admin – Page 37 – Knife Blog: Pocket Knives With Your Logo

The History of Company Logo Knives

When was the first time that someone used pocket knives to deliver an advertising message? When was the first Logo actually put on a knife, a logo not belonging to the knife’s manufacturer? What is an old advertising knife worth today? All these questions are answered in a unique book, ADVERTISING CUTLERY, by Richard D. White, c. 1999. It’s published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Atglen, PA.

It’s an amazing book to me, but I’m partial to company logo knives. I sell them for a living. I’m glad Mr. White decided to assemble this valuable information and present it in a fun, easy to read way. You can tell he loves knives, and has been collecting them for a long time. The book divides the collectible knives into categories:

Agricultural Feeds, Seeds & Services
Food & Beverages
Shoes, Clothing, & Textiles
Consumer Products
Business & Industry
Petroleum Related Products
Fraternal Organizations
Whiskey & Tobacco
Commemoratives & Anniversaries
World’s Fairs & Souvenirs
Cutlery Products
Hunting and Fishing
Miscellaneous

HOW WERE THE EARLY LOGO KNIVES IMPRINTED?

Die-Struck Imprint

Advertising on knives began about 100 years ago. That was long before laser engraving. According to Mr. White’s pictures (and the book is loaded with color pictures), the early logo knives were imprinted with the die-struck method. That’s when a heavy stamping machine forces the imprint from the die into the metal handle. This imprinting technique is still used today on name plates and key tags. I haven’t seen it used currently on knife handles.

Die-Cast Imprint

Die cast was another early way to advertise on a knife handle. This provides a 3 dimentional look that is very impressive.

Then hot stamping and screen printing were used. Hot stamping uses a heated die, which pushes the color of a foil ribbon into the plastic handle of the knife. The heat makes a slight indent into the partly melted substrate. This method is still used today, but not so much on knife handles.

Screen Printed Handle

Screen printing is familiar to most people. That’s when the ink, or paint, is pushed through the porous areas of a screen onto the knife handle. This is still very much used today on knives.

Today we use laser engraving, machine engraving (like a jeweler’s), electro etching, screen printing, pad printing, and laser engraving followed by a color fill.

Engraved & Color-Filled Handle

HOW MUCH IS MY OLD LOGO KNIFE WORTH?

If I had a quarter for every time someone has emailed me that question, I’d be rich by now. Mr. White’s book has these guidelines for determining the answer to your question.

THE 5 FACTORS WHICH AFFECT THE OVERALL VALUE OF ANY COLLECTIBLE CUTLERY ARE:

Condition
Brand Name
Style
Handle Material
Age

The advertiser is also a factor. If it was a company that used to make asbestos, or any other obsolete product or service, that knife has more appeal to a collector. Barlow style knives have their own special appeal.

Old Imprinted Logo Knives

Do you have an old advertising knife? Tell us about it, and email a picture. I’d be happy to see it. So would everyone else. Thanks.

3 Common Misconceptions About Engraved Buck Knives

Engraved Buck Knives

There are 3 main misconceptions when it comes to ordering Buck Knives for your corporate gifts.

1. Permanence. The way that reputable companies imprint your logo on the blade is done by LASER ENGRAVING. This is a permanent imprint, because it is engraved deep enough into the stainless steel blade. It won’t wear off. It won’t scratch off. It won’t fade. Engraved Buck Knives sold by Logo-knives.com are imprinted by this method. Some inexpensive knife companies use the cheaper acid etching method, which is not considered permanent.

2. Pricing. Free engraving. The quoted price includes laser engraving in one location. There is no added charge for imprinting your company logo on the knife.

3. Perfection. One of the goals of the Buck Knives company, since 1902, is perfection. The greatest care is put into the design and manufacturing of each knife. Likewise, the laser engravers strive for perfection in engraving your logo on each knife.

