The Knife Makers Show in Solingen

[J D Wijbenga]

Yesterday I went to visit the Messer Macher Messe (Knife Maker Show) in the German Knife Museum in Solingen. A two-hour drive from where I live. At the show were knife makers from all over the world. I saw Ron Lake, Jot Sing Khalsa, Jurgen Steinau, Kevin Wilkins, Roman Landes, Peter Johnsson, Des Horn, Aad van Rijswijk, Wolf Borger and many others.

This is the second time I met Peter Johnsson, an accomplished sword smith who lives in Sweden. This year he had broad four excellent European swords. Two late medieval broadswords, a rapier and a falchion/fegtmesser. These are no wall hanger but users with well-formed blades and great balance. He pays extra attention to making sure the points of no vibration are in the right place so it will feel solid on impact. They feel very good in the hand. I especially liked the falchion, which was a copy of a falchion in the Museum where the show was held; it really captured the essence of the original. The blade was made of spring steel, tempered to 55 on the Rockwell scale. It was flat ground flowing in to a convex edge. Excellent gutting geometry. The double guard and pommel where made of carbon steel to compliment the blade and works of art by them selves. The handle was wood, held together with wire and covered with leather. Very convertible. I am sorry I can't show you a picture. And even more sorry I do not have the money to buy it. Ah, well perhaps later. Anyway if you are looking for a great, European styled, sword contact Peter Johnson. He does not have a web site but if you are interested I can provide his contact info.

Another maker I had an interesting conversation with was Roman Landes. He has done research on the cutting edge of knives. How the edge of diverent steels look under a 1000x magnification and more. This showed why low alloy steels could have sharper and stronger edges than high alloy steels. It is impossible for me to reproduce his research here but he is translating his thesis is English from German and hope to get a example when he is finished and tell you more. I am sure he has de sharpest knife at the show, it could really split a hear!

It was a nice show, especially with the combination with the museum, and I am looking forward to going again next year.

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

The German Knifemaker's Guild Show was indeed a big success. There was an excellent turnout with packed isles on both days. I did very well with my smaller knives (Mini Thorns) and even did an at table demonstation of their ability to cut waffles smothered in cherries and whipped cream - which were being made fresh downstairs in the cafe.

The show was very well organized, with an opening reception for exhibitors with a speach by the mayor with dinner following. The next evening there was also a dinner at a great restaurant in another part of the region right on the river (Wupper). We had mountains of roast pork and the beer specialty of the region is called Kölsch and is a high fermentation process that produces a rather light beer that goes down smooth. The Swedes at our table were downing large glasses at one go and trying to teach me how to say "What's happening?" in finnish. (I already forgot.) It was fun.

The high point of the show for me was getting to see and fondle a Ron Lake folder. That was really something. It was perfect. Just perfect. That knife not only walked and talked, it danced like Fred Astaire. Ron and his wife Donna are extremely nice people and it was a pleasure to see them again.

I didn't get a chance to leave my table for very long during the show, so I didn't get a chance to even see everything that was there ( saved me a lot of money I think ). I did buy one of the handmade prototypes of Hans-Peter Klötzli's new Micael Walker designed folder.

Mr. Ritter from Hubertus came by during the show and I had a chance to talk to him a bit. I really like the new spring knife they brought out last year.

After the show I spent monday in Solingen and visited Böker where I bought a mini lockback Hunter with stag grips that's really cute. Fits in the watch pocket and is razor sharp. Böker's traditional knives are great and they produce a quality product.

I also visited one of my favorite Solingen factories, Robert Herder Windmill knives. This shop is still owned and run by the Herder familiy and make beautiful kitchen and utility knives in the same style as they have made for the last 100+ years. High carbon steel blades and grips from cherry wood. Many of their emplyees have been grinding blades in their shop for 30 years. They still produce what's called a "blue polish" on their blades. There's a very old Herder paring knife on display in the blade museum and you can still buy exactly the same knife, made the same way brand new! I don't think Herder's knives are sold in the USA (not dishwasher safe and proud of it!), but I hope they will be soon.

Anyway. It was a really splendid show and the blade museum itself is worth a trip for anyone who's interested in knives. I think both exhibitors and visitors all had a good time. I'll certainly plan on showing again next year and will be sure and have a good selection of Mini Thorns ready. Thanks to all who attended and to all who contributed to making the show and the weekend so much fun.


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http://www.wilkins-knives.com
http://www.wilkins.de

 

[bigbore.45]

Hi
for more pics you can click this:
Solingen at messerforum.net


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*so is life : hard but unfair*
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