2 vintage hunting knives (lots of photos-sorry)

[AlwaysTomboy]

This probably doesn't need a thread all to itself, but I couldn't find a better place to share. Quick question: What makes a vintage knife vintage? Is there a set age range? These may not be vintage hunting knives at all .

I’ve sorta developed an interest in vintage (or just not new) German hunting knives over the past few months. It started when I was looking for J.A. Henckels pocket knives and I saw this Henckels antler hunting knife.

And while I was deliberating purchasing that, and looking at other German hunting knives, I spotted this Hubertus Bowie with rosewood handle and fell in love, mostly the rosewood handle.

(The handle is the same color on both sides. It's the lighting in the photos that's different.)

Couldn’t decide between the two, so I got both.

Anyone else have a soft spot for old knives even though they might not be in the best shape? I like the idea of having something that someone else used previously; something with history and a story behind it. I studied anthropology & archaeology in college. That was a long time ago and I ended up on a totally different career path after college, but those are still topics that interest me. I like my new modern folders and fixed blades, but I like the old 'uns an awful lot, too.

 

[joeradza]

We sound like two peas in a pod. I was an archaeologist many lives ago and ended up as an antiques dealer (close). I think many of us appreciate something with age to it that has proven its worth, whether it's knives, cars or in my case furniture. As to your bowies I'm sure other forumites will chime in. All I can add is I like them.

Alan

 

[knarfeng]

Quick question: What makes a vintage knife vintage? Is there a set age range? These may not be vintage hunting knives at all .

The Merriam Webster shows this definition for "vintage".

—used to describe something that is not new but that is valued because of its good condition, attractive design, etc.

From a knife forum perspective, to me "vintage" means, "a pattern no longer produced, or something produced before the average knife collector was born." Since traditional knife collectors as a group tend to be...er...more mature, I'd take that as produced prior to WW II.

The above was posted in black, meaning that's my opinion as a member, not as a mod.

 

[AlwaysTomboy]

We sound like two peas in a pod. I was an archaeologist many lives ago and ended up as an antiques dealer (close). I think many of us appreciate something with age to it that has proven its worth, whether it's knives, cars or in my case furniture. As to your bowies I'm sure other forumites will chime in. All I can add is I like them.

Alan

Thank you for the reply. Awesome to find a kindred spirit here. I'm pretty new to traditional knives so I know these may not be fantastic collectors' items, but they're not like any knives I already have and they intrigued me. I didn't think I cared much for antler handles or Bowies, so I've surprised myself.

The Merriam Webster shows this definition for "vintage".

—used to describe something that is not new but that is valued because of its good condition, attractive design, etc.

From a knife forum perspective, to me "vintage" means, "a pattern no longer produced, or something produced before the average knife collector was born." Since traditional knife collectors as a group tend to be...er...more mature, I'd take that as produced prior to WW II.

The above was posted in black, meaning that's my opinion as a member, not as a mod.

Not vintage then by either definition. I'm okay with that.

Folks over in the Collecting & Identification forum seemed to think the Hubertus Bowie isn't any older than the '70s, so maybe there's a very slight chance it was made before I was born, albeit by a slim margin. I may not be representative of the average knife collector, though. I'm okay with that, too.

I emailed Hubertus to find out more about that model and got a very nice reply from the owner that it is still in production. Not sure when Henckels stopped making fixed blades other than cooking knives, though. More research to do.

Thank you.

 

[knarfeng]

Not vintage then by either definition. I'm okay with that.

I dunno. I think the first definition works.

—used to describe something that is not new but that is valued because of its good condition, attractive design, etc.

 

[Campbellclanman]

Those two knives are real nice, The Henckels especially is a Keeper for sure, I used to collect a lot of those era Solingen Knives, the Hubertus is real nice too, Hubertus usually did spec things up a bit, you see that you have the Quillon Guard, rather that the Generic Brass Guard that usually came with the 50' to 70's Solingen "Bowie" knives.Also having a Carbon bladed Bowie is quite a bit better than the usual Stainless as the percentage of finding a Carbon compared to a Stainless would be at a very quick guess 85% more Stainless than Carbon Bladed out there, and also usually the Carbon Bladed Bowies were from a slightly earlier era as well, say later 50's early 60's.

 

[Old Hunter]

Nice vintage hunting knives Tomboy! I far prefer older stuff, especially used but with plenty of life left in them. Sometimes when I find an older item (Buck Knife, Case Knife, etc.) that is still new after 40 or 50 years I don't want to "spoil" the new, so I just save it. But a knife that has been used, I sharpen up and wait for the next hunting season to come along so I can use it - something about using a 45 or 50 year old item that makes me enjoy the experience more. OH

 

[black mamba]

Lovin' the Henckels . . . very beautiful stag and lines overall. :thumbup:

 

[skyhorse]

Both those knives are really nice Tomboy. :thumbup:

 

[leghog]

If you have a knife from the '50s or '60s, I'd certainly call it vintage.