Melon Testers & ebay finds

Glad you got the knives and hope you enjoy them.

WOW!!!! Looks like Esav Benyamin is going to add to your collection too.
 
This way, there will be one decent collection coming together, instead of a knife here, a knife there.
 
So vintage melon testers are pretty cheap on ebay, around $10. I am currently awaiting delivery on 2 more and i am bidding on another 3. today a fairly nice stainless steel one arrived for me. it needs a little cleaning and the blade has a small chip but really like it.

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Can't say I'm a big fan of fruit testing knives but I really like old knives with local advertising right on the handle like that. It brings a history with it. Doesn't seem to be a popular way of advertising anymore and thats too bad.
 
I just cleaned and oiled the two that Modoc ED sent me. the one with the bryan bros packing co stamped on the side had something very odd jammed inside it. i picked it out with a pin and i found a thin sliver of cardboard that looked like it could have been a match. it didn't have a head but it felt like the same kind of cardboard paper matches are made from. I don't know if it was put there for a reason or if it ended up there by accident while inside a pocket.
 
freedoom said:
I just cleaned and oiled the two that Modoc ED sent me. the one with the bryan bros packing co stamped on the side had something very odd jammed inside it. i picked it out with a pin and i found a thin sliver of cardboard that looked like it could have been a match. it didn't have a head but it felt like the same kind of cardboard paper matches are made from. I don't know if it was put there for a reason or if it ended up there by accident while inside a pocket.
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I had no idea something like that was in the knife. Maybe it was put there to take the slack out of something or for the blade to rest on etc.. Was there a difference in how the knife opened or closed or any blade play etc. after you removed it.

There's no telling what you might find in these old knives.
 
i didn't notice anything different after i took the match out. There doesn't seem to be any major blade play, it opens and closes very smoothly. if i find a problem with it i can always stuff another match inside it :)
 
I don't like the looks of them either but your right that you don't see many companies advertise on knives much any more.
 
Freedom - My latest Schrade is the SS700 Melon Tester in this picture. It is a 1964 example. I really like them. I use one at my desk to open letters, since no one ever sends me any melons to test. I do look forward to using one to separate a cantaloupe slice from the rind though. I keep on the lookout for a serrated version.

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thawk said:
Freedom - My latest Schrade is the SS700 Melon Tester in this picture. It is a 1964 example. I really like them. I use one at my desk to open letters, since no one ever sends me any melons to test. I do look forward to using one to separate a cantaloupe slice from the rind though. I keep on the lookout for a serrated version.
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There's an unbranded colonial on ebay with serrations. 2 days left and no bids

http://cgi.ebay.com/Large-Vintage-70s-Colonial-Brand-Melon-Tester-USA-made-removed
 
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Esav Benyamin's knife arrived safely today. it's a great knife and i love the little fork!

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Sometimes a match under the kick was used to raise the point of the knife.
That let the user open the knife one handed by catching the point on a pocket, seam or box.
Sort of a waaaaaaaaaaaay old school wave.
 
That's a neat little fork on the knife Esav sent you. Very nice knife.

Kudos to Esav Benyamin for his thoughtfullness.
 
freedoom said:
Esav Benyamin's knife arrived safely today. it's a great knife and i love the little fork!


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That is a great little knife. First one like it I've seen.
The generosity around this community is incredible.:thumbup::thumbup:
 
Rough Rider makes a long stainless Mellon Tester with both smooth and serrated blades. Wild Boar has a Whittler with both short and long blades that looks just like a mellon tester. Schrade still has the one listed above, with cream colored handle. It looks cheap, but has an exceptionally sharp blade. All these and probably more can be had from Smokey Mountain
 
Modoc ED said:
Very kewl!!! At this rate you'll have a corner on the Mellon Testers.
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I can't help it. nobody else bids on a lot of these so i end up getting them for a couple bucks and it's just addictive to get more company branded testers. although this new one that just says "melon tester" i like quite a bit.

keithcarter said:
Rough Rider makes a long stainless Mellon Tester with both smooth and serrated blades. Wild Boar has a Whittler with both short and long blades that looks just like a mellon tester. Schrade still has the one listed above, with cream colored handle. It looks cheap, but has an exceptionally sharp blade. All these and probably more can be had from Smokey Mountain
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I've seen the rough rider one on ebay, i may get it at some point but the current production melon testers are low on my list right now. I'll check out Smoky mountain and see what they have. GEC's #89 executive melon whittler is the next production melon tester i'm going to get, that wharncliffe on it looks amazing.
 
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