Solingen pocket knives

dryden

dryden

Joined
Nov 7, 2001
Messages
65
I've recently run across several knives made in Solingen, Germany by Robert Klaas, Fife, Voss. Several Klaas 4 blade Kissing Cranes w/ pearl handles model 2308. Klass model 2396 3 blade stags, Fife Hen & Roosters, and Hoffritz 4 blade pearl handles (box says model 2308 like the KC's).

Anyone know much about these? They should be around 15-25 years old.
 
So you're familiar with Hoffritz? I'd never heard of a Hoff 'till I ran across these knives. They don't seem to be making pocket knives anymore. I haven't found them on the internet at least.
 
Robert Klaas (Kissing Crane brand) dates back to 1834, and still produces knives. The ones that I have are good knives, and some of the best carbon steel blades I have. Bertram (Hen & Rooster brand) dates to 1872-1983 as the original company. Others purchased the name after the 1983 closure of Bertram and have produced knives with the Hen & Rooster mark since then. I don't own any of them, but they had a very good reputation. I'm not sure who actually makes the current crop of Hen & Rooster. I believe Fife and Voss are brands made by Bertram in the 60's and 70's.
 
I have a few of the kissing cranes stilettos. They are nice knives. I used the medium sized one with the wood scales for about 6 years - for everything! I stripped wire with it, scraped old gaskets off engines, used it for a can opener, etc...

It has almost a hawkbill shaped blade now from sharpening it repeatedly, but it has been a good knife.

I also remember reading somewhere that Robert Klaas made a lot of the knives used by the SS in Nazi Germany - mostly daggers.
 
I think you're both right about Bertram making the HR's and Klaas making the KC8. I saw a post here aboiut the KC8 with Nazi insignia, etc. and supposedly they quit making them shortly after the second world war. I don't know that, just something I heard. Since I have a few Bertrams in this collection and they were all purchased around the same time that does help me to date them somewhat. They've sat in a drawer since the trader died some years ago and his widow sold them to a coworker and myself. They are beautiful... and sharp. They've developed some slight rust on the back of the springs. Tiny places, more of a discolorment. That shouldn't hurt the value of an old knife should it?
 
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