Made in Germany carbon & SS, how are they?

CL01

CL01

Joined
Apr 19, 2007
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OK, I'll try this a little differently. I have a couple slippies that were made in Solingen, Germany (Or state "Solingen Germany) on the tangs.

Both of these knives are older ones, not real old, but I think at least 16 yrs old on one & possibly 20-25 yrs on the other. My question is, does anyone know what the carbon & stainless steels are or what are they comparable to?

I seem to recall that the better ones has carbon steel that was comparable to Camillus's & the stainless steels comparable to 440C.

I am curious if anyone knows something about this or possibly, what their impression was on their edge holding.

Thank you in advance.
 
Back in the mid 80's I had a little Boker pocket knife that had carbon blades. I can't recall the model number but it had rosewood scales, and it was a 3 1/8 or 1/4 pen knife; clip master and spear pen blade on a single backspring. Very nice little knife and I used the heck out of it. Loved it, but it got lost one day, and I've missed it greatly. It would cut great, and held a great edge. I used the heck out of one of those German K55 Mercators for a while, and it worked out very well too. The German carbon knives I've had were very good knives. I still have a Hen and Rooster half stockman I bought back in the 70's, and it's a great knife as well.

I haven't had one of late manufacture, but the older ones I had were very very good knives.
 
My experience with Böker,Weidmannsheil,German Bull, Bulldog makes me feel that German stainless is rather better than the carbon.The latter seems generally softer than say CASE cv and doesn't seem to hold the edge for long.
 
I have a Eye Brand large stockman that I treasure. It has carbon blades. At first the edge holding was nothing special, but it improved after I convexed the edge. Now it is excellent.
 
comoha said:
"you know the Germans make good stuff!"
Click to expand...

LOL, yes they do. I do like my U.S. made knives, though, but am curious about the German ones.

I had a Henckel red shield Whittler (Boker made carbon blades) that was very good. I'd say it was comparable to my Case CVs.

The 2 I'm talking about is a '93 Buck Creek Whittler with carbon steel blades. It looks very much like an older Boker made Whittler that I've seen (With the "bulges in the middle of the handle). The other's an approx. early '80's Hen & Rooster Canoe with stainless steel blades. Feels great in the hand & the bolsters actually cover the blade tangs, unlike the ones on my CSC Canittler.
 
I have a knife that says: "Frost Cutlery" on one side and says "Solingen steel" on the other.
I believe the knife was made in Pakistan.
 
I had a Eye Brand Stag Stockman with stainless steel back in 1980 or 81 Excellent stainless but I not sure how good the current stainless is now. The current carbon steel for Eye Brand is very good.

RKH
 
The carbon steel I've seen used most in German pocket knives is C75, if that helps any.
 
I have 2 carbon Bulldogs. The Stockman's (1st generation) steel is very good, but the whittler's (4th or 5th generation) is pure junk, bad heat treat...if any at all lol. Guess thats why I now generally stick to USA made knives.
 
I have had consistently bad luck with the steel on Bulldog Brand knives from the 90's on. (Bad steel or heat treat...confirmed by both purveyors and makers I loaned the knives to for examination.)

The Boker's I have had were much better from my experience.
 
CL01 said:
OK, I'll try this a little differently. I have a couple slippies that were made in Solingen, Germany (Or state "Solingen Germany) on the tangs.

Both of these knives are older ones, not real old, but I think at least 16 yrs old on one & possibly 20-25 yrs on the other. My question is, does anyone know what the carbon & stainless steels are or what are they comparable to?

I seem to recall that the better ones has carbon steel that was comparable to Camillus's & the stainless steels comparable to 440C.

I am curious if anyone knows something about this or possibly, what their impression was on their edge holding.

Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...

Camillus used two types of carbon steel. Their standard was 1095. Their special stuff was 0170-6C, which they used on the Cold Steel Carbon V knives as well.

Camillus and Schrade both used 440A for stainless on at least some of their knives.

I believe, but do not know, that the Germans used an alloy similar in composition to 420HC. (something on the order of W 1.4116.) I do not think they used 440C.
 
I know you are asking on what was...

I can say what is..

I have two Henckel in SS and they hold a seriously sharp edge.

I have several Bokers in carbon, they sharpen very sharp very easily.
When they loose their very sharp, a couple of passes on an extra fine DMT brings them right back.
So I presume they are softer than Case CV.
 
I've had a couple of Bokers in carbon. They take an excellent edge, very easily. SS, I have no idea. I have a couple of Henckels, they are really nice, but I don't use them very much. Probably ought to, since my MIL gave them to me.
 
I have some old Bruckmanns that take a wicked edge.

I have noticed some variations in the solingen steel I have used over the years, but overall they were good steel.

Glenn
 
Blues is right about the bulldogs.if you're going German get carbon from eye or boker.if you do"ntmind spending a few bucks get a great eastern carbon 1095.
 
DennisStrickland said:
Blues is right about the bulldogs.if you're going German get carbon from eye or boker.if you do"ntmind spending a few bucks get a great eastern carbon 1095.
Click to expand...

After carrying/using some of my "other" knives (Not my usual EDC slippies), I've found that there definitely can be a big difference in the steels, even if it is made in Germany. The red shield Henckel (Made by Boker) I had in carbon was great (Wish I kept it). The SS in the Hen & Rooster I have is OK. It's on par with Case's SS Tru-Sharp, IMHO. The Buck Creek's carbon is pretty good & seems to be on par with the carbon Henckel. Case's CV's pretty darn good.

I will admit that GEC's 1095 is great (I've had 2 of those) & am currently spoiled by the 2 slippies I rotate (CSC in D2 & Case/Bose collab in ATS-34), but it's fun to try out different slippies & blade steels.
 
Hello,
carbon steel mostly will be C75 or C85 stainless often used is X45CrMoV15 alias 1.4116 or 1.4110.

Regards
surfer
 
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