Press Button Knife Co One Arm Man Knife switchblade Aluminum handles

These are usually referred to as "One Arm Man" knives and were designed to help people with disabilities, specifically lost, or damaged arm or hand. It was designed to be used as both a cutting and eating utensil that could be opened and closed easily with one hand. This knife was made by the Press Button Knife Co of Walden, NY sometime between 1900 and 1923 and most, if not all, were made under contract for the AA Marks Artificial Limbs & Specialties Co of New York, as well as a few other switchblade models that they purchased. Most, if not all of these originally had an acid etch on the blade advertising the AA Marks company, but the etches were fragile and easily worn off with use.

The knife measures just under 5 inches closed and 9 inches open from bottom/back to the end of the farthest tine with steel/iron frame, nickel silver bolsters and aluminum pressed scales. The blade on this knife is mostly full and shiny with some scratches and scattered light pitting and the fork tines are nearly full, which is not usually the case with these 100+ year old knives. The end tine looks like it was bent at one time and carefully bent back leaving a slight kink. The tang is stamped PRESS BUTTON KNIFE CO WALDEN NY on the front tang and backside is unmarked. Aluminum was a rarer and more expensive material when this knife was made, but unfortunately not very durable so most of these that saw much use have damaged, or corroded scales. The scales on this one are actually very good,  with one small dent along the edge of the front scale. The knife works well with the blade seating deep, good snap and very good lockup open with about 1/8" movement each way. Beautiful 100+ year old American made automatic knife in VG+ condition.