Posted 8 years ago
cheezytaco…
(1 item)
I would like to find the age of this knife. I recently bought it at a gun show and the seller did not know but he had some old knives. id really appreciate the help
I need help finding the age of this knife. Thank you | ||
| Tools and Hardware5243 of 9815 |  |  |
Based on the "Made in / Pakistan" stamp this knife is no earlier than the 1970s and could have been made at any time since.
Why 70's? Might as well be anytime after 1947, right?
Based on information by Wikipedia, entitled BUTTERFLY KNIFE, I'm inclined to opine that this balisong, or butterfly or fan knife, was made for export to the United States after 1984. The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia:
"Balisong USA started manufacturing balisongs in the late 1970s, then changed its name to Pacific Cutlery in the early 1980s, before finally becoming Benchmade.
From 1981 to 1984, hundreds of thousands of balisongs were imported into the United States from a variety of countries, primarily the Philippines, Japan, China, and Korea - although a few were also imported from France, Germany, and Spain."
My interpretation of the above excerpt is that prior to the late 1970s, no balisongs were manufactured in or imported into the United States. Pakistan is not listed as one of the countries from which balisongs were imported into the United States from 1981 to 1984. So, I read that to mean Pakistani-made balisongs were not imported into the USA until after 1984. [;>)
Could be, but suppose for argument sake that it was made in Pakistan in the 50's, well tucked away in a suitcase and brought over by e.g. a Mr Birjani. Or bought in Pakistan by an Englishman in the 60's who moved to US and had this lying around his kitchen utensils. Point being that there are so many ways this knife could end up in the US apart from being imported after 1984.
OlofZ >>> True, but then the knife, in all probability, wouldn't have the PAKISTAN stamp on the blade's tang, if it were made that long ago for their own domestic market. [;>)
No disrespect intended, but we have to rely on known facts, not suppositions. Suppose the knife was made by the man on the moon and it fell out of his pocket and dropped here onto Earth in the US. Sorry, I know the example is far-fetched, but I think everyone gets the idea. Again, no disrespect intended. [;>)
Nevada, FYI: The balisong was invented in the late 18th or early 19th century, probably in France. Miller Bros. imported German made balisongs in the 1880s and Billings & Spencer in Connecticut patented one in 1908.
OlofZ: After you spend decades collecting and dealing in folding knives you will start to recognize certain traditional features such as the style of construction, materials, decoration, and blade design (e.g. the false edge rather than the traditional double-ground dagger style) that indicate periods of manufacture & importation. US importers of low-quality knives bought them in Japan in the 1950's & '60s. When Japanese production costs started going up they switched to Taiwan in the late '60s and '70s, and still later Pakistan. Historically, Pakistan is not known for making balisongs and the knives they did make show manufacturing characteristics incompatible with this knife. This knife screams 1980s special-order-for-export.
UncleRon >>> Thanks, Ron, I stand corrected on when the first balisongs (German-made) were imported into the U.S., as well as when they were first patented (made) in the U.S.. Hey, but for the sake of argument, suppose now.......! [;>)
Great! Sorry guys if I sounded a bit silly, just wanted a more elaborate answer. Which I got. Thanks for sharing! :)
Thank you all for helping I greatly appreciate jt
I have one just like this one and would like to know what it is worth