Engraved Buck Camo Knives

7 Things About Custom Engraved Knives Your Boss Wants to Know

Parts-of-a-Case-knife

Let’s say that your boss wants you to be in charge of ordering Christmas presents for all the employees, or all the customers. This could be a huge task. Fortunately he has narrowed down the gift idea to custom engraved knives. Great. Now you have to go online and find the perfect pocket knife or hunting knife that will get the job done. If he hasn’t given you a list of criteria, I’ll help you make that list. Here are the points that he should want you to look for. If you and he can narrow down your wish list, then you will be able to find the perfect Personalized pocket knives:

Price. Which knife will fit into your budget? This is a good place to start your list. Knives sell for a range of $5 to $200 each. So you can narrow down your search using this parameter.
Tech Colors by Case
USA-Made. Is the country of origin important in your decision? This is something to keep in mind when you are looking for the perfect gift knife.
Size. Would an 8 inch hunting knife become a cherished gift? Or would a small “Every Day Carry” (EDC) pocket knife be the answer.
Brand. Some brands have universal recognition, like Buck, Case, Gerber, Leatherman, and Kershaw. How important is the brand name in your giving campaign?
Color. Knife handle come in different colors of bone and synthetic. Also stainless steel and wood. Does your corporate logo require a certain color combination? Would Laser Engraving your logo into the blade work for your purpose?
Method of Imprinting. Laser engraving is the most permanent, and most popular. It can be done on metal and wood. If you need a color imprint, Case offers the imprint colors shown above.
Production Time. How soon does your boss need the knives? Production times vary from 24 hours to 5 weeks, depending on the brand and current availability.

If you can help your boss with the answers to these 7 things, you will make him happy. And one step closer to a Promotion (I hope). At least the two of you will be able to promote your corporate name to a group of key people.

The Top 13 Companies for Engraved Pocket Knives

Pocket knives make great corporate gifts because they:

Last a long time
Display your logo to your customers and employees
Have a high perceived value when presented as a special gift

Engraved pocket knives

There are about 13 major manufacturers of engraved pocket knives in my opinion. That’s why they are on my website.

Barlow Norwood
Bear & Son
Boker
Buck
Case
Dakota
Gerber
Kershaw
Kutmaster-Utica
Leatherman Tools
SOG
Starline
Swiss Army

These fine companies are listed in alphabetical order, so as not to give preference to any one.

Barlow Norwood imports economical pocket knives from China, and engraves them with your logo at a reasonable price. These knives are good for mass distribution, and don’t break the bank.

Bear & Son is an American knife company with a fine reputation. Our favorite is the wood handled barlow knife.

Boker is an old knife company with world-wide presence. They have major manufacturing facilities in all corners of the globe, and use the finest steel. Everyone in the knife business knows Boker.

Buck knives are made in the USA and some are made overseas, to compete with other knife companies. When someone asks for a Buck knife, he is asking for the USA-made Buck 110, folding hunter knife.

Case knives are all USA-made, and have a fine history that is enjoyed by many Case knife collectors, and Case knife clubs around America.

Dakota pocket knives are made in China, but don’t let that bother you. They have a good quality and are worth every penny of the price. Many of them are around the 10 dollar amount, with a perceived value higher than that.

Gerber Knives are made in the USA and some are imported from China, because of the competition. Gerber has been a favorite for many years. They have some unique styles available.

Kershaw Knives are mostly made in the USA, but some are being imported from China. They are made of the finest steel, and both the imported ones and the domestic ones are a fine piece of work. You’ll like the feel of a Kershaw knife.

Kutmaster, or Utica Cutlery has a nice collection of modern and traditional designs. For top quality custom engraved knives, you can count on Kutmaster.

Leatherman Tools is now making a few pocket knives again. Your logo can be quality laser engraved on the blade or the metal handles. Leatherman is a Class A knife and multi-tool manufacturer. All products are American-made, or American asssembled.

SOG is a knife company that got started by supplying the military with knives. The people that ask for a SOG knife know its history.

Starline is an American supplier, not a manufacturer of engraved pocket knives. They import the knives from China. These pocket knives are well built. Don’t let the low price fool you. Starline chooses some new and unique styles when they add knives to their catalog.

Swiss Army, Victorinox, is a very familiar name in the knife world. Although not as sought-after as Buck or Case, everyone has heard of Swiss Army. They are high quality, and many have scissors, tweezers, and other tools included.

All of these engraved pocket knives are engraved or imprinted in the United States.

7 Quick Tips About Engraved Leatherman Tools

The Leatherman® Wingman

1. All Leatherman Tools are USA-Made
2. All can be laser engraved in multiple locations with your corporate logo or phrase
3. They make perfect Safety and Service Awards
4. Leatherman tools and knives last a lifetime, and come with a 25 year guarantee
5. Every man wants a Leatherman
6. Make your customers happy with a quality business gift.
7. Leatherman tools give your company logo a long-lasting visibility.

