What brand is this knife and is it anything special?

[Flyingbullet]

I found this knife when I was helping my Uncle clean out his mother-in-laws old property. I have no idea what knife it is and was wondering if anybody might know? I have two photos of it, one being a photo of the only marking I can see on the handle. It looks to be a symbol of an "A".

 

[rcmodel]

Possibly a WWII "theater" knife.

There was a cottage industry in the US, and another one on board ships at sea, etc.

Machinists Mates, Navy See Bee's etc. learned how to cast aluminum handles like that for the blades they made from scrap steel.

Scrap aircraft aluminum, Plexiglas, and brass were ofter used for handles.

Naming who made it is probably going to be next to impossible because there is probably no more then a few more somewhat like it from the same guy.

http://plowshareforge.blogspot.com/2007/01/home-front-theater-knives.html

http://wardogmilitaria.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4466

rc

 

[JimStC]

rc, you sir are a wealth of knowledge, seriously.

Jim

 

[hso]

Theater knives wouldn't typically have markings unless they were built from issue knives. Keep in mind that WWII troops didn't typically have lettering dies to strike on the tang of a knife.

The picture is out of focus. Can you take another pic and post.

What does the handle material appear to be? Is it cast aluminum or something else?

 

[Flyingbullet]

Sorry about the photo... Couldn't find my good camera at the time, here is a better one. I think the handle is aluminum but I'm not an expert.

 

[rcmodel]

Looks cast aluminum to me.
The Tree & A logo doesn't ring any bells.

But the WWII guys that were smart enough to cast a scrap aluminum handle on a blade they made from scratch was smart enough to scratch their own logo in the mold they made from scratch.

I'm still leaning toward a theater knife from WWII.
Or shortly after when they came home unexpectedly still alive after 5 years and needed a hobby to take their mind off things at home.

rc

 

[Flyingbullet]

So is it worth any thing? Is it worth restoring? Should I keep it in its present condition?

 

[hso]

That looks like an A in an arrowhead and that's something to research.

Let's see a pic with a ruler next to it and then a closeup of the the 2 inches on each side of the tang, including the arrowhead.

 

[rcmodel]

So is it worth any thing?
Is it worth restoring?
Should I keep it in its present condition?

You can't plan to retire on the proceeds of selling it.

But, IMO, you should at least clean and stop the red rust on the blade before it rots it clear off the handle eventually.

I'd clean it with 0000 grade steel wool and oil to stop the active rust if nothing else.

I agree the logo could be an Arrowhead - A.
Or a Ceder Tree - A.
Or a something -A.

Work the Goggle Internet Machine till you give up, and maybe you can ID an old maker that used the logo.

However, in my humble opinion, the blade design, grind, and overall shape of the knife points to amateur knifemaker WWII work to me.

I don't think it is refined enough for a skilled custom maker.
And I don't think it is a cheaper commercial butcher knife or something, or the blade would have been all used up from constant sharpening.

rc

 

[hso]

I can't find a WWII point up arrowhead shoulder patch with the "A" in it, but that doesn't mean it isn't out there. Most U.S. military shoulder patches appear to be point down.

I tried cutler's marks, but cutler's marks tend to be on the steel instead of molded in handles.

It does look like a cast aluminum handle like the Murphey's were, but there were civilian cutlery companies that made "bark" cast aluminum handles as well.

If you dig enough through the endless attic of the internet I bet something will pop up OR you could take it to the militaria forums to find out what the experts say.

 

[Flyingbullet]

I'll try the Steel wool and oil thing! I have been looking for anything I can find on it but I can't seem to see anything on the internet. The overall length of the knife seems to be 10-3/16"

 

[rcmodel]

Which further confirms my suspicion its a one (or few) of a kind WWII Theater knife made by some unknown amateur knife maker with WWII acquired scrap aluminum casting skills.

Again, probably not a famous maker, not very valuable, but a real interesting story to tell.

If only it could talk.

If I had it, it would go in my WWII theater knife collection, until I found out for sure the A stood for Adolph, or something!!!

rc

 

[Flyingbullet]

Here is another weird thing! A little slice in the blade only on one side. But it looks like it was put there on purpose.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Ask questions of the family. If this is truely a theater knife, then very likely it belonged to somebody close to your uncle's mother-in-law. Perhaps husband, father, brother, or something like that.

I'm thinking family lore will be your best bet as to finding out who it belonged to and how they got it.

My own parents (now deceased) were both WWII vets...Dad was an Army engineer and Mom was in the Navy (Corpsman). That generation of people is rapidly dwindling, and the first born in the next generation isn't far behind. Ask around sooner rather than later.

Good luck!

 

[rcmodel]

Your photos are going south fast tonight.

It could be something.
I just can't tell what.

Or maybe it's my eyes blurring?

rc

 

[Flyingbullet]

Sorry... not the best photographer :banghead: Here is a better picture. I'll try to ask around the family and see if anyone knows a thing or two.

 

[Flyingbullet]

Well I just found some disappointing news.... The "A" stands for Aycock Knives and they are still in business. Oh well it was still fun trying to figure out what it was!


http://www.aycockknives.com/index.html

 

[rcmodel]

Well, I guess I didn't know what I was talking about again then!!

Oh well, I thought I did.

rc

 

[Flyingbullet]

Thanks for everybody's help! Especially you rcmodel! Like I said I had fun trying to figure it out.

 

[hso]

Don't be too disappointed. They're different from the mass produced cutlery and made by a small US company.

 

[kBob]

I kept wondering why everyone elses arrowhead or tree looked like a rooster to me.

Still always neat to find a strange knife.

Even if it does look like what the company calls "Mom's utility knife" it could have gone to war......

-kBob

 

[hso]

I think we can give up on the war fantasy stuff for this one.

There's as much honor in that knife being used to feed generations of Flyingbullet's family as any theater knife.

 

[Mp7]

Man, that´s a long tradition of making ugly cutlery


"Thin Paring Knife- This is our most popular item. Used for over 70 years at the Oregon State Fair apple peeling contest."

 

[Flyingbullet]

There were some other knives at the property but they weren't in as good of condition as this one but I think I will grab them anyways!

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Old Marty may have forged yours.