Small, cheap lockback of unknown origin

[HFinn]

Many years ago I found this lockback in a very peculiar way. I was traveling with my family in southern Sweden and we stayed in a hostel. While I was making the bed to my sons, putting on bedlinen, I lifted the matress and noticed this knife under there. Some other quest had left it there. Nobody wanted it, so I kept it.

It has been in my drawer ever since. Now I dug it up. The handle slabs are some kind of plastic I quess. It has some sideways blade play, but the lock is very solid. I could wrap the bolsters in leather and try to give it a squeeze in my workbench to try to tighten the pivot. Edge was so-so, not sharp, not completely dull so I started sharpening it. Now it has a serviceable blade, sharp but not shawing yet. There are no makers marks anywhere. The handle has a swell in the back and is comfortable in the hand.

I am sure it has no value, but it would be nice to know if anyone has any information about knives like this. I might use it at the office.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Handles look like laminated & stabilized wood (something like 'Pakkawood' or Case's 'StaminaWood' I think). The design looks a LOT like some Japanese knives made by Moki(?) and branded/sold by A.G. Russell, Kershaw/KAI, maybe Al Mar and others. All of those have specific brand markings/stampings on the tang, including origin (Japan/Seki City, if I recall). Hard to say if this unmarked knife is Japanese, or if it might be a clone from elsewhere.

I have some of the similar A.G. Russell knives (with his Rucarta/Micarta handle covers), and I think he carried them back in the '90s or maybe into early 2000s. I think the steel used in them was AUS-8, or maybe ATS-34. Again, no idea if that pertains to this unmarked knife.


David

 

[notthatsharp]

That's a good looking knife if you ask me! No clue as to what it is though...

 

[paulhilborn]

HFinn, looks alot like one I have by Parker, made in Japan. It is a fantastic knife when it comes to fit and finish---I too think it's made by MOKI:thumbup:

The knife in the bottom of the picture---both in the picture though are by the same maker.

Hope this helps

Paul

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Here's an example pic (found on the web) of an A.G. Russell lockback like I described earlier. Japanese-made w/ATS-34 blade, and layered black & brown micarta on the handles. Made in mid-90s. You can see the similarity in the style:

David

 

[ron finkbeiner jr]

I was gonna say AG Russell as well.

 

[littleknife]

It is actually a cheap lockback, most likely made in China. The handle slabs are made of pakkawood, i.e. resin impregnated wood.
Nowadays this knife is sold in the USA as a "Szco brand Lockback with Wood Handle”.
It comes in two sizes: the small version is 2 5/8” long, the large one is 3 3/8”.
It might not have the quality materials of the Japanese knives it copies, but appears to have a good fit and finish.
Lucky find, enjoy using it. :thumbup:

P.S.: I just found some online pictures of the knives marketed for US sale, and they have a “Stainless China” tang stamp.

 

[HFinn]

Thanks for info. I quite like the shape, even if the materials are mediocre. Even so I am impressed with the fit and finish, I can live with the blade play since the lock is good.

 

[Jack Black]

I've also seen very similiar knives, marketed here some years ago under the 'Grey Wolf' brand, came with a little grey leather sheath with a wolf's head logo. Just cheap little lock-knives, but of reasonable quality.

 

[littleknife]

Thanks for info. I quite like the shape, even if the materials are mediocre. Even so I am impressed with the fit and finish, I can live with the blade play since the lock is good.

Mediocre is a relative term. 100 years ago the stainless steel and the heat treat of this knife, which is considered low end today, would have been the high end, if it were available. The pakkawood resists chipping, marring and cracking better than un-stabilized ebony, cocobolo or other high end exotic wood or bone.
The steel used in the Japanese lockbacks shown above was really high end 15-20 years ago, but is not considered such any more in our age of super steels.

For office use this knife would be more than adequate and looks nice too.

 

[HFinn]

Surprise, I got it sharp! Carefull and patient stropping does it. Also I wrapped the bolsters in leather and gave it a firm squeeze in workbench and it took the blade play away. This is turning nicer than I thought.

 

[littleknife]

This is turning nicer than I thought.

Congratulations!
Now that you fine-tuned it, it is truly yours!

This is yet another example, that a knife doesn’t have to be expensive, to be functional and nice. (Opinels serve as good example.)
Fit & Finish wise your knife reminds me the Buck Woodgrain knives (both the US and Chinese made ones). BTW the woodgrain scales are also pakkawood: resin impregnated birchwood laminate.