The State of Solingen

wintermute

wintermute

Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
3,018
I know I just recently pestered everyone about U.S. knife companies, but what about German (Soligen) companies? Who's still there? I can think of Boker, Bulldog, Eye Brand, Hen & Rooster. Who do you like for blades (emphasis on carbon)? Who do you like for fit & finish? Who do you like, just because?
 
I'm really into working knifes, not the fancy stuff, just the knifes you'll find in the pockets of the farmers and fishermen.
I really like the slippies from Lütters (C.Lütters & CIE) aka Loewen Messer.
These slippies are cheap (from 15€ to 30€) great carbon steel, since 1840, loads of history, really strong springs (some would call them nailbreakers).
Another company with a little lack of quality control and finish is
Otter-Messer (Mercator) , great working tools, carbon steel..

these are my favorites!!!
 
Hey wintermute!

I have an Eye Brand Smooth Bone MiniTrapper (carbon) and I love it. Fit and finish are great, the thing snaps shut like a bear trap, blades get crazy sharp.

I have heard that Eye Brand stag knives sacrifice fit and finish to keep the cost down.
 
The Böker Copperhead I have in Grand Canyon scales offers both amazing value AND build quality as well.Got it on the Bay for about 30 dollars.

The jigging on the bone and the colour is really nicely done, sharpens well and has a tasteful blade etch too.

Weidmannsheil, both the originals and later parts assembled models are good, consider the Stag lockback 3.75" or 2 blade Tricklock in stag, 4". Blades are stamped but are a trickier sharpening prospect than Böker for some reason.
 
I didn't mention Puma because it seems from reading posts on this site that they have a lot to be desired nowadays. I have a nice old Puma lockback that's incredibly well executed - to the point (not sure how to explain this) that it looks "cheap" or "fake" - not a real knife, but an amazing facsimilie of one. But I assure you, it is an awesome knife.
 
I've found Boker to be a bit hit and miss, I've got some great knives from them (like the Subcom and Trance, as well as a stockman I got recently) and some world class junk as well (and I mean Boker stamped knives, not Magnum).

I like Herder fixed blades a lot, they made some criollo style knives for the South American market that are incredible. I don't know whether they are still in business (my most used Herder knife is well over 50 years old, I bought it mint two years ago and used the snot out of it).
 
Anyone ever use an Eye Brand Whittler? Handle is the exact shape I'm looking for in a whittler, just don't know if the coping and pen blades are long enough to be useful. Don't particularly care for the serpentine shape of Boker whittlers, and it seems like in the U.S.A. you have to go to a botique brand to get a whittler with carbon steel blades.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top