Kircheis German Pocket Knife

A

Apdl

Joined
Apr 27, 2007
Messages
8
Hey guys, been around for a while and this is my first post. Anyone know about this knife? it was given to me but a coworker that retired a few years ago on his last day. He used it all the time for apples and fruit. He dad acquired it some time in the 30’s. He was German and his dad was a tank commander for the 1st panzer division. He actually invaded Paris in 1940. Now we all know Nazi = Bad Bad Bad. But this is a cool piece.
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Working on this, trying to post imaged from google photos but the ?.jpg is not working
 
This is what I find. I wonder if it was just branded by Kircheis. Hoppe Brothers? Is there a specific model that this is?
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I read German a little but I know that Erdmann Kircheis was a manufacturer of machine tools and industrial equipment from c.1860 to some time into the c20th, probably destroyed or disbanded as a result of WW II? Or amalgamated with other firms etc. Located as the advert shows in Aue, Saxony, it became part of the former DDR (East Germany) until German re-unification in 1990.

So the logo on the knife looks similar to the one in the advert hence it might have been made as an advert knife or presented to employees?

What evidence do you have that it was obtained in the 1930s? It may have nothing to do with military connexions and just be somebody's knife.

The makers Gebr. Hoppe are as we see a Solingen based firm, Germany's cutlery capital. There were other Hoppe in Solingen with various first names before WW2 so I would guess that this is an amalgamation of smaller firms under the 'brothers' title and this would be later. It's Rostfrei- stainless - and I think relatively uncommon before WW2, but it could be. Gebr.Hoppe made a lot of inexpensive knives particularly metal handled knives in turned stainless-similar to Richards in England from the 50s onwards. The knife itself appears to be a general Scout type multi tool that might have been favoured for outdoors, picnics etc.
 
Will! Great points, I guess maybe I just assumed? I sent him a message looking for more information. His dad died in 1967 at 46. So I know it’s older than that :)
I’ll keep y’all posted.
 
I heard back, he said “Could be promotional. Probably during the war.”

That’s all we know. Thanks for your help and interest!
 
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