Couple random knife pics, and questions

Evil D · #1

I don't really collect knives, because i don't like having tools that never get used. I appreciate people who do collect but for me if i don't use it, it has to have some kind of appeal for me to keep it around or i'll just pass it along to someone who will use it.

That said i do have a few knives that i've had forever that i guess i sort of collect, and i have a couple questions about them.

First, this random knife. I know nothing about it, what the purpose of the design is or anything other than, it says United on one side (i've heard of United Cutlery) and UC637 Stainless Steel Taiwan on the opposite side. It opens in a really odd way which is why i've kept it. It is dull beyond belief and i can't seem to sharpen it for crap.

Second is this butterfly knife...another one that i've had forever. The handles are brass, the blade says Parker-IMAI, has an eagle with a banner in its beak under that, and surgical stainless under that, with K-553 and MADE IN JAPAN on the other side. I've attempted to sharpen it with so-so results. It's scratched to **** and back from careless childhood abuse.

Lastly is my prized knife...just because it was the first knife i recall owning and i've had it most of my life. It doesn't say anything on the blade except Japan on one side. The handle is bone and the pummel looks like either aluminum or maybe even pewter? As you can see, it's beat and rusted to **** and back from even more careless childhood abuse but i love it...we have some fun memories together :)

RyanA · #2

Well I suppose the first one would have a decent lockup. I think cold steel makes something similar now, there might be more information there.

The third one if I had to guess what the pommel is made out of I'd say pot metal. The kind of stuff they make die cast cars out of. Mostly because it's cheap.

rycen · #3

The first one is a paratrooper. Sorry can't help on the others.

Simsmac · #4

rycen wrote:The first one is a paratrooper.

A.K.A Pantographic knife (Wikipedia)

Evil D · #5

I have had a couple people call it a paratrooper knife but that seemed a little silly because it's not the easiest/fastest knife to open...but that's cool to know. Must be a remake by United.

The third knife, yeah is probably cheap. I know it's been around longer than i have so it's 30+ years old. It belonged to my grandmother's second husband...that's all i know about it.

RyanA · #6

The first one does open in a sort of goofy way. One possible advantage would be that both edges could be sharpened.