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Tool Talk => General Tool Discussion => Topic started by: Pile Driver on February 03, 2016, 07:15:45 PM

Title: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: Pile Driver on February 03, 2016, 07:15:45 PM
Anyone have any information on this? Seems old because of the pilot bit and that being the case its in great shape.

Also, if someone could PM me the value, that would be appreciated as I try and keep that type of information in my catalog.
Title: Re: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: sLaughterMed on February 03, 2016, 07:19:41 PM
I've never seen anything like it, but it sure is an interesting one.
Title: Re: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: Boaz on February 03, 2016, 07:38:35 PM
Very nice, as above I've never seen anything like it. It looks well built, good luck with the search
Title: Re: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: Boaz on February 03, 2016, 07:39:24 PM
Very nice, as above I've never seen anything like it. It looks well built, good luck with the search
Title: Re: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! on February 04, 2016, 12:14:11 AM
D.R.G.M indicates it is German made.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186714
Title: Re: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: Pile Driver on February 04, 2016, 12:25:05 AM
D.R.G.M indicates it is German made.

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=186714

There are similar ones on the multi tool museum website, distributed through hoffritz. Mine has to be at the very least about 100 bucks considering inflation from that add lol.

http://www.multi-tool.org/vintagewrenches
Title: Re: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! on February 04, 2016, 12:42:29 AM
"FOREIGN" might have been a required marking for import in that time period.
Title: Re: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: Pile Driver on February 04, 2016, 01:58:40 AM
"FOREIGN" might have been a required marking for import in that time period.

I like that hypothesis, have not been able to find much on that tang stamp
Title: Re: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: Spork, Lord of Lime Jello! on February 04, 2016, 05:02:21 AM
I tried translating "Coñac Oxigenado" from Spanish...got "Become oxygenated brandy" or "Oxygenated cognac"  ??? :think:
Title: Re: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: Pile Driver on February 04, 2016, 04:56:27 PM
I tried translating "Coñac Oxigenado" from Spanish...got "Become oxygenated brandy" or "Oxygenated cognac"  ??? :think:

Similar findings, my only hope is that the engraving is period, and relevant and not something done to degrade it after the fact.
Title: Re: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: J-sews on February 07, 2016, 01:34:39 AM
These wrench-knives were made in Germany, with several old advertisements for them I've seen from the 1950's. (see below) It is possible that they were first made before WWII, but I haven't found any evidence of that. Many which turn up in the USA are stamped Hoffritz, or Voss Cutlery. Both companies were importers and had retail outlets in New York and distribution to the rest of the U.S.

The ones that were stamped "FOREIGN" seem to have been imported by countries other than the U.S. I've seen them listed by eBay sellers from the U.K. and they are always stamped FOREIGN. Perhaps it was a law back then in some countries, to distinguish imported items from domestically-made items?

As regards Coñac Oxigenado, it was almost certainly a brand of spirits that was available at the time, and your wrench-knife was an advertising premium. Apparently the practice was quite common back in the day. I have other knives in my collection stamped Moët & Chandon, Dry Monopol, Sparkling Champagne, etc. In my opinion this adds to the value of the item, not detracts.

Bob :)



(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/Bobbys%20III/Popular%20Science%20Feb%201951_zpsabk93hko.jpg)
   

 
Title: Re: Foreign Knife Wrench ID
Post by: Pile Driver on February 09, 2016, 12:58:05 AM
These wrench-knives were made in Germany, with several old advertisements for them I've seen from the 1950's. (see below) It is possible that they were first made before WWII, but I haven't found any evidence of that. Many which turn up in the USA are stamped Hoffritz, or Voss Cutlery. Both companies were importers and had retail outlets in New York and distribution to the rest of the U.S.

The ones that were stamped "FOREIGN" seem to have been imported by countries other than the U.S. I've seen them listed by eBay sellers from the U.K. and they are always stamped FOREIGN. Perhaps it was a law back then in some countries, to distinguish imported items from domestically-made items?

As regards Coñac Oxigenado, it was almost certainly a brand of spirits that was available at the time, and your wrench-knife was an advertising premium. Apparently the practice was quite common back in the day. I have other knives in my collection stamped Moët & Chandon, Dry Monopol, Sparkling Champagne, etc. In my opinion this adds to the value of the item, not detracts.

Bob :)



(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v307/jooliesews/Bobbys/Bobbys%20III/Popular%20Science%20Feb%201951_zpsabk93hko.jpg)
   

 

Awesome!