Boker improved cutlery

[button_man]

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Just picked up this at the flea.... ricasso stamp shows "Boker & Co" over "improved" over "cutlery". I can't find any references to this text in recent years; only to knives from the late 1800s that had the tree on the back side of the ricasso. The seller was sure it's from the 1960s, but I dunno. I'll be happy as long as it isn't a fake, since I paid 175 for it. Nice stag, and the backspring definitely shows age. Can anyone date this piece? Thanks! (Editing is limited on phone, so these are the only photos I can get small enough to load right now.)

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[gravknife]

buttonman

Can't quite decide the age from the pics shown ,like to see the lever spring but it could be an early one with that improved cutlery stamp .
Looks a nice leverlock to me ,there is a few write ups on Bokers improved cutlery on a google search ,the knife possibly made in the U.S in New Jersey ,could be Canada aswell ,but its a nice interesting looking lever .

Thanks for sharing it ,another one new to me .

[button_man]

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grav -- Thanks for the info! Much better photos will be up within the next couple of days!

(I only searched on AAPK.... I will expand my search)

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[gravknife]

button_man

There is a few topics aswell about bokers improved at the "all about pocket knives "forum ,take a look there .
Sure someone here will have info aswell as the day goes on mate .

Its interesting for sure .

[whippersnapper]

It's not fake but as far as age I have no idea. I wasn't aware there were leverlocks as far back as the late 1800's.

[gravknife]

Dont think its late 1800s either Terry

,I think its probably 1940s earlly 50s but I am not sure as I have never seen one marked Boker & Co improved before .

Just posted this tree guide from a search I found to show the subtle differences for this stamp .

Maybe Bill will know more ,would like to know myself aswell now .

[button_man]

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https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... p?p=829602

This thread shows a page from a reference book that states that the last "improved" stamp was used in the 1920s and 1930s. However, depictions of Boker stamps show the tree on the left of the text; my knife has the tree on the right of the text.

I'm also puzzled about the knife's condition. The backspring shows age commensurate with an old knife (still very light, though) but the rest of the metal is extremely clean -- almost suspiciously so! The channel and spring are virtually immaculate.

I now believe the name stamp is "Boker & Co's" (and possibly an "H" in front) -- the stamp is frustratingly indistinct. I keep going back and forth on whether the stamp might have been added in attempt to decieve. (blade is 3 1/8" from tip to choil)

For now, this knife seems to provide more questions than answers...

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[whippersnapper]

Anything is possible.Stamps have been faked before and blades swapped. Need more pics and Bills opinion.

[jim d,]

My understanding is that Boker started the 712 / 715 series in the 1960s so I suppose this model could be the predecessor, but as mentioned, the stamp seems to be an older one. The thin bolsters remind me of older leverlocks as well.

Of course, as Terry mentioned it could be a Frankenstein knife.I'm looking forward to the additional photos, maybe they will help with further identification. One thing is for certain, I would like to have a local flea market like yours...

Jim

[button_man]

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When you see the good photos, I think you'll agree that this knife was never taken apart. The heads of the brass pins at the top of both stag scales are carefully angled to match the curve of the stag. Meticulous craftsmanship like this is almost certainly original to the piece.

Yes, this is the same humble little flea market that has given me the 'Marca Oro' and many other excellent knives! I have kicked myself a hundred times for ignoring this dusty little flea for many years, certain that it couldn't possibly offer anything of interest. I can only imagine the knives that I missed.

Stay tuned for the good photos....!

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[Bill DeShivs]

I don't care what markings it has, it's a fairly modern Massaro made leverlock from Italy.

[gravknife]

button_man

So sorry ,got excited by a stamp I hadn't seen on what I perceived as an older leverlock .

I just never saw it because of the pics and natural horn scales , but Bill is right as usual .
I have seen these Massaro knives marked with Baron ,I have a Klaas marked example and they probably used many other German makers marks .

A few pics here for you to compare your example .

Probably from the 1970s -80s ,and they are still decent knives,but not on the German springer level of that time .

Most I have seen and owned had plastic scales ,whereas yours has natural horn /stag ,threw me right off .

[button_man]

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Well, not the news that I was hoping for.... but not entirely unexpected. At least it's not from China, which would have been the worst-case scenario.

Bill, once I have the next group of photos posted, I'm hoping you can perhaps refine the "fairly modetn" time frame somewhat..... i.e., do you agree with the 1970s-80s estimate? I'm going to try to have those pix up by noon today.

Thanks for the help, guys! This wasn't the great find it first hinted at, but at 175 it doesn't seem to be a terrible deal either. Wait until you see close-ups of that stag....

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[whippersnapper]

Well I was wrong. Age old mistake of focusing more on a stamp and a story.

[button_man]

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Here are the better photos ~~~ Note the beveled pins at the top of the scales.
The pix don't do justice to the stag.... the back piece has a nice honey glow, and
the front piece has an attractive ridge of popcorn.

What makes this knife recognizable as a Massaro? I'd like to be able to spot these in the future.
Also: would the fake stamp have been put on during manufacture? --or added after the piece
left the factory, and went to a distributor? Thanks!

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