iKnife Collector
Boker Fans
A group for all Boker fans and collectors where you can talk about, show off, and ask about your boker knives
Sometimes I buy them just for the tang stamp...
...and sometimes, it's because I've been looking for one for years!
Like this late 1920s slant bolster jack knife shown in the center.
The tang stamps are cool though. On the top knife, you can see how dark the tang stamp is - that means it was struck before heat treatment. "GERMANY" is a lighter color, and I think it was cold
stamped after heat treatment. To me, this means this knife was probably one of the first knives imported into the U.S. by Boker after the 1891 Tarriff.
The middle 1920s knife has the H.BOKER&CO'S/IMPROVED/CUTLERY stamp, but someone ground or filed it away! The TREE on the back side is still there. Why would someone do this? I think it was some American patriot who liked Boker knives but did not want a German company tang stamp on his knife. So in the years leading up to, or during WW2, he "modified" the tang stamp. I've heard this was done, but this is the first I've actually seen in person!
The bottom knife is from the mid to late 1930s. This is the block BOKER stamp that preceded the BOKER/USA stamp.
Jan Carter
One of the first hooks for me in knife collecting was different tangs and different shields on the same style knife. I am a tang stamp junkie even today!
Nov 14, 2018
In Memoriam
D ale
Ricky,
Marking a "2cnd" rarely requires elimination of an entire stamp. Others are merely "marked" as seconds. For instance .. Daniels Family Queen's 2cnds were etched "EDC" on the blade .. A.G. Russell placed an indelible mark on the ricasso .. etc. Some 2cnd's marks are known .. others are not. I'd inquire with a real BOKER aficionado.
Nov 15, 2018
Ricky Ray
Haha, if Roger Russell says it, that's good enough for me! When it comes to pre-war Bokers, he is as real as it gets.
Nov 15, 2018