Looking for information on this knife.

C

cowboy8888

Joined
Feb 10, 2024
Messages
9
Can anyone help me with this knife and tell me what it is worth?? Was it Military issued??? Why does it have USA & Japan on the blade

On side of blade says Valor Miami, USA other side says stainless Japan 373 ( about 12" tip to handle, leather handle) I have owned knife aprox 1985 - 86.
https://www.imagevenue.com/ME17LQV1
 
ME17LQV1_o.JPG


Made in Seki City Japan by Tak Fukuta for Valor, a distributor located in Florida. Its a copy more or less of the Fairbairn Sykes commando knife.

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Looks like Valor and Tak Fukuta took some inspiration from the Kershaw Trooper dagger (made by Ichiro Hattori, also in Seki, Japan).
 
KenHash said:
Indeed. The Tak Fukuta Valor 373 and Hattori Kershaw Trooper shared the same guard and pommel, resulting in some
people mistaking both models as Hattori.
Click to expand...

I learned about the history of the Kershaw Trooper from your website hattoricollector.com :) . I highly recommend that site to others for information about Japanese made knives.
 
Valor was started by Sol Mogal, who was connected to Mitchell Mogal (of Rosenbaum - Mogal ROMO fame) another knife importer. Valor was originally established in the late 60s to import firearms. The GCA of 1968 put the kibosh on that mostly, so they switched to knives. Valor used to call that model the Force (I forget if it was Force I or II as there were two sizes). They seem to have first started importing them very early 80's, as the first ads I saw for them were in SOF around that time.

Edit - change late 60's to 1962. I found an old listing for them mentioning starting in 62.
 
Last edited:
cowboy8888 said:
I wanted to thank everyone for the information, that was a fast reply
Click to expand...
I thought I would mention that there are several sources on the internet which state that the Valor 373 was chosen as the "official" knife for
two US Army Special Forces units. I have no idea if that is true or not. But I have seen a photograph of a Valor 373 which had a SF crest on it,
and wondered at the time if it was a actual "use" knife or a commemorative. Unfortunately I lost that photo years ago so I can't show you.
 
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