over there with some more info on it. I would love to know the decade it was made in :)

Thanks again! :)
 
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My pleasure Jimmy.
My knife looked pretty much like the Otter but with even blander wood.

I finally found some pics in my library so here it is a few years ago.
I believe butcher is synonymous with hunter in folding hunter sized knives as they are meant to clean game.

xxYCAgQ.jpg


Rmtk0mA.jpg


Shout out to Glenn for a great rebuild.
Thanks again Glenn!
 
Mr. Levine responded to my post. Now I have an even better idea of what I have. Thanks again for the info and advice to seek Mr. Levine's knowledge.
Here is what he posted...

"Ed. Wusthof once had a fairly extensive line of folding knives, in conventional patterns.
This line was discontinued circa 1955.
Your nice knife is marked for sale in Europe, not for export to the USA.
It is a folding butcher / kitchen / picnic knife."
 
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Pomsbz said:
What is the metal bit at the top? Some kind of lock mechanism?
Click to expand...
Although this question was answered I wanted to expand on it. This lock works similarly to a lockback. But instead of pushing down on the rear of the lockbar to disengage, when you move the toggle forward. The cam on it rides the frame and lifts the spring up. I had assumed this is how they worked seeing pics, but wasn't 100% sure. However I got a riggers knife recently and the marlin spike locks the same way.
 
Through a bit more online searching, I found out that the Trident marking was begun in 1895.
Mr. Bernard Levine gave the 1955 date as the end of the company's pocketknife line. That means my knife was made sometime during that 60 year span, (1895 to 1955). Seems a long shot that I will ever be able to narrow that down to maybe the decade in which it was made. In any case, at bare minimal, she is at least 64 years old :)
 
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Jimmy, that additional info from Mr. Levine is interesting, and it further proves what a nice score this knife was. I thought my seeing it as a traveling steak knife wasn't as wacky as I thought. Again, great score.
 
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