Old Boker. Not sure what it is. What do you think?

Fred Sanford

Fred Sanford

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Sep 3, 2006
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Hey folks,

I have been going through some items that were left to my wife and I due to a death in the family. In the process I stumbled across this old Boker knife. I just wondered if anyone could tell me what pattern it is and if you have any idea how old it is? I'm guessing it is from the 60's maybe. Not sure. It still has good walk and talk but the blades are sharpened away pretty good. The knife is about 3 and 3/8" long closed.

Not sure if I should try to file down the kick so that the blades close further or if I should just leave it alone like it is. I have only put a few drops of 3-in-one oil at the pivot to help it work better. It does now. I could probably sharpen it up and still have a good user if I wanted.

I am not getting rid of it so that is not why I am asking. It was probably my father-in-law's knife so I will keep it for sure.

Thanks in advance! :)

Scroll down to see updated pics of it cleaned up and sharpened.

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Looks like a Teardrop Jack. Somebody used that knife a lot. The blade shapes are not now what they were when the knife was new, due to many years of sharpening. It's difficult to know what the secondary blade was, but it was probably a pen blade. The primary blade was and is a clip blade. The tip maybe might have been reshaped after a broken tip, but it's hard to know.

Lot of history in the knife. Condolences on the loss in the family.
 
That's a well-worn old jack, looks like it was sharpened on a grinder to me.
 
I think that's what Boker called a Utility Jack pattern #83B, check to see it might be stamped on back of blade, most Boker USA have the pattern numbers, it was made prior to 1975, after 1975 the shield would have a trademark registered symbol ® which from your picture it doesn't seem to have. I'm guessing J. Wiss and Sons era early 1970's, it could be slightly earlier during New Britain Machine Co. era but it is definitely before Cooper Group took ownership, hope that helps a little.



Pete
 
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Aha is it odd that I feel sorry for the knife after seeing the original photo that Pete posted above? rip to all the vintage knives 'touched up' on a grinder and turned into toothpicks of today
 
Ryouchijtx said:
Aha is it odd that I feel sorry for the knife after seeing the original photo that Pete posted above? rip to all the vintage knives 'touched up' on a grinder and turned into toothpicks of today
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When I look at a knife like that I think of a simpler less materialistic time, a well loved tool carried for years that gave to original owner years of dedicated service, we here (most of us) have a multitude of knives myself included, the closest I've come to wearing out a knife is my Opinel #9 but I don't think because I have so many now ( thanks to the BF enablers club:-) that I could possibly wear any out.

Thanks Jack you know I like me a Boker

Pete
 
Very true, one that was well loved and well used always comes to mind. You might wonder when they got to that toothpick point if they realised it had been sharpened so much. Us in this forum as well definitely have a large rotation of knives so the possibility of wearing a blade out to that regard is highly improbable unless you're mis sharpening.

Love seeing the ads of older knives and the knives themselves. The prices back then were incredulous ;)
 
David Lowry said:
I have been going through some items that were left to my wife and I due to a death in the family. In the process I stumbled across this old Boker knife. ...

Not sure if I should try to file down the kick so that the blades close further or if I should just leave it alone like it is. ... I could probably sharpen it up and still have a good user if I wanted.

I am not getting rid of it so that is not why I am asking. It was probably my father-in-law's knife so I will keep it for sure.

6ozpmxc.jpg
Click to expand...

GORGEOUS knife! I would try to file down the kick a bit and carry it.

-- Mark
 
Thanks so much all. Pete, that was very helpful. I think I may file down the kick a little and carry it some days. I'll post more pics later. :)

The back of the main blade has the number 813 on it. Good call Pete. :) I have filed the kicks down and sharpened the blades so they now shave hair. I'll post pics when I can get better outdoor pictures. It's raining right now.
 
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knarfeng said:
Looks like a Teardrop Jack. Somebody used that knife a lot. The blade shapes are not now what they were when the knife was new, due to many years of sharpening. It's difficult to know what the secondary blade was, but it was probably a pen blade. The primary blade was and is a clip blade. The tip maybe might have been reshaped after a broken tip, but it's hard to know.

Lot of history in the knife. Condolences on the loss in the family.
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Thanks man, I just now saw the latter part of your post. I appreciate the condolences. We lost my mother-in-law last July and we are still going through stuff. I look at the knife and I think....I bet this has done some cool things. It's just so neat to see a tool/companion that was used that much. I love old things. :)
 
Looks like it really must have been the sole knife of the owner for a longtime. And you know what? It has soul too! That secondary blade is so splinter-like that at first I thought it was an awl.....

Good to hear you've got it back and in occasional use, I'm sure the owner would've been delighted. Böker do a very decent knife in my experience.

Regards, Will
 
Here she is with the kicks filed down so that the blade tips are now back inside the handles when closed. I gave it a hot water and dish soap bath with a toothbrush and then dried her off and oiled her up. After that, I sharpened it. The main blade will now shave arm hair. The pen blade is sharp but not shaving sharp. I sharpened a pencil with the pen blade and it did it well so I'm happy.

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Here it is next to my #66 GEC Tidioute Calf Roper Slim in Ebony
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It looks great! I'd carry that with pride anyday. It is so cool taking a well worn knife and aplying just a little tlc. Most of the times it completely transforms the knife.
 
Very nice rehab of that interesting old knife! Great job!! :thumbup::thumbup:

- GT
 
Was gonna suggest you filed down the 'kicks' but you beat me to it and I didn't know what they were called, so I've learnt something. Nice Knife with plenty of life left in it. All the better for a bit of wear. :thumbup:
 
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