Oldest continuously produced knife?

mark greenman

mark greenman

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Feb 16, 2007
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I recently purchased a Mercator K55 Knife, and discovered that this exact same model has been in continuous production since 1867! Despite being 145 years old, the K55's lines looks surprisingly modern.

mercator-K55K-ouvert-LamesEco_m.jpg


This got me wondering, what is the oldest continuously produced knife design?


I am not asking about which companies have been around the longest, or what styles of knife have been around.

What I'm looking for is what specific knife models (ex: K55, Opinel 4, Buck 110) that have been around for a really long time.

Old knife designs I know so far:
Mercator K55: 1867
Opinel: 1890
Douk Douk: 1929
Buck 110: 1964

Are there any older models (fixed or folding) that have endured over the years?
 
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If I'm reading it right, Le Thiers has been producing cutlery for 700 years, starting some time in the 1300's.
 
Wenger cutlery, the other producer of the Genuine Swiss Army Knife: 1893

Seki Cutlery also says their history dates back to the 13th century.
 
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I don't think that the OP means companies or general styles but literally a particular model.
 
The k55k is one cool folder. It is a Grandfather of folders but many do not realize this.
I have a Red one. :)
Thank you Andi!
 
The classic Morakniv (Mora knife) has been in production since 1891 according to the web site.
 
Lycosa said:
The k55k is one cool folder. It is a Grandfather of folders but many do not realize this.
I have a Red one. :)
Thank you Andi!
Click to expand...

R-D: That was a great pleasure to me giving you this red K55K Mercator and I´m really glad you like it, my friend!

One of the oldest pattern is the austrian "Taschenzaunkerl" or being more specific "Trattenbacher Taschenfeitel" - they are made in Austria since the 16th century, simply friction folders...
 
I'm gonna just throw this out there for someone way more knowledgeable than I to comment on, but how about authentic bali's made in the Philipines? Is there/are there manufacturer(s)/families/generations of makers who have been making a certain basic model for a long time?

Prof.
 
That is also another worthy contender Professor. I hadn't thought about it, but I imagine the tradition is more than likely well over a century.
 
I'd guess the Japanese have knifemaking families going back at least 400 years of continuous manufacture.

Probably some Arab Jambiya makers.
 
How about the Kukri knives of Gurka fame?

The pattern has been around for a long time but I don't know if any specific manufacturers have been around as long as Mercator.
 
Just looked, Puma Knives of Solingen, has been continuously making knives since 1769. That may be the oldest Western knifemaker.

The Japanese Brand Aritsugu, has been making knives since it was founded in 1560.
 
What about the oldest continuously produced knife, though? Not knife maker? A specific model made by one firm and with only minimal changes, if any, from its initial form? :)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
What about the oldest continuously produced knife, though? Not knife maker? A specific model made by one firm and with only minimal changes, if any, from its initial form? :)
Click to expand...

Puma fixed blade hunting knives share the same outline as hunting daggers seen in 14th-15th Cent. tapestries & other art. The White Hunter is a good example.

Japanese cutlery has not changed much since their sword-makers turned to kitchen cutlery after the country was unified.
 
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