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Do we have other SEKI Vintage Collectors out there?

Any other vintage collectors of Parkers, American Blade, Taylor, United Boker, Frost, or STAR brands out there?

Am far from an expert on these brands, but I do own a few! I typically have gone "straight to the horses mouth", with many of my questions answered by Buzz Parker. Have another friend, who I would consider experienced with '80s SEKI produced brands. Drop me line, or a question anytime please! Thanks.

Tim

Tags: pocketknives, seki, vintage

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on April 26, 2015 at 21:38

!!! .. WI Whitetail Approved .. !!!

Tak Fukuta .. stamped SEKI CITY on other side.

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Permalink Reply by tim payne on April 26, 2015 at 22:12

beautiful Damascus fixed blade dale! good looking sheath too. what type handles are those? have a few tak fukuta pieces myself. thanks for sharing dale!

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Permalink Reply by Ken Hashimoto on April 26, 2015 at 22:19

That is a very good looking knife, It resembles a skinner that Tak Fukuta used to make for AG Russell.

The handle looks like Quince. Or maybe Burl.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on April 26, 2015 at 22:40

Thanks gentleman .. it's a burl of some kind .. I just forget which.

Sharpened it one last time & gave it to my daughter 6~7 yrs ago now. Soooo .. it's in MT ..&.. I'm not. Otherwise I'd take a closer look. I gave her a damascus folder w/ deep burgandy micarta scales at the same time .. also stamped ..HAND MADE over TAK FUKUTA .. opposite side stamped SEKI CITY. I'll try to find a pic of that one too.

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Permalink Reply by tim payne on April 26, 2015 at 22:47

great gifts for the daughter dale. ken knows a lot more than I do about these tak fukuta knives.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on April 26, 2015 at 23:32

Found a pic of the folder.

As I recall .. held a great edge.

.
It may have had only a single stamp.

TAK FUKUTA

I'll ask my daughter to take a look

But

I see no stamping in the pic.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Squier on April 27, 2015 at 9:22

I have a couple of totaly unmarked damascus knives from the '90s or earlier. I always thought they were Pakistan made, any chance they are Japanese? I know cant tell without pictures so Ill add some later. One is a folding hunter, drop point the other a boot knife stiletto.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Squier on April 27, 2015 at 10:41

Here are the knives metioned anove. blade on the stiletto is 5 1/4" and the folder is about 3".

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Permalink Reply by Ken Hashimoto on April 27, 2015 at 15:15

Nice knives, but I would be surprised if they were made in Japan, at least entirely. The only similar, meaning damascus and unmarked knives I've seen were either Pakistan made as mentioned, or hand made by American custom makers who, for some reason decided not to mark them. I understand this often happens when the damascus blades are bought completed and basically the knife is "assembled" by the maker. I have read that Parker use to sell just the damascus blades back in the day, and if so it is certainly possible that the blade came from Japan, and it would not have any marks.

I am fairly certain that the knives were not made completely in Japan because all export knives, OEM contracts for US knife companies had the brand and/or country of origin on them. Even the earliest well known export knife, the Elmer Keith Guns & Ammo knife had "Japan" on the blade and that was first produced in 1964. Fallknivens are the only Seki Japan made knives I am aware of that do not have "Japan" on them but I suspect that has to do with Fallkniven's military sales.

Anyway, if they are from the 1990s my first guess would be an American maker using purchased damascus blades.

Second guess would be of Pakistani origin. Just my two cents, I could easily be wrong.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Squier on April 27, 2015 at 15:47

Ken, thanks for ypur input, I always thought the blades were Pakistan so Im going with your guess. were the rest was put together I may never know.

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Permalink Reply by Ken Hashimoto on April 27, 2015 at 16:31

Michael, I am afraid that you are probably right about the dagger.The first photo I found made me think it might be a custom. But the link I found later and the price suggests otherwise. The Folder is still up in the air,

Link:

http://middlesexvillagetrading.com/cart/index.php?route=product/pro...

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Permalink Reply by Ken Hashimoto on April 27, 2015 at 17:38

A couple of Vintage Daggers from Seki..

The Valor model 373 with it's 6 3/4" blade. Valor also produced a smaller version the model 407.

The most famous Vintage Dagger from Seki may be the Kershaw Model 1007 "Trooper". The only Kershaw knife to be serial numbered through it;s entire production life, it was made by Hattori Seki from 1979 to 2009. It came with a presentation box containing a COA signed by Peter Kershaw. Total length was 9 3/8" and blade length 5 1/4".