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🗡️ Vintage Basic Tools Centurion Mark I Lever Action Lock Release Folding Knife – Made in Japan – NOS

Description

For sale is a vintage Centurion Mark I folding knife made by Basic Tools (Kurata) in Japan, featuring the innovative lever-action lock release mechanism. This knife is new old stock (NOS) and includes its original box, instruction papers, and display case.

This unique model is prized among collectors for its distinctive lever-action design, which safely releases the blade lock with a mechanical thumb lever — a design ahead of its time in both safety and function. The Centurion series was marketed as “the most safe & attractive mechanism in knife-making history.”

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Features & Details

• Model: Centurion Mark I (Stock No. X-1)
• Maker: Basic Tools (Kurata), Japan
• Blade Steel: 440 Stainless Steel
• Blade Length: Approx. 3.25 inches
• Closed Length: Approx. 4.25 inches
• Handle Material: Brass bolsters with tan micarta inlays
• Mechanism: Lever Action Lock Release
• Origin: Made in Japan
• Includes: Original blue box with velvet insert, instruction leaflets (English & German), and clear acrylic display case with yellow label insert
• Patent Numbers:
  • U.S.A. 817619
  • W. Germany GM 77 23 885
  • Japan 52 75790

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Condition

•  
  • New Old Stock (NOS) – never used or carried.
  • Blade: Factory sharp, mirror polish, no scratches or corrosion.
  • Handle: Brass and Micarta show only faint age toning from long-term storage.
  • Mechanism: Lever action functions smoothly and securely.
  • Packaging: Original box and case included; light wear to corners and label from age.
  • Brass bolsters and micarta handle scales show only minimal surface patina from age.

This knife has remained in excellent condition, clearly stored carefully for decades.

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About the Centurion Mark I

Produced during the late 1970s to early 1980s by Kurata / Basic Tools Japan, the Centurion Mark I was an experimental and collectible folding knife that introduced a patented lever lock release mechanism for added safety. The knife was marketed in both the U.S. and Europe and has since become a desirable collector’s piece due to its mechanical ingenuity and limited production.

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Specifications

Feature	Detail
Blade Steel	440 Stainless
Handle	Brass & Micarta
Mechanism	Lever Action Lock Release
Blade Length	~3.25″
Closed Length	~4.25″
Country of Manufacture	Japan
Condition	New Old Stock
Includes	Box, paperwork, acrylic display case

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Included Items

✅ Centurion Mark I knife (Stock No. X-1)
✅ Original blue velvet box
✅ Clear acrylic retail case with yellow label
✅ Original paperwork and instruction leaflets

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Historical Note

The Centurion Mark I was produced by Kurata under the Basic Tools brand in Japan during the late 1970s–1980s.
It introduced a patented lever-action lock system, designed for safer, one-handed operation.
This mechanism was advanced for its time, and the knife has since become a sought-after piece among collectors of vintage Japanese knives and mechanical lock designs.

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~*The Above information is ChatGPT information derived from the same photos uploaded above*~ PLEASE SEE PICTURES for DETAILS..

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