Found a dagger in a storage box.

[sunandsteel]

I was going through a storage box that I keep guitar supplies in and came across this dagger with sheath that a family member had bought about 25 years ago maybe longer. It says 440 stainless Japan on one side of the blade and on other side Explorer 21-021. I didn't see any info anywhere so wondering if you guys know anything about this dagger.

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[tltt]

Explorer was the house brand of Gutmann Cutlery of Mt. Vernon, Ny, a post WWII cutlery importer. They started using that brand in the early 80's or so and still use it today, although the original company has changed hands. Their heyday was the mid 80's - 90's, and your knife is certainly from that period.

Quality ran the gamut from excellent to decent. On a smaller knife like this, steel would've been 420j2 or 440a, and it would've been in the $15 -20 range. The sheath was most probably a simple cordura slip with a snap loop at the top.

 

[sunandsteel]

Thanks for the info and now that I know a little more about it, I'm not sure what to do with it other than leave it in storage.

 

[GronK]

Looks like a nice letter/package opener if nothing else. Just be aware that some jurisdictions have laws against double edged knives so you might not want to carry it.