Tina - Strong and reliable German Carbon Cutter

[ots 15]

When it comes to traditional German knives, Tina is one of my favourite brands.

To the average tac knife fan, TINA won't mean too much, I even assume, that this company isn't too well known among regular German knife fans.
But when it comes to users which are in need of high performance horticultural knives, this changes dramatically. In these regards Tina is a world player.

A few times I had the chance to talk to Mr. Schwille, who is the owner of this family owned business which is not located in Solingen like most German knife companies but in Reutlingen, some hundred kilomters away.
It was always very inspiring.

What I like most about Tina: These are knives in the purest sense, working tools for cutting trees, roses and other plants. The knives are meant to be used year in year out.
Tina also does knives for the industry which is processing rubber or leather, and shoemakers and bookbinders and restorer. It's fascinating to see the scope and the diversity of blades.
http://tina-messerfabrik.de/index.html

Please find attached some pictures which show Pfropfmesser Nr. 600/11 (grafting knife heavy pattern) which is very acutely ground on the left side only. The blade is made from high carbon non stainless steel and hardened quite high, I assume 60 HRC and more.
The handles are made of German nutwood, treated with shellac to get a very smooth finish to enable working for hours.
The liners are made of hard brass, the pin is very strong as is the back spring.

I'm not a horticultural professional but use this knife for my every day tasks and enjoy the look, the performance and its spirit.

Some pics to show it follow

Regards

 

[pinnah]

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

 

[kvaughn]

Very neat blade. Are they marketed in the US?

 

[ol' smoke]

I still have my double bladed Tina budding knife from working the pecan tree farm as a teen about 1968. The blades are about an inch and a quarter between and the handle unscrews for sharpening or blade replacement. This was the original Wolfe's Nursery and had probably 20 guys budding trees. No telling how many of these Tina knives were purchased by this company in a small Texas town.

 

[Nal0n]

Being from Germany I already know about the Tina knives. But would you mind sending me a PM with some details about that cute little fixed blade in the first picture?

 

[harronek]

Great thread .

I rate Tina as probably my favourite Traditional brand .
They are not flashy and ostentatious , they are hard working , honest , real , functional knives .
Those attributes have been forgotten by a few knife makers in my opinion .
They are made to be used and used hard . I suspect the people who designed them were from a background of knife users not just drawing board dreamers and they listened to their own and other customers demands and requirements and produced a no frills tool .

The 605 has been with me the longest of any folder I own , I will never get rid of it .

Ken

Ken

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Those fixed blades look pretty handy too, Ken surprised me by sending this rascal out my way, it had quite the journey, for sure it traveled from Germany to Australia and then up to Pennsylvania USA and rests here for now, I agree the hardness seems good on these, as my sharpening can feel if the blade abrades too easily, these don't...

nice comfy handle, as you guys pointed out, these are really no nonsense kind of knives, meant for work...

G2

 

[jomarti]

I've admired these knives since I first saw one here a couple months ago and the recent sighting yesterday motivated a search. I looked at a 605 and learned the price of admission is close to lower cost GEC knives. Good grief...

The simplicity and functional, clean design is intriguing and long as I can find a walnut model 605 I think I'm in.

 

[harronek]

I've admired these knives since I first saw one here a couple months ago and the recent sighting yesterday motivated a search. I looked at a 605 and learned the price of admission is close to lower cost GEC knives. Good grief...

The simplicity and functional, clean design is intriguing and long as I can find a walnut model 605 I think I'm in.

Go on join the club , you know you want too


Ken

 

[N.E.Tim]

ots 14,
Serious Looking Well Made Knives.
I am going to look for one.
Thank You For Sharing.

 

[ots 15]

I still have my double bladed Tina budding knife from working the pecan tree farm as a teen about 1968. The blades are about an inch and a quarter between and the handle unscrews for sharpening or blade replacement. This was the original Wolfe's Nursery and had probably 20 guys budding trees. No telling how many of these Tina knives were purchased by this company in a small Texas town.

Hi ol' smoke,,

you mean one like these?

@kvaughn: I'm pretty sure Tina has a distribution for the US market.

 

[harronek]

Hi ol' smoke,,

you mean one like these?

@kvaughn: I'm pretty sure Tina has a distribution for the US market.

Wow

Ive done a bit of grafting and budding but I've never seen a knife like that .
That's really cool :thumbup:


Ken

 

[ots 15]

Just what I said
The range of specialized models is fascinating. This one is for making parallel cuts into pecan and walnut trees with a distance of 27 mm (1,063''). The messing blade is for lifting the bark off of the cambium.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

I was totally not familiar with this brand... at first glance it looking like a product from Otter Messer.
Then, I did some google'ing... WOW! Hand forged blades and some special hand care in making the handles and all. The look of these knives seems simple and would make one think that they are likely very inexpensive... but these are rated pretty much top tier in their field, and inexpensive they are not, lol! Thanks for sharing the info, guys

Never know when one is out and about at some yard sale or flea market, and having this knowledge can have one walk away with a treasure

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Btw, I mentioned Otter Messer above... and would like to add that knives like Otter Messer' Anchor knife are bargains to still be had. Quality German hands on craftsmanship that only exists for now. With German, British, and even American traditional knife makers going DoDo on a regular basis... not a bad idea to get them while the getting is still good. These firms are likely more fragile than what many of us may realize... they could easily be gone tomorrow.

 

[kamagong]

Thank you for bringing this company to our attention Ken.

This thread makes me smile. Hard used tools, with a simple and plain appearance. The conditions are perfect for this part of the market to be dominated by cheap overseas imports. Yet Tina has managed to carve out a niche for itself and gained a reputation for making the best knives in class. And people are buying them. We're not talking about collector pieces here with stag or ivory, but rather walnut covered shadow patterns. Remarkable.

- Christian

 

[johnwaynesandw]

These remind me of a folding version of the American old hickory knives. Very nice looking knives made for working. I have never heard of them before, but I am sure to keep an eye out for one in the furture. Thank you for sharing.

 

[kamagong]

Do Tina knives come sharp? I'm thinking of getting one for my brother-in-law for his birthday as he's into gardening.

I'm looking at the 600 and 605.

- Christian

 

[glocktenman]

Wow, cool knives. I've never seen or heard of Tina....which is why I come here often. I learn about and see knives from all over the world!
It's funny that it's a grafting knife. Did some cactus grafting a long time ago but had no idea there was a kinfe made just for it else I'da bought one!!! (means two!)

 

[pertinux]

I have a TINA budding/grafting knife, and I echo others' sentiments about their excellence of construction and appealing visual simplicity. I wrote first the following about mine here.

This knife is simply exquisite, with its smooth, chatoyant walnut and clean lines.

The hand-forged, wee blade has all sorts of interesting angles and such careful detailing. I'm almost tempted to go out a'grafting and a'budding. Almost.

(This is a "right-handed" knife, clearly so; my understanding in some brief reading since yesterday is that TINA Germany has been making these knives for a long time, and still, and also produces a left-handed version.)

Jimping!

(

)

...What makes the knife extra-compelling is the combination of that delicate appearance with rock-solid construction and mechanics. There is no lateral give in the blade at any point in its arc (no half-stop), least of all when it's fully open.

This is clearly a tool designed well for a very specific job-- just one with which I happen to be unfamiliar(!). I'd love to see someone use this knife for its intended purpose. Then, give it back of course.

I'm am going to love having this knife along with me.....

~ P.