I was given a knife for my birthday/Christmas and I thought I'd share it with ya'll, being that we traditional folks appreciate gift giving and a nice back-story. 
This year, to my surprise, my parents gave me an old brass bartender's knife to add to my collection, and according to my grandmother it was her father's knife originally, but was given to my grandfather after some time. My grandmother told me that my great grandfather used the knife to whittle while my grandfather carried it as an EDC before he passed away. It came to me in really dirty/greasy condition, kind of like it had been in a mechanics shop. I washed it out with a little mineral oil and low and behold some old wood splinters came loose from the springs. Kinda neat to think that the splinters could have been lodged in there by my great grandfather himself
After getting some of the grime off I was also able to make out the tang stamps, one side reads "Coca Cola Bottling Co. / Germany" while the other says "Kastor & Co." with a four leaf clover emblem. Per my research, Kastor & Co. used these markings between 1893-1902, right around the time period my great grandfather would have still been carrying a pocket knife... I hope ya'll enjoy the pics and if you have any additional info on the knife or Kastor & Co. I'd love to hear it! Thanks again and happy holidays. :thumbup:
This year, to my surprise, my parents gave me an old brass bartender's knife to add to my collection, and according to my grandmother it was her father's knife originally, but was given to my grandfather after some time. My grandmother told me that my great grandfather used the knife to whittle while my grandfather carried it as an EDC before he passed away. It came to me in really dirty/greasy condition, kind of like it had been in a mechanics shop. I washed it out with a little mineral oil and low and behold some old wood splinters came loose from the springs. Kinda neat to think that the splinters could have been lodged in there by my great grandfather himself
After getting some of the grime off I was also able to make out the tang stamps, one side reads "Coca Cola Bottling Co. / Germany" while the other says "Kastor & Co." with a four leaf clover emblem. Per my research, Kastor & Co. used these markings between 1893-1902, right around the time period my great grandfather would have still been carrying a pocket knife... I hope ya'll enjoy the pics and if you have any additional info on the knife or Kastor & Co. I'd love to hear it! Thanks again and happy holidays. :thumbup:
