Kissing Crane Purchased On E-bay

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okBookGuy

Joined
Dec 29, 2005
Messages
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I'd sure appreciate any good advice you guys could give me. I liked the way this Kissing Crane looked on e-bay. Here's the URL. I thought the blades looked like carbon (not shiny. . .you're correct I don't know what
I'm talking about). And I thought that a german made pocket knife would
probably be a good one. Well I won the auction and it has just come in the mail. Now I'm sorta not liking what I'm seeing and before sending it
back (they kindly give me 10 days to return) wanted to ask you guys to please let me know what you think of this one.

It says Robert Klaas and Germany on the tang on one side. The other side has the kissing crane logo with "Solingen".

The blades are EXTREMLY shiny (unlike the picture) and that made me worry that they are some cheap stainless that I'll never be able to sharpen. But I did try some paper cutouts and they really do pretty well
there. Can anyone tell me if this is good or cheap steel?

Also, it may be my imagination, but it seems the handles are sorta sticky and tacky and maybe able to flake material off. And the pins are sticking out pretty far and will catch in your pocket. I can file that down but only if you think its a keeper.

So I don't know what I got here, don't know how to tell if its a keeper or not. Guess I was thinking it would handle like a Case and it doesn't.

Help you guys. . .what do I have here and is it a keeper?

Thanks!!!




http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300029116112&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1
 
Two very odd things about this knife...

First, I have never seen a Kissing Crane pocketknife that looked anything like this one..pattern, tooling, handle, etc. The handles look like delrin, the frame/handles remind me of a Kutmaster delrin handled stockman.

Second, I have never seen any two blade jack with a small spey blade as the secondary blade like that...very odd.

Having said the above, I have no explanation....it would be tough to believe that anyone would counterfeit a Kissing Crane knife.

What is the exact closed length, and the exact blade marking?
 
I can't really give more info on the knife in particular. However, some German carbon steel knives are highly polished. I have an older Boker barlow that I thought was stainless, but turned out to be just mirror polished carbon steel. Also, I recently got a Bulldog, (2nd generation I believe) made by Oberlitz, that has some proud pins on it also.

I did buy a knife back in August from the same seller and the folks were communicative and it was a smooth transaction so if you do send it back I'm confident they will treat you right.

I wonder if the sticky stuff was storage residue? I've had a few knives that were stored in the bag and in the box that the storage coating was kind of sticky and tacky on.

Good luck in either choice and let us know how things work out.
 
IMO the knife looks to be legit. The Kissing Crane knives I have purchased all had carbon blades and it was my belief that they all were made with carbon. I don't have any idea about the handles.

I have not seen that configuration before on a Kissing Crane knife though...
 
If the handles are deteriorating, they may be celluloid. Or they may have been cleaned with the wrong solvent. Either way, I wouldn't mention using it on paper, as long as there are no marks on it.
I don't know how a seller could miss what you describe! I'd just return it,,,,,,,,,Quickly!!
 
ummmmmm can't you just use a magnet to see if the blade is Carbon or Stainless??? Wouldn't that make it simple to tell.

Other than that I have no info...

DM
 
A magnet is equally drawn to cutlery grade stainless, DevilMan!
 
Thanx WayNorth!!! I didn't think magnets stuck to any stainless... Couldn't tell you why! But was always told that... So what makes some non and some magnetic??? I mean obviously its the iron in it, but then what makes it stainless???

Thanx,

DM
 
I haven't seen that pattern from Kissing Crane before, it looks like it is an older model. Almost all of their knives are carbon steel, most with a mirror polish. Stick it in an apple for a while, or dip it in vinegar, to see if it is carbon or stainless. Or dab a little cold bluing on an inconspicuous spot on the tang, that will tell you immediately if it is stainless or carbon.

I have had good results with the Kissing Crane carbon steel.
 
I am not a metallurgist, but traces or small quantities of other metals, like nickel and chromium make "stainless" steel. Others will direct you to the information. There are several people who visit here who can tell you ALL about steel!
 
knifeaholic said:
Two very odd things about this knife...

First, I have never seen a Kissing Crane pocketknife that looked anything like this one..pattern, tooling, handle, etc. The handles look like delrin, the frame/handles remind me of a Kutmaster delrin handled stockman.

Second, I have never seen any two blade jack with a small spey blade as the secondary blade like that...very odd.

Having said the above, I have no explanation....it would be tough to believe that anyone would counterfeit a Kissing Crane knife.

What is the exact closed length, and the exact blade marking?
Click to expand...

Exact closed length seems to be 3 3/4". Exact blade marking is on tang only of main blade. One side says Robert Klaas and Germany underneath that. Other side has kissing crane logo with Solingen underneath.

The handle isn't so bad. I thought it was flaking it places, but don't really see itnow. I do see specs of shiny spots on the handles and those seem sorta "flakable" but I'm afraid to press that until I decide to keep it. But no where on the handle seems to be veneered or anything like that.

Also, it doesn't handle to me like Delrin. Its someother type of material. My only experience with bone handle is case. This is not so polished (like I said, sorta tacky or sticky although that's not as predominant as I thought yesterday.

Oh, I also looked the steel over closely and I believe I see specs where oxidation is beginning so I'm not beginning to think the blades are carbon and were just really really polished like Amos Iron Wolf said.

I don't believe its a knock off or illegitimate copy.

So, is this a keeper???
 
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