Hen and Rooster congress - thoughts?

HeathH

HeathH

Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
590
Hi all.... I have a bad itch for a German made, carbon steel congress. I've been looking around at different styles... I like the size, shape and blade combo of this knife, along with the sub-$40 price

hen-_-rooster-carbon-red-pick-bone-congress-knife.jpg


However, that sub-$40 price has me concerned. It's carbon steel but does not seem to be marked Solingen anywhere that I can see. Does anyone have any idea on the origin of these knives? Better yet, does anyone own one and is able to comment on The F&F? Especially the grinds as it will be for whittling. Some dealers state the they are solingen made while some don't. Any feedback, thoughts or opinions would be helpful! Even recommendations for a different carbon, sunk joint Solingen congress at an affordable price?

Thanks,
 
If my memory serves me well I believe that those "Hen & Rooster" folders are imported by "Frost Cutlery". Other than that I don't know much about them. I have two favorite German made folders>> one has been discontinued long ago but I did like the two units I had. The company that I'm speaking of is "Weidmannsheil". I've also had decent luck with "Boker" folders as well. I used to own two of them made with X-15 TN stainless which was very salt water resistant and held an edge pretty well.

I also used to own some of the older JA Henckel folders from years gone by and they were very nice tradional folders. But with all the new supersteels that are available here in the USA I don't get nearly as excited about those older German made folders like I used to at one time.

But I have a ton of respect for German made cutlery as well as some of their other products. They truly are metallurgists and they are very much quality minded which I can always respect.
 
I'd go for a Boker myself. I have a German H&R but it's older and has Solingen on the tangs of the mains (if I remember correctly).

My two carbon Boker congress knives;





A carbon Boker can be had at a similar price and if the tang looks like the above, then its all gravy.

:)


- Paul
 
There are two other German made folders that I admire. One being PUMA and the other being BULLDOG. Of those models I've had experience with I can only say good about those two German made blades.

Like I said in my previous post there are some obscure and little known German companies that I like and the one that impressed me the most was "Weidmannsheil". The fit and finish on both the folder and fixed blade models that I owned were great. Don't lose sight of the fact that the Germans are more or less the grandfather's of modern day metallurgy as we now know it.

Also here lately I've taken a second look at BOKER because they are now using some of the newer/better blade steels in some of their newer models. For years I thought the only blade steel they used was 440C :rolleyes: But they are stepping up their blade steel selection in their folders and fixed blades both. JD
 
Thanks for the advice sirs... I ended up going for the red bone boker as pictured above.... holy COW this thing is nice! The covers are fitted up like a Case, but the rest of the f&f is about 2 steps ahead of them. Not quite as nice as a GEC but almost - and that is a very narrow margin. I cant believe Boker isnt talked about more often here. And I scored a deal on it for $38 shipped. The thing that surprises me most is how solid the knife is - I've always thought of a congress as a gentleman's knife - no way on this one, it makes my Bullnose feel positively feminie... easily a 7 pull and the half stops feel like they're gonna tear my nails off when the blades start moving. Very impressive, thanks again!
 
HeathH said:
~snip~ The thing that surprises me most is how solid the knife is - I've always thought of a congress as a gentleman's knife - no way on this one ~snip~
Click to expand...

oh absolutely, the Grand Canyon bone version I have is my 'hard use' knife. It's solid as a rock and the strangely snub nosed sheepfoot blades are superb as utility blades.




- Paul
 
Does anyone have any info or experience with Boker's C-75 carbon steel?
 
In my very limited experience it's similar to Case's CV in both sharpening and edge retention.
 
Thanks for the insight on the C-75. I like Case's CV but if I remember right I've read on the porch that it's a little different than 1095, is that correct?
 
pmew said:
oh absolutely, the Grand Canyon bone version I have is my 'hard use' knife. It's solid as a rock and the strangely snub nosed sheepfoot blades are superb as utility blades.




- Paul
Click to expand...
That is some very nice bone!
 
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