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What can you tell me about this knife?

I would like any information anyone can tell me about this knife. It belonged to my grandmother. Family history says she got it at the 1904 Worlds Fair in St. Louis. The time and location are possible. She lived in SE Missouri, about a hundred miles from St. Louis. She was born in 1870 and died in 1963.

I realize that a hundred miles was a long way to travel back then but my grandparents had close relatives that lived in St. Louis and they could have stayed with them between traveling to and from St. Louis. They would have made most of the journey by train.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on August 7, 2012 at 21:11

What a great knife Charles. Clearly very old. can I get clarification on the tang stamp. I have zoomed in to blow it up a bit but still can't quite make it out. can you tell me what it says exactly?

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on August 7, 2012 at 21:13

Germania Cutlery Works, Ger. Solingen-Ohligs, Germany ...

NOTE: check out the last entry in the above thread !!!

The Germania Cutlery Works in Ohligs operated 1892-1937.

another interesting thread referencing "germania"

... that should give you a start ...

My personal opinion ... the "family history" is quite credible !!!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on August 7, 2012 at 21:30

Interesting Dale, This knife could have ties to Shapleigh Hardware. Also wondered if the CL Fileworks or whatever it is stamped is another name for a Solingen company C. Lutters and Company?

It is kind of a wild swing here Charles but by chance is there any evidence of a reclining lion mark on the knife? If there is no such mark we could rule this out.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on August 7, 2012 at 21:34

The stamping appears (to me)

GERMANIA

over

CUTL WORKS

over

GERMANY

'n yes .. possible links to Shapleigh Hardware.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on August 7, 2012 at 21:40

NOTE: check out the last entry in that thread !!!

SOMEBODY ... obviously beat us there !!!!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on August 7, 2012 at 21:45

OK then yes it would probably be that A. Kastor & brothers which had ties to Shapleigh hardware and Old August Busch. The date of manufacture could have been right at the turn of the century. very good!

D ale said:

The stamping appears (to me)

GERMANIA

over

CUTL WORKS

over

GERMANY

'n yes .. possible links to Shapleigh Hardware.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on August 7, 2012 at 21:51

By the way Charles, Shapleigh Hardware that Dale and I are speaking of was a major dealer in knives, importing them and making some through contract with such names as Camillus and Schrade and had many fans. They were located in St. Louis.They date back to just prior to the Worlds Fair in 1902.

Steve"Hog"Hanner said:

OK then yes it would probably be that A. Kastor & brothers which had ties to Shapleigh hardware and Old August Busch. The date of manufacture could have been right at the turn of the century. very good!

D ale said:

The stamping appears (to me)

GERMANIA

over

CUTL WORKS

over

GERMANY

'n yes .. possible links to Shapleigh Hardware.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on August 7, 2012 at 21:56

Re: Shapleigh Hardware

Also .. here .. In 1904 great excitement reigned in the city of St. Louis. No one talked of anything but "the Fair." And indeed, by many, the St. Louis World's Fair is still considered the finest ever held. Prominent businessmen of the City contributed their time, money and ideas toward making it a tremendous success. A.L. Shapleigh was a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of that Exposition which commemorated the Centennial of the Louisiana Purchase. Everyone was enthusiastically singing and whistling the hit song of the day -- "Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis -- Meet Me at the Fair."

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on August 7, 2012 at 21:58

LOL that's funny Dale, yes I guess we are all knife brothers and sisters no matter where we are!

D ale said:

NOTE: check out the last entry in that thread !!!

SOMEBODY ... obviously beat us there !!!!

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on August 7, 2012 at 22:10

Hog

I would have to get the knife out and closely examine it to be absolutely sure, but I don't think I would have missed a reclining lion mark. I think the only markings are those on the blade, see the fourth picture in my original post.

Even though I have about 75 knives and have been doing it for several years now, I am still a rank ameteur as a knife collector. Most of my knives are cheap, most people probably wouldn't consider them collectable. Something about them caught my eye or are souvenirs of places I visited. I do have a few that I consider "good" knives. I now have three Case knives, a few Bucks. I have a straight razor that my sister bought at an auction and gave to me. It is a commemorative Admiral Perry's victory over the Spanish fleet in the Spanish American war. It appears to be from around the turn of the last century (1900).

Steve"Hog"Hanner said:

Interesting Dale, This knife could have ties to Shapleigh Hardware. Also wondered if the CL Fileworks or whatever it is stamped is another name for a Solingen company C. Lutters and Company?

It is kind of a wild swing here Charles but by chance is there any evidence of a reclining lion mark on the knife? If there is no such mark we could rule this out.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on August 7, 2012 at 22:23

No I would think, had it been my original guess, you would have seen it Charles.

Dale correctly identified the link to A. Kastor and your knife being sold at Shapleigh Hardware in St. Louis. Its a wonderful and very collectable piece from around the time of the St. Lois Worlds Fair.

For the record and off topic Charles, I live 120 Miles south of St. Louis in SE Missouri, so I am probably just a bit farther south than your Grandmother.

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FeaturedPermalink Reply by Charles Sample on August 8, 2012 at 17:29

Hog

I grew up on a farm in Bollinger County about 30 miles west of Cape Girardeau. It was/is located about 2 miles east of Hwy 51 on Hwy 72. There were some Hanners lived close to us. Are you by chance related to them?