These 7 quick tips explain why business owners purchase engraved Leatherman tools. When quality counts, and you want to give a business gift that represents the quality of your own company, Leatherman is a perfect solution.

The NEW Leatherman® Crater Knife

NEW for 2014, Leatherman’s Crater Pocket Knife will satisfy the needs of the USA-made knife lovers. Your logo is laser engraved on the blade. The other side of the blade is an optional imprint location. The synthetic handle is 3 3/4″ long, ending in a handy carabiner. You can also use the removable pocket clip as an alternate way of carrying this useful and long-lasting business gift. Like all tools, this item comes in a gift box for your convenience. The only color available at this time is a black handle. When other knife companies are turning to overseas production, Leatherman continues to proudly make all of its tools in America.

Do you have any other Leatherman Tips? Please give your comments here. We’d like to hear from you.

For complete, up-to-date warranty information on Leatherman tools, go here.

Personalized Pocket Knives Can Promote Your Company

Laser engraved Buck knife

Countless business owners have attested to the fact that promotional products have increased their business. That’s why business owners repeat their promotions on a regular basis. One group of products that is reserved for high quality customers is Pocket Knives. Pocket knives have long been considered a quality gift. They are usually hand made, made of steel, a valuable material, and are a useful tool. Other features are: mechanically intricate, rust resistant, valuable handle material, and long-lasting.

The creme-de-la-creme for pocket knives is the fact that they can be imprinted with your company logo. This assures the longevity of your logo on a useful product with usually a lifetime limited warranty. Personalized pocket knives can be imprinted in many attractive ways. Laser engraving, acid etching, machine engraving, screen printing, pad printing, and laser engraving with color fill are the common ways to apply your logo or message to gift knives. Each of these methods has its own reasons for being better suited to your logo. If color is not needed, laser engraving is the most permanent way of imprinting your personalized knives. Machine engraving is good for printing plain text using the fonts available at the printer. Acid etching is a quick, less expensive way for engraving, but is considered semi-permanent. If color is important to your logo, then screen printing, pad printing, and color fill are your only options at this time. Case is the only company that can do all of these types of imprinting. However, these methods can only be done on certain materials. If color is critical for you, we can submit your logo to the art department for an expert opinion. The intricacy of your logo sometimes might be too fine, and might need to be modified. Most logos can be used as they are. You always receive a proof before your knives go into production.

Sample of Case color printing

Buck knives, America’s favorite knives, are laser engraved with your imprint. So are Gerber, Kershaw, Boker, Barlow, Bear & Son, Dakota, Kershaw, Leatherman, SOG, and Starline knives. Kutmaster uses laser engraving and acid etching on their knives. Swiss Army knives are pad printed. By far, most promotional pocket knives are laser engraved with you corporate logo.

Happy Birthday to the best Buck Knife ever made

The Buck-110-folding-hunter celebrates it’s 50th birthday.

The Buck Knife Company was started in 1902, and has been making quality USA-made knives since then. In 1964, just 50 years ago, they had the best idea ever. They made the first folding hunting knife that was as strong as a fixed blade hunting knife. This knife, the Buck Folding Hunter Lockback 110 is still the best selling pocket knife they make. Its locking mechanism provides safety when using it to its limits. The handle is made of wood, with durable brass bolsters than provide not only durability, but also a fashion statement. When someone mentions a Buck Knife, this is the one that comes to mind. With over 15 million made since its invention, it is often imitated by other knife companies.

The stainless steel blade is the workhorse of this knife. Currently it is made of 420HC stainless steel, but it used to be made of other types of steel in its illustrious past. It was 440C steel before 1981, then 425M for 11 years. After 1993 they switched to 420HC. Buck always looks to use the best quality steel, to provide these features: Easy to sharpen, ability to hold a sharp edge, hard enough to cut, but not too hard to become brittle, and the ability to maintain its clean stainless appearance. Engraved Buck knives have been used to promote business for many years. Usually a company’s logo is laser engraved on the wood handle, the metal bolster, or the blade.

Do you have a Buck 110? Do you like it? Do you have any story you want to share with other knife enthusiasts? Let me know. Thanks.

Author: admin