What can you tell me about this knife?

[Sami P]

I bought it 17 years ago and it came in a simple cardboard box that had barely any text.

The marking on the blade in the last photo appears weird because of my camera. In reality it's clean and crisp. Any info is much appreciated.

 

[sven56]

I have one alot like that which dates back to at least the '80s. Similar handle w/o finger grooves...same color. Has brand stamping but would have to dig out the knife to see who made it, but it is also German. Was told years ago that the style w/OD handles and drop point may have some connection to German life boat knives...maybe as knockoffs or overrun leftovers.

 

[unit]

Do you recall what you paid for it?

Other than being a wise guy I cannot tell you much (its green, and made in Solingen).

It looks like it is in reasonably good condition. Looks interesting!

 

[j3jymann]

It's a stainless steel blade... and apparently plastic handled knife from germany.

I think the shape of it is quite interesting for something out of that time period but couldn't tell you much more than to my poorly trained eye it does not look to be a very high quality knife.

 

[sven56]

The one I have is marked EDGE LITE on the handle, stainless / Solingen / Germany / 10-354 on tang stamp. The blade has an OD green coating, as well. Blade length is 2 3/4". Backspring is coated also.
I would post a picture, but cannot as it's on my harddrive.

 

[Sami P]

Paid about $15 for it. It's stainless steel but it did not hold an edge for long. Leads me to believe it's 440. The absence of a brand name made me suspicious as it doesn't make sense. If it's a quality knife from the world renowned city of cutlery you'd expect the maker to proudly display their name. But if it was a knock off from China then they would have put any brand on it such as Boker to make it more attractive

Hope someone can tell me definitively what it is.

 

[sven56]

Whoever made them in Solingen made them for export. Chances are they intended for whatever importer that was marketing that batch to mark them however they choose, and likely on the handle, like mine. Yours most likely wasn't slated to be marked by the importer or missed getting marked. 440 is good steel when properly heat treated for the specific grade and use. I don't see how you can label all 440 as unable to hold an edge. Most US knifemakers, both custom and production, would argue with that line of thought.
By the way, what are the dimensions?

 

[unit]

Paid about $15 for it. It's stainless steel but it did not hold an edge for long. Leads me to believe it's 440. The absence of a brand name made me suspicious as it doesn't make sense. If it's a quality knife from the world renowned city of cutlery you'd expect the maker to proudly display their name. But if it was a knock off from China then they would have put any brand on it such as Boker to make it more attractive

Hope someone can tell me definitively what it is.

Well, back in that time frame, many of the knives coming from that city (in that price range) were 440C. Further, it was a pretty good steel at the time...but depending on how it was used it would not hold an edge very long.

Although, it is not unheard of to see a knife marked with all sorts of things to make it sell. (see knockoff, fake, or reproduction).

$15 in the early 1990s would be a price point that would correspond to a knife of questionable quality (by the standards of many Bladeforum users). This is not to say that there are not FANTASTIC knives that could be purchased in this price point, but many of them are quite well known and easily identified.