Vintage made in Japan slipjoints?

Japanese definitely did not = quality when this knife came out. Finish and details are lacking, but hey it can do what it was designed to do.

I got this jet-aer 110 copy in the late 70's. Didn't have enough money for a USA knife back then. This was the first knife my father gave me. Grandpa kept me stocked up with all kinds of slip joints before I got his one.

This knife has so many issues compared to USA issued models it is even funny. Blade movement in every direction. The spring bar sags at the lock and sticks up at the other end. However it does stay locked. Worst of all, the kick or stop would allow the blade to bottom out against the liner. I was always resharpening the front edge from the belly to the tip. But as far as function goes - it has performed as designed. I skinned many animals and chopped stuff up with it when I was a kid. As for steel performance, I couldn't say. I guess it's stainless - shows no oxidation. Edge retention, well I sharpened it free hand with a stone and it always managed to get the job done. My benchmark was John Rambo's knife from First Blood - I spent a lot of time refining my sharpening skills. I could shave hair and slice paper. As far as function goes - this knife is a performer. It has delivered more results than most if my other knives. I carried it from the age of 11 to about 20. Then I put it away till I recently started carrying and buying knives again. My ten year old son has rekindled my love for knives.

This knife will always remind me of my dad and all the fun we had hunting and fishing.

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"This knife will always remind me of my dad and all the fun we had hunting and fishing." RexRazorX - that statement right there is good enough for whatever the knife was or wherever it was made! Glad you still have your heirloom. OH
 
Not sure about qualifying as "vintage", since this one was made in 1990, but it's the only made in Japan knife I have. (Well, at lease in the sense it's a usable knife - the other one I have is a scout pattern from the 60's-80's that's absolute junk).

This was made by AG Russell under the Cattaraugus brand name. I'm not sure who the actual manufacturer is, but the quality is phenomenal. This pic was stolen from Google - mine looks just like it.



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OH - thanks for that. I show it to my son and tell him it's the best knife ever. He's pretty quick - so he says the best knives must come from Japan. To which I say "the best knives come from someone you enjoy spending time with".

Old Hunter said:
"This knife will always remind me of my dad and all the fun we had hunting and fishing." RexRazorX - that statement right there is good enough for whatever the knife was or wherever it was made! Glad you still have your heirloom. OH
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This no-name lockback from Japan has no date i can tell, but presumbly it's 1970s vintage. If someone knows, please tell.

It's a large item — biggest folder I have, actually — as you can see by comparing with the two-dot 110 and 112. The handle is even thicker than the old 110, though the knife is lighter. Locks up nicely and releases reasonably easily. I like the drop-point blade, which is what caught my eye.

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I also have a Jet-Aer lockback (G-96 brand, model 961) of uncertain vintage. I have to say the Jet-Aer's designer had a lousy eye for proportion. The blade is too wide for the handle — or the handle is too narrow for the blade. (Same two Bucks for scale.)

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I have these Japanese made Parkers from the late 70's, early 80's. They are smooth bone, pick bone and second cut stag.

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AreBeeBee said:
This no-name lockback from Japan has no date i can tell, but presumbly it's 1970s vintage. If someone knows, please tell.

It's a large item — biggest folder I have, actually — as you can see by comparing with the two-dot 110 and 112. The handle is even thicker than the old 110, though the knife is lighter. Locks up nicely and releases reasonably easily. I like the drop-point blade, which is what caught my eye.

tumblr_mvwqdsbK7Z1r4zf5xo4_1280.jpg


I also have a Jet-Aer lockback (G-96 brand, model 961) of uncertain vintage. I have to say the Jet-Aer's designer had a lousy eye for proportion. The blade is too wide for the handle — or the handle is too narrow for the blade. (Same two Bucks for scale.)

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tumblr_mwxo5qyLbW1r4zf5xo2_1280.jpg
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I have tried to buy several of those Jet Aer 961 folders on fleabay but they always sell for more than I was willing to pay so someone likes them. I really like that spear point and don't feel that the knife is mis-proportioned.
 
This little (3.5") One Arm Copperhead is a Seki made Frost in jigged 2nd cut stag. Nice knife, and the steel takes a very nice edge.

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B JACKSON said:
I have tried to buy several of those Jet Aer 961 folders on fleabay but they always sell for more than I was willing to pay so someone likes them. I really like that spear point and don't feel that the knife is mis-proportioned.
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I agree that the spear point looks good — lots of belly. If the handle were bumped up to 110 size, shape, and weight (old style or new), the Jet-Aer would feel better in my hand at least. As it is, the feel is somewhat nose-heavy, as if it were a micro-machete.

You've probably tried this in your searches, but with a maker name like "Jet-Aer" and a variable model name, there are several possible misspellings. Fleabay listers can be fast and sloppy sometimes with titling, so try a search with a few perturbations on the name.
 
I hope posting on this thread is still allowed. I just now found it while I was searching for info on this Solar knife. While this knife is fixed and not a slip joint, I am glad to be able to read these posts, as they provide more info on Solar than I have found elsewhere. Does anyone know the history or location of the Solar knife company?
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Gerber Silver Knight Series made in Seki are wonderful slim gentleman's knives. All of these are the 250 A series lockbacks. They also made two blade models and a 3 blade with Pen and sheepsfoot secondaries. I'll post some additional pics if I can find them...

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R8shell, my grandfather carried the stockman version of that knife.
The scales are even cracked the same place
 
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