Help me identify this knife.

[Kevin-B]

Hi fellas, so right after my grandpa passed away i got this knife wich belonged to him.
The only problem is that i dont know what kind, what brand and how old it is.
The stamps on the blade are what i believe to say IG and something unreadable
I was wondering if you guys could help me identify this knife, if you know what it is or what it could be please tell me.
Here are a "couple" pictures i took of the knife.

Everyone's help is greatly appreciated

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

The pattern looks like what is commonly called a 'springer' switchblade knife. The lever on the handle is the release and lock, which is pressed to unlock the blade for both opening and closing. I think the 'springer' name comes from the leaf spring in the bottom of the blade well, which propels the blade out upon activating the lever. Lots and lots of different German manufacturers made these (or maybe contracted their manufacture) back in the 1970s (maybe '80s) and earlier, perhaps as far back as the WWII era.

I have one in stag, stamped from Voss Cutlery (Germany) in which the leaf spring is broken; so it no longer works as a switchblade. I think that might've been a common issue with them; many with broken springs. Still, they're perfectly functional as a lockblade though, without the spring action. Looks like your example might be in jigged bone, or perhaps synthetic (simulated) bone.

If you search Google Images for 'springer switchblade knife germany', you'll see a whole bunch of examples. You might consider posting pics in the Bernard Levine subforum here on BF as well (linked below). I know these patterns have been posted and discussed there as well, with perhaps more expertise as to mfr's who produced them. Somebody there might be able to provide info about the tang stamps as well.

https://bladeforums.com/forums/bernard-levines-knife-collecting-identification.691/


David

 

[Jolipapa]

I would enlarge my Google search to France. A lot of manufacturers went to export without necessarily stamp the blades.

 

[neal70]

The IG rings a faint bell, but I can't quite call it up. Good luck.
Thanks, Neal

 

[Hickory n steel]

Try taking a small wire brush and some wd40 to the tang side with the unreadable stamping and see if you can get it more visible so you can read it.