Identify Knife

I found one with a real close design.

Looks like someone painted the etching.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-SOLINGEN-GERMANY-KNIFE-SCOUTING-COLOR-ENGRAVED-ANTLER-STAG-HANDLE-ELK-/282726481236?hash=item41d3cfbd54

BINGO! You got it exactly right!Thanks a million!$389.50 WOW!

I knew it was beautiful,but I did not know the value.

Regardless of the price,it is invaluable to me just for it's beauty.

The etching has not been painted,it is just faded from age.The one in your link is just pristine.i don't know how they etch with all of those colors,but it is great work!

Merry Christmas everyone!

I would add here that the asking price is not always the selling price....but it does bode well for a $5 investment....

Sorry J,

You were right..the etching had been painted,but whoever did it was very careful,but the paint didn't stay.I looked at it under a magnifying glass and saw where it was a little bit sloppy.I cleaned it with alcohol,but I was afraid to use anything stronger for fear of removing the original colors.Any suggestions on a cleaner that will do the job?

Will polishing it remove the original colors?

Thanks again!

Without knowing how the original color was put on, it's hard to recommend what will take the paint off and not the original color.

If it were mine, I would use acetone (think nail polish remover) and a q-tip and do a very small area and see what happens, or possibly mineral spirits.

I tried to look up that makers mark but no luck, the E-Bay knife is the only other one I could find with that mark. I believe it's pretty old.

You should be able to e-mail a picture to an online antique knife dealer and they should be able to tell you what it is and when it was from, I do that with my depression shot glasses and the antique glass dealer has had the info on every piece I have shown them.

You'll probably have to clean the paint thoroughly and re apply to original spec....so save some pics...the small enamel paints for model painting work well....I also would try to reproduce the original handle as this knife is obviously a collector's piece....

http://www.engraverssolutions.com/PDFs/tips&tricks-color_filling.pdf (Sorry, link no longer available)

I'd contact a knife collector or a knife restorer if you want to enhance the etching/engraving.

My guess is that the colors are applied by a chemical process, but I'd not rub the blade with anything but a wet cloth, for now.

The paint can be removed with mineral spirits and time, or MEK if you are in a hurry. Bronze sculptures have a natural patina that comes with age, but the word "patina" means different things to different people. Steel is usually etched electrically and is a simple enough process. It's the tinting that I know nothing about.

I have removed graffiti from bronze sculptures with mineral spirits, but MEK will work much faster and usually does not alter the patina.

Never worked with anything but public art. (Bronze sculptures)

Excellent find!

If it were mine, I order a replacement handle that would do a knife like that justice.

2 Deer Antler Knife Handles / Blanks With Polished Burr - 4k - Number 1 A Grade Deer Horn, Craft Antler $26.95 Etsy

Thanks Lynn!

I ordered one today after checking out your link.

There is something called patina, so maybe not using a cleaner is a better idea.

I would take the knife to a professional( just like people who come here to get an engineer's take on things) and get their advice first.

Patina is one thing but somebody repainted the etching and I think he just wants to get rid of the additional paint.

Taking the knife to a professional is good advice though.

So what you're saying is my answer is 1/2 good ?

All I need is another 1/2 good and I will have a whole good one.

Look like part of a set.

Found this at an auction service.

Looks like a set made by Anton Wingen Jr.