Before buying or selling any Kinfolks knife, you must identify whether the knife is real or fabricated. Otherwise, it is of no use to collect or sell a knife considering its vintage. In order to identify the material and quality, you need to know how to date a Kinfolks knife. And the dating process of an antique knife is not easy.
Luckily, you do not have to stress much about the origin of a Kinfolks knife. Because we will list down the tricks and tactics to help you date the era the knife belongs to. And it will assist you in realizing the value of the knife you own or want to buy. Let’s get started!
What is the History of the Kinfolks Knife?
The unsourced origin and the traditional use of a Vincent knife can help the collectors or owners to date the Kinfolks knife. Experts believe that the founding members of the Kinfolks knife company established the company around 1924 in New York. And then it manufactured these pocket knives till around the 1950s.
Their manufactured knives were mainly used by the Cattaraugus Cutlery Company. As the cutlery company needed fixed blade knives, the Kinfolks knife company used to supply knives to them.
Around the year 1956, they stopped making these knives and switched to other businesses. These founding members also established the Case Knife Company.
Why Is It Difficult to Date a Kinfolks Knife?
As the original Kinfolks knife company stopped manufacturing the knives long back, there is not much-recorded evidence to trace the era these knives belong to. During the period 1920 to 1950, technology was not advanced enough to document the uses and manufacturing process of knives. So it gets difficult to know the exact years of production.
Also, the materials used in the Kinfolks knives are so antique that modern detection technology cannot confirm their exact origin. Those materials are not readily available to study. And the catalogs of these knives are not well preserved to know more about a Kinfolks knife.
The fabricated versions of these knives are also a challenge to date these compact knives. However, you can rely on the methods and tactics described in the next section to know where these knives came from.
Methods to Date a Kinfolks Knife
As the Kinfolks knives do not have any recorded history, you cannot expect to identify the exact period they came from. But you can get an estimated data of their manufacturing period. And here are the methods you can apply to do so –
- Use a Dating Guide
There are several guides available online to date different knives. And you can use these dating guides to detect the origin of the Kinfolks knife. The dating guide by Dean Elliot Case has included four catalogs to help you with the study.
Before you list your Kinfolks knife for sale, going through these guides will help you to detect whether the ones you have are real or not. It is better you invest your money in these guides to save yourself from the backlash of customers, especially when the knife turns out to be a fabricated one.
- Check the Reference or Markings
Most of the vintage knives have references carved on their blades and scales or handles. So, check if there are any markings or dates written on the knife.
If you find a TC marking on the knife, it means that the material used in the knife is Tungsten Carbide. And it was one of the prominent materials for the production of Kinfolks knives in the 1950s.
These markings and references ensure that the model you are studying is real. So, it is better to collect or sell it, considering its higher market value.
- Post Queries on Forums
If you cannot find any dating guide or markings, you can post your queries regarding the knife on different social media platforms. There are many knife collectors, users, and experts to help you out. And some particular sites or forums include reliable data on different blades and knives. So, you can look for these websites and their contents.
It is better if you can post a clear photo of the knife you own. If not, do not forget to describe the blade, size, and shape of the knife. And someone can help you trace its approximate origin.
- Image Search
You can use the Google image search feature to get some insights into the knife. For that, you need to take a clear picture of the knife. And then, download Google Lens from the play store.
Once you are on Google Lens, select the photo of the knife you have captured. Then go through the search results that show up. And you might end up with some specific or official details on the knife.
- Contact an Expert
If nothing works for you, it is better to contact a knife expert or knife smith. As they deal with different kinds of blades and knives, they know a lot about specific knives.
They can even detect whether the knife you want to buy or sell is real or not. If you search online for “Knife smith near me,” you will find their contact details.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q’s):
- Are there Any Standardized Versions of the Kinfolks Knife?
After the original manufacturers of the Kinfolks knife stopped manufacturing these knives, some manufacturers tried to fabricate the models. So, you can find some standardized versions of these knives. However, they are less in number.
- Did the Kinfolks Knife Company Use to Manufacture their Knives for World War?
There is no strong evidence to prove that the original manufacturers used to produce the knife for World War. However, some believe that the code talkers used to use the Kinfolks knife during wartime.
- Can You Identify a Fake Kinfolks Knife?
Vintage knives have a higher value in the market. The Kinfolks knife is not the exception. So, frauds often fabricate these knives because the Kinfolks knives are difficult to date and identify. But to determine a fake one, you can contact a knife smith.
Conclusion
As a knife collector or enthusiast, you will usually have a lot of queries on your mind regarding different knives, especially if it is a Kinfolks knife. Because to date, little is known about it. And we hope that our detailed how to date a kinfolks knife guide can help you out with your queries.
When it comes to dating a Kinfolks knife, we suggest using several methods to cross check the facts. So, it is better if you follow two to three methods together as we have described above.
