z Press Button Knife Co One Arm Man Knife switchblade Aluminum handles

Antique Press Button Knife Co switchblade knife/eating utensil. This knife was made by the Press Button Knife Co, a division of Walden Knife Co of Walden, NY sometime between 1892 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 from PBKC. These knives 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.  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 & button with aluminum pressed scales. The blade on this knife is nearly full with heavy patina and spotting 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 since most were used a lot. 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 exceptionally nice with no dents or corrosion. 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 EX condition.