A question about Tree Brand knives

M

midnight flyer

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Jan 12, 2009
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Boker guys: Lots of Boker fans over in the traditional forum and a question has popped up a couple of times over there about the origin of the "Tree" line of knives.

A quick look at the official Boker website gives a good description of the country of origin for most the Boker line:

http://www.boker.de/us/faq.html

The link will lead you to this information concerning the country in which Boker knives are made:

Boker knives: Solingen, Germany
Boker Arbolito knives: Argentina
Boker Plus knives: Taiwan and China (except model 02BO012, made in the USA)
Cinch knives by Boker: Solingen, Germany (except model 11CI403Y, made in Argentina)
Magnum knives: Taiwan and China
Marttiini knives: Finland
Opinel knives: France

No mention of the Boker Tree line. However, while all the Boker Tree marked knives I have seen are stamped Solingen on the main blade, there are now Boker knives marked with the Tree logo, but the blades remain unmarked except the Boker name. No country of origin is on a blade itself. The shield on the scales of these traditional patterns has "Boker" with "Germany" under neath it. Nothing on the blades, though except the Boker name.

Are these knives with no Solingen stamp actually made in Germany? Are they just assembled in Germany? Heck, are they even made in Germany or are they just Boker branded knives? Does anyone know for sure?

I was reading the info above as saying that if it said just Boker, it was German. However, after decades of their knives proudly being marked with the Solingen stamp, I am curious and a little suspicious as to what might be going on. Some help on this would sure be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Robert
 
I have the same question. I recently brought a Boker Copperhead and was curious why the display box that it came in had a sticker that said 'Made In China'. I thought these knives were all German made. The blade itself has all the markings which say Solingen and it also also has the tree stamp on the handles that say Solingen. What is up?
 
i'm curious as well......thanks in advance for any clarification of our confusion, Marketing and Terry.....
 
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Good question. Any of the Boker knives that have Solingen on the shield, and generally a higher price point, are the same knives we have always made, 100% from our Solingen factory. The ones with Germany on the shield, and sold at a lower price point are from Germany, but with parts sourced from China. These will start with an item number 1107... or 1102...
They go through all the same steps as a Solingen Boker, have the same warranty, and the same quality, and hand fitted.
Terry
 
I wore out a Boker King Kutter stockman (mainly from sharpening) after using it for whittling for a decade. One of the best knives I've ever owned. I'd buy another if I could find one.
 
I am sorry, to come a Little late to this conversation.
I have been busy in Germany with seminars for one and a half weeks.

If you have a catalog, than you can see clearly, which knife is made in which Country. We do use a Color System to Show it. So, the first couple of pages of the catalog Shows ONLY Boker Manufactory knives.
 
The carbon bladed Traditionals that I have are all stamped Solingen/Germany, box too. I assume they are German made& assembled? The stainless can be China I thought.

They have ALL been excellently finished knives at reasonable cost, better than CASE any day. Whittler in particular a fine Traditional pocket-knife.
 
So it looks like my Boker Stockman Evergreen is all German, but the Evergreen Camper, by its item number, has Chinese parts assembled in Germany?

By the way, I love my new Evergreen. Is there anything I should know about care and feeding of the olive wood?
 
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TJT said:
Good question. Any of the Boker knives that have Solingen on the shield, and generally a higher price point, are the same knives we have always made, 100% from our Solingen factory. The ones with Germany on the shield, and sold at a lower price point are from Germany, but with parts sourced from China. These will start with an item number 1107... or 1102...
They go through all the same steps as a Solingen Boker, have the same warranty, and the same quality, and hand fitted.
Terry
Click to expand...

I'm looking for a Boker pocket knife for my Dad's Christmas present, since his Dad carried a Boker. I do not want a knife made in China, nor with parts from China. I have read this message carefully and use it to weed through all the Bokers online, but I find discrepancies with this guidance. For example, the red bone whittler has Solingen on the shield but an item number that begins with 1102. Was this knife 100% made in Germany with German parts? The link to their website is here:

http://www.boker.de/us/pocket-knife/boker/classic-pocket-knife/110280JRB.html

Also, I don't have a catalog, and the official Boker website has no color code I can see.

Is there a sure way to know with confidence? I really want to get him a Boker, a big reason is because it's made in Germany with German steel and that traditionally means better quality. I certainly would be disappointed to learn the new "German" knife I bought him came from China.
 
After speaking with a factory rep, the only way you will know for sure is if the blades themselves are stamped "Solingen". I bought a couple of knives that were described as made in Germany and when I got them (from the factory!) they weren't.

They had no issues in taking them back, but like you, I wanted an all German knife. All the knives I have bought from Boker regardless of country of origin have been great. But if you want a 100% German made including all parts and assembly you need to contact your vendor and make sure it has the Solingen blade stamps. Even "Germany" on the handle doesn't mean 100% German anymore.

Robert
 
LutzSpearo said:
Anyone know where this knife was made? http://www.boker.de/us/pocket-knife/boker/classic-pocket-knife/110280JRB.html

Red Bone Whittler
Item no. beginning with 1102 (one Boker rep - this indicates parts from China assembled in Germany)
Blade stamped Solingen with Solingen on the shield (another Boker rep - this indicates all German parts, made in Germany, 100% German, nothing to do with China).

Confused!
Click to expand...

LS, looks like you got it right to me. Read this whole thread. Your confirmation is in #6 of this thread, straight from the Boker rep.

Robert
 
I'm sorry, but I'm still confused. I think I'm ok with my knife, but LS has one with the Solingen stamp meaning all German according to Marketing, and the 1102 item # meaning Chinese parts according to TJT.
 
We have noticed that there was an overlap with some of the numbering, so it is being fixed. From now on knives like the 110280... will be changed to 11280... in order to keep these lines straight and separate.
Thanks, Terry
 
That's awesome, thank you for clarifying the discrepancy. I will order the red bone whittler that I referenced, now that I know it is 100% German made with German parts.

I respect that Boker reps read these forums and communicate with customers. And even make changes based on what they learn here, pretty impressive in my opinion. Thanks again. I see more Boker knives in my future (but don't tell my wife!).
 
TJT said:
Good question. Any of the Boker knives that have Solingen on the shield, and generally a higher price point, are the same knives we have always made, 100% from our Solingen factory. The ones with Germany on the shield, and sold at a lower price point are from Germany, but with parts sourced from China. These will start with an item number 1107... or 1102...
They go through all the same steps as a Solingen Boker, have the same warranty, and the same quality, and hand fitted.
Terry
Click to expand...

Are the blades on these knives Solingen or Asian?
 
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