Junk / Novelty Knife ID?

[Ace Rimmer]

I found this little junk / novelty knife in with several WW2-era trinkets that once belonged to my mother. I assumed it was the same age, but once I got it open (after a good mineral oil soak) I found the following tang stamp:

MERICAN
MDSE Co
JAPAN

I assume that dates it better to the post-war era of inexpensive Japanese toys. An Internet search for the tang stamp hasn't turned up anything useful ("did you mean 'American'"?, etc.). Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what it is and/or has ever heard of the Merican Manufacturning Company.

 

[afishhunter]

I don"t know squat about your knife.

Are the blades wiggly?
Have you tried sharpening it?
Some (but not all) of those novelty/advertising knives back in the day had/have good 10xx blades.

From the pictures, yours looks like a fairly decent and little used little 'ol pen knife.

(I'm guessing your mum didn't use a quill pen for her dispatches?)

 

[afishhunter]

I don't know anything about that company or your knife.

Are the blades wiggly?
Have you tried sharpening it?
I know some of those novelty/advertising knives back in the day had/have good 10xx blades that got "scary sharp" and held their edge.

From the photos, yours looks like a good little used pen knife.
It might even be useable.

I'm going to guess your mum didn't use a quill pen for her missives and dispatches?

 

[Ace Rimmer]

I don"t know squat about your knife.

Are the blades wiggly?
Have you tried sharpening it?
Some (but not all) of those novelty/advertising knives back in the day had/have good 10xx blades.

From the pictures, yours looks like a fairly decent and little used little 'ol pen knife.

(I'm guessing your mum didn't use a quill pen for her dispatches?)

Thanks for your thoughts! No, I'm afraid it really is junk. For example, the backspring seems strong enough on closing, but open the blades just flop around. There's a lot of blade rub, and the whole frame is a bit bent. Just a fun little mystery! I do remember trying to make a quill pen out of a chicken feather when I was little, but I don't think my mother used one regularly.