Need info on Boker Tree display set of pocket knives. Yr, value, materials, etc

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roth1644

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I found this display set in my grandparents closet while we were cleaning out their belongings to move them. My Grandfather use to sell hardware all around the East, and in particular he sold Boker Tree brand knives along with Schrade knives, which i know worked together or something along those lines. This probably won't be my last post cuz there are a number of sets I have yet to go through. I would like to get all the information possible on this set of Boker Tree knives, including but not limited to year of manufacturing, value, what the handles are comprised of, etc. Also I would like to know what would be the best thing to use when cleaning these knives, the knives themselves are in near mint condition, the boxes are far from perfect though but because they haven't been used in god knows how long they are a little stiff to open.

The top of the display case says Est 1837, Boker, Tree Brand Cutlery, Supreme Quality For Over A Century, with the Boker emblem on either side:
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0406.jpg
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0374.jpg

On the actual knives my camera is not good enough to get the writing on the blade but as I'm sure most of you know the front of all the biggest blades on these pocket knives all say Tree Brand with their emblem in the middle of the two words.

On the first blade the back has the number 8288 with the emblem in middle:
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0405.jpg
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0401.jpg
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0404.jpg

The 2nd blade has the number 8585 on the back of the blade:
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0417.jpg

3rd blade also has 8585 on the back:
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0421.jpg
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0433.jpg

4th blade has 9885 on the back:
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0441.jpg

5th blade has 8288on the back:
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0446.jpg

and the 6th and final blade has 9903 on its back:
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0449.jpg
http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h391/roth1644/CIMG0452.jpg

Any information that anyone can provide me would be greatly appreciated. This is my first post so any tips or constructive criticism would be appreciated as well. Thank you for taking the time to look through my post.
 
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The Treebrand / Arbolito logo on the display was used from 1947-1974.
The handles on most of those knives appear to be delrin from the photos - or "improved stag" as it was called in the catalogs. If it is indeed delrin, I would guess these knives were made between 1965-1974. Probably closer to the early part of that estimated range, because I have a 1961 catalog with a picture of the same type of gift box that you have shown in the photos. Certainly they were made before 1975, because the shield doesn't have the trademark registered symbol (r).
I wouldn't even begin to guess on value.
I hope this helps.
 
Thank u very much for the info. I was thinking they were made during the 70's because I also have a Boker Tree Dixie Commemorative Collection that has a date of 1979 for those. If you are able to figure out an estimate of value that would be great. I'm not trying to hang onto them by any means and am more than likely going to put them up for sale on ebay or in a forum. Once again thank you for the info, i really do appreciate it.
 
Alright, just for fun, since I do buy and sell a lot of Boker knives on eBay:
I would think you would get $30-$60 each, on average.
The smaller knives will be closer to the low side, and the larger knives will be at the higher end of that range. The wildcard is the boxes. You don't often see Boker knives that old still in the original box. With those boxes, the selling price could even double.
If I were selling those knives, I wouldn't try to sell them as one lot. I would sell each knife in a separate auction. You will get more for them that way. So for the set of six, I would guess you could sell them on Ebay for $200-$350.
You may know this already, but to maximize your profit selling at online auction, good pictures and descriptions are the key. Take good clear closeup pictures of the tang stamps and handle materials. Emphasize that they come with the original box!

I shouldn't be telling you all this - I may be bidding on them.... :D

I forgot to mention in O.P. - I wouldn't even try to clean them. They look great! Any attempt at cleaning may remove the blade etch. I would just oil the joints with 3-IN-1 oil, or some other lightweight machine oil - no WD-40!
 
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