Found silver .925 pocket knife Israel...anyone have more info??

cusetown44

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Jul 15, 2014
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Upvote 8

Silver Worm

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Several Sterling silver pocket knives similar to yours
on Ebay. You might want to check them out for info.
 

gunsil

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It looks modern with stainless steel blades. The way to ID knives is by the maker which is usually stamped on the blades. Are there any maker's marks or country of origin on the blades?
 

hbeaton

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L.M. Fain sterling silver pocket knife. Made in the 1950s. Has two blades. Ornamented on both sides. One depicting the 12 tribes of Israel, the other has some grapes. Most likely 3.25 inches long x 5/8 in width. Weighs 77 ozt.

Hope this helps.
 

gunsil

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I see where worthopedia says early 1950s, but I believe they are mistaken since the state of Israel had no manufacturing companies in the early 1950s. I believe the knife is much newer, like 1970s-now.
 

hbeaton

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While I ultimately agree its more likely this particular silver pocketknife may have been made later than the 1950s (although its possible it was) the statement that Israel had no manufacturing companies in the early 1950s I don't think is quite accurate. While at risk of sounding argumentative (which is not my thought here just doing some research) in 1936 before Israel was even recognized as the State of Israel, they had 1,500 factories employing 30,000 people. From the establishment of Israel in 1948 through through to 1960 there were 25,000 manufacturing establishments in Israel. Even taking into the account the majority of these establishments were 1 man shops, by 1952 almost 100,000 people were employed in Israel and that number was 225,000 by 1965 all figures solely related to manufacturing companies.

Hazorfim is a leading silversmith company in Israel and has been since 1952. While unlikely this company made the pocketknife, this firm and many others were existent before Israel became the State of Israel and have continued to this day.
 

EccentricInTexas

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Neat find!!!
 

gunsil

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I know, I should have said "few companies capable of making small pocket knives". There were precious few real factories then though, and that knife is certainly machine made rather than hand made. The name L M Fain does not appear in Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings, or Levine's Guide to knives and Their Values. I'd like to see the blade stamp to see if that name is correct. I think the knife may be newer than the books I mentioned and they are less than 20 years old. If cusetown really wants to know he can go to Bernard Levine - Knife Expertise: Knife ID, Knife Laws, Knife Values and ask the leading expert on knives, Bernard Levine for his opinion.
 

hbeaton

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Agreed. I find it kinda funny that the name L.M. Fain supposedly was an Israeli artist of some sort and I'm assuming his or her design of the grapes and 12 tribes motif was used in the production of these knives yet there is little to no information on this person on the monstrosity that is the interwebs. Maybe it was possible that these knifes were licensed to be made in places other than Israel. I think if we dig deep enough we'll find this was made like two years ago by on old couple in Pittsburgh.
 

Joelt4071

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Mar 29, 2024
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Found this silver Israeli pocket Knife. It has a thing on the end where you can hang something from it. It has 925 on it a bit worn off though but you can see it. Wondering if anyone had more information on this. It is really a neat piece. thanks for looking.
I have one similar. Same name LM FAIN. Different on both sides.
 

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Casull

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L.M. Fain sterling silver pocket knife. Made in the 1950s. Has two blades. Ornamented on both sides. One depicting the 12 tribes of Israel, the other has some grapes. Most likely 3.25 inches long x 5/8 in width. Weighs 77 ozt.

Hope this helps.


Almost five pounds. That is one heavy pocket knife. :laughing7:
 

releventchair

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One sold for 20.5 (Used).

Looks like a pen knife. And /or one used on a watch chain as a fob.
OIP.-ociCzhFaCApgBaXeNQ5BgHaFj
 

releventchair

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[ebAn amazing Torah/bible/tanach Jewish prayer book , with a silver binding / cover . Bible / Torah / tanach is published by Sinai publishing , printed in Tel Aviv , israel , during 1950-60. Silver work is by I.M.Fain a very well known Jewish silversmith who worked in israel during 1950. As u can see the silver cover is]
 

Digger RJ

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Found this silver Israeli pocket Knife. It has a thing on the end where you can hang something from it. It has 925 on it a bit worn off though but you can see it. Wondering if anyone had more information on this. It is really a neat piece. thanks for looking.
Very Nice!!! Congrats!!!
 

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