Hen & Rooster knives

[maverick3981]

ANy feedback on the quality of the Hen & Rooster knives? I an eyeing a knife made in Solingen and I am assuming German QC should be good.

 

[fatcorgi]

Solingen has a great tradition, but, like some other old cutlery centres, e.g. Sheffield, most of the cutlery companies have gone out of business or only hte names remain and are made to inferior standards. Hen & Rooster were made mostly by Bertram up until they went out of business in 1980. Since then, they have been made by various decent, and some less good cutlers, e.g. Robert Klaas, Böker. You can tell by looking at the tang - anythng marked 'bertram cutlery' is post 1980, and 'bertram' or 'c. bertram' and a couple of other variations, are the earlier ones, they also have no shield. The old ones are great, and worth getting your hands on, there are a few threads featuring the authentic bertrams. The new ones I've heard are okay for the most part.

 

[bdev]

I bought two H&R Bertram Cutlery whittlers ( a serpentine blue bone Mustang and one of their red bone patterns) and in both cases there were liner gaps. Considering they are sub 40 dollar knives, I don't find a problem with that.
Everything else about the knives were fine. I would recommend an H&R only if it is stamped Bertram Cutlery, Solingen Germany.

 

[leghog]

Hen & Rooster Bertram Coffin Jack. I was at UT in Knoxville during the '82 World's Fair. Bought this knife here recently.

 

[Modoc ED]

This is a very good thread that ran back in September. Lots of good info on what has been happening to/at Hen & Rooster in the recent past. They use to be excellent knives.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...the-Soligen-made-Hen-and-Rooster-knives-good?

 

[whetrock]

The Beltram Cutlery ones IMO are ok, but the Spanish, and others marked "Germany Steel, handmade" one baffle me a bit. Insinuates it has German Steel, and is handmade, but not necessarily made in Germany. I've heard larger than life stuff about them when they were owned by A.G. Russel (before my time), they've left quite an impression on a lot of local collectors.

 

[maverick3981]

I am after a sub $60 traditional knife with carbon steel blade and on the smaller size, around 3 inch blade. Any suggestions? I dont like Opinel just because they feel light weight. I would like to have a stag or bone handle scales if possible.