UNUSUAL FINDS at the flea -- Group A

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Luke_of_Mass
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Re: UNUSUAL FINDS at the flea -- Group A

Post by Luke_of_Mass »

Bill DeShivs wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 5:58 pm Certainly, 8" knives were common in the 80s and 90s.
Interesting - I have not seen a tremendous amount of 8'' moderns from that time period, at least compared to the amount of 9'' and 11'' stuff of that era on the market. Of course, what's for sale doesn't dictate what exists, but at the very least I would think there would be some correlation between what's mostly circulating now and what was typically sold back then.

With that said, I really only collect up to 1960 and 2010-onwards.
Knee-deep in the hoopla...
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Panzerfaust
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Re: UNUSUAL FINDS at the flea -- Group A

Post by Panzerfaust »

Luke_of_Mass wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 5:44 pm
Bill DeShivs wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 5:58 pm Certainly, 8" knives were common in the 80s and 90s.
Interesting - I have not seen a tremendous amount of 8'' moderns from that time period, at least compared to the amount of 9'' and 11'' stuff of that era on the market. Of course, what's for sale doesn't dictate what exists, but at the very least I would think there would be some correlation between what's mostly circulating now and what was typically sold back then.

With that said, I really only collect up to 1960 and 2010-onwards.
Eight-inch stilettos were around in the 1980s and the first two Italian switchblades I owned I bought at a knife show in 1985. Unfortunately, I no longer have either of them and wish I had kept one.
button_man
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Re: UNUSUAL FINDS at the flea -- Group A

Post by button_man »

.

So, if I understand correctly:

My 8" 'C. JUL HERBERTZ' knife could have been made with an oversize handle to comply with
some convoluted legal requirement; or It may have been done simply to provide a larger grip.

This size stiletto might have been common during the 1980s and 1990s; or possibly, it may not have been common at all.

This knife could have been made for distribution in Germany; or it could have been made for another destination.

I wonder if the people who collect bottle-caps have things easier.......
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Bill DeShivs
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Re: UNUSUAL FINDS at the flea -- Group A

Post by Bill DeShivs »

It was made to comply with German law. This law was in effect in the mid-1970s. This is the only reason it was produced this way.

This size stiletto was common in Germany.

The knife was made for distribution in or from Germany.

There- I made it easy for you.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
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john
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Re: UNUSUAL FINDS at the flea -- Group A

Post by john »

I believe the Italian knife makers did this as a normal business practice for the German market. For example they would use a handle made for a 9” knife and put a short blade for export to Germany. I have one with a short blade in my collection that I purchased from Renzo Beltrame many years ago.
Once in Germany the blade could be removed and replaced with a longer blade.
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