Question about Trick Knives.

A

Amos Iron Wolf

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Mar 7, 2006
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I recently picked up an Imperial (Ireland) Trick Knife, as everyone should have at least one in his collection. This got me wondering about the history of the trick knife. Who made the first one and when? What companies made them? Was there a time period when they were the most popular?

The one I have has a strong spring to it. It's a nice, inexspensive little toy and could in fact be a pleasant little pocket knife.

See, these things just get you curious and you start learning things. We gotta keep knives out of the hands of kids. They might learn responsibility and history. Horrors!
 
Which trick does this treat play, Amos :confused: ??:D :D
 
It's the old hold the tip up and push to open trick. No nail nick, no way to open it if you don't know the trick. I saw one similar, in the clampak, on ebay that also does color changes on the scales supposedly.
 
My mind is alittle "fuzzy" right now, but I believe it was colonial and camillus that made the majority of them going back over 80+ years ago. They were very popular during the "silver screen" era when colonial and novelty knife made many of the (original)"pic under the handle" character knives. Such as the Roy Rogers, Red Ryder, etc.
 
Thanks, Rev.

I had fun with it at work today with a couple other officers. It was a grin to watch them try to figure out how to open it. I did tell them that banging it on a desk or trying to pry it open was NOT the way to do it.
 
hehehehehehe....yeah I have a few of these myself. Forcing them open does not work (and does not make a person look good either!) :D
 
Amos Iron Wolf said:
I recently picked up an Imperial (Ireland) Trick Knife, as everyone should have at least one in his collection. This got me wondering about the history of the trick knife. Who made the first one and when? What companies made them? Was there a time period when they were the most popular?
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Trick or puzzle knives date back to the 17th century before the days of spring-back knives. The original puzzle knives had a pair of rotating rivets through the bolster that held the blade either open or closed. In order to open or close the blade the rivets had to be lined-up in a particular way. Later, the rivets took on fancy forms such as clocks, sun and moon designs etc. The basic principle was the same. The blade would not open if the two rivets were not properly aligned. Like a two wheeled combination lock on a brief case.
 
Wow, I would love to see some of the fancied up rivet versions. Thanks for the info. Interesting info I should add.
 
moon, you can see one like mine on ebay. The item is #110048471232. As I'm typing this there is less than an hour on the auction. I'm not hyping the sale or the seller. Just posting as a quick way to see a picture.
 
Hi. There is page or so on these early trick knives in a little book called Penknives and Other Folding Knifes. By Simon Moore. Shire Publications 1988. I don't have a scanner.
 
Amos Iron Wolf said:
moon, you can see one like mine on ebay. The item is #110048471232. As I'm typing this there is less than an hour on the auction. I'm not hyping the sale or the seller. Just posting as a quick way to see a picture.
Click to expand...

Thanks Amos for the item #...:thumbup: :)

For $7.99 and free shipping it was a deal that could not be passed up, I will soon be the proud owner of a Schrade trick knife...:cool:

Sunburst
 
Glad you could get one Sunburst. They're a knifty knifey item and seem to be going for some easy prices. I should probably have picked up another one. That's one that fits under the cheap thrills catagory! :D
 
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