KNIFE Magazine print subscribers will be familiar with Cutlery Hall of Fame member Bernard Levine’s “Whut Izzit?” column in each month’s issue. In it he tells the story of interesting knives that readers have sent him pictures of, or ones from his collection. Frequently, these knives are “coined-handled” knives of various vintages.
The KNIFE Magazine Knife Glossary defines “coined” as:
Coined
Said of metal handles, typically aluminum, nickel-silver, or brass, struck with a tool (a “die,” hence the term “die-struck”) which imparts a pattern, picture, and/or text (as with a coin). Usually used on souvenir, commemorative, or advertising knives. See: Engraving, Etch, and Stamp.
These knives often border on “tchotchkes” rather than durable tools, but their inexpensive nature and myriad decorative subjects make them popular among collectors of both knives and advertising objects.
Both of these examples are of the souvenir variety. I will write another piece on the “Knives of the Knoxville World’s Fair” another time. The stamped handles on both represent an attraction that visitors wanted to commemorate. But I want to focus on the top knife.
“Perry’s Victory” refers to the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie, during the War of 1812.
The Battle of Lake Erie proves one of the most resounding triumphs of the War of 1812. The victory secures control of the lake, forcing the British to abandon Fort Malden and retreat up the Thames River. Harrison’s army pursues, decisively defeating the British and its allied Indian force on 5 October 1813 at the Battle of the Thames. And later, during the peace talks, the dual victories of Lake Erie and the Thames ensure that the states of Ohio and Michigan remain the sovereign territory of the United States.(NPS)
The National Park Service has a great overview of the battle which you can read here.
Or watch this…
I used to visit Put-in-Bay, one of the Lake Erie islands which were nearby the battle, back when I was a kid. So when I saw the knife, I was intrigued.
Switching to the obverse side, the knife commemorates a completely different battle…Gettysburg.
Different war, decades later, and no indication as to the connection. The scene shows both General Mead’s and General Lee’s respective Headquarters.
Not that you probably need one, but since I included a blub about the Battle of Lake Erie, here is one on Gettysburg…
So far we have a souvenir knife from Put-in-Bay which pay homage to Gettysburg, what else?
The blade is etched with 1776-1976…so the knife is also a bicentennial commemorative. On one hand, it makes sense. I was born in 1976, and I am well aware that it was a heck of a year-long birthday party for America. The upcoming 250th celebration should be similar.
On the other hand, we have added a 3rd war to the knife…The American Revolution, War of 1812, and the American Civil War.
The last peculiarity is not really peculiar. After all of this Americana, the knife is German.
It bears a JA Henckels stamp on the tang. It was made in Solingen, Germany.
It is not that odd, as there are tons of examples of knives like this originating in Solingen, the historic knifemaking heart of the German state.
In the end, there is not much significance to this knife. As disjointed as it might be, it is a fairly typical example of what one would find in Bernard’s “Whut Izzit?”
You can find it on page 18 each month.
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