- Joined
- Jul 25, 2010
- Messages
- 7,432
Hi guys!
I´m on the border to Austria. So I have some connections over there - including my grandma (she died last year). When I was at the age of 13 she gave me a Trattenbacher Taschenfeitel (or Trattenbacher Taschenzaunkerl). Trattenbach is a place in the Alps and Taschenfeitel/zaunkerl does only mean Pocketknife in austrian dialect.
It is a pretty traditional friction folder there, and it reminds me a little on the original ones Fausto showed off at some time. Here´s a little history about this knife, unfortuntelly not in english language http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trattenbacher_Zauckerl
A short history about this knife - the first time it was noticed was in the 16th century in Trattenbach, a part of Upper Austria (Oberösterreich). The mills and forges were driven by a small river . And the smiths could make that knife very easily. The handles were made of wood, mostly beech. There were many small family-manufacturers that could make this little and usefull knife in only one smith. Traditionally all the blades are forged and later polished. The blade mark is stamped there and shows off the manufacturer.
During the time, the design didn´t change much, it´s still produced there. Formaly there were 16 manufacturers and nowadays only two have survived.
Here are some pics
(BTW: The bladeshape might be "Reverse Tanto" - pretty tactical for the 16th century
)
A size comparison to an Opinel #7 - what´s really interessting is the very thin blade. When it´s sharpened it works like a razor!
For size comparison to a Case Sodbuster Jr.
The obligatory in-hand pic
And a pic of the stamped marks on the blade
These knives were and are still cheap made. But they were knives for farmers and guys working in the woods, mines or directly in the Alps. But they are some great piece of usefullness. The only thing, there is no locking mechanism and so the blade sits very loos. No punching or stabbing. This is a real cutting tool. I like the two I have. They are something typical austrian.
My grandma told me, when she was a girl everyone one the farm had such a knife in his pocket. Mostly for food prep during field work and the helping for the cutting works on a farm. There were easy to get and cheap.
I have never seen this knife here on BFC before or heard that is has any popularity outside of Austria. So I thought, I could tell you something about this pattern and the whole knife and its history.
Let me hear your opinions, Ladies and Gentlemen!
Kind regards
Andi
I´m on the border to Austria. So I have some connections over there - including my grandma (she died last year). When I was at the age of 13 she gave me a Trattenbacher Taschenfeitel (or Trattenbacher Taschenzaunkerl). Trattenbach is a place in the Alps and Taschenfeitel/zaunkerl does only mean Pocketknife in austrian dialect.
It is a pretty traditional friction folder there, and it reminds me a little on the original ones Fausto showed off at some time. Here´s a little history about this knife, unfortuntelly not in english language http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trattenbacher_Zauckerl
A short history about this knife - the first time it was noticed was in the 16th century in Trattenbach, a part of Upper Austria (Oberösterreich). The mills and forges were driven by a small river . And the smiths could make that knife very easily. The handles were made of wood, mostly beech. There were many small family-manufacturers that could make this little and usefull knife in only one smith. Traditionally all the blades are forged and later polished. The blade mark is stamped there and shows off the manufacturer.
During the time, the design didn´t change much, it´s still produced there. Formaly there were 16 manufacturers and nowadays only two have survived.
Here are some pics
(BTW: The bladeshape might be "Reverse Tanto" - pretty tactical for the 16th century
)
A size comparison to an Opinel #7 - what´s really interessting is the very thin blade. When it´s sharpened it works like a razor!
For size comparison to a Case Sodbuster Jr.
The obligatory in-hand pic
And a pic of the stamped marks on the blade
These knives were and are still cheap made. But they were knives for farmers and guys working in the woods, mines or directly in the Alps. But they are some great piece of usefullness. The only thing, there is no locking mechanism and so the blade sits very loos. No punching or stabbing. This is a real cutting tool. I like the two I have. They are something typical austrian.
My grandma told me, when she was a girl everyone one the farm had such a knife in his pocket. Mostly for food prep during field work and the helping for the cutting works on a farm. There were easy to get and cheap.
I have never seen this knife here on BFC before or heard that is has any popularity outside of Austria. So I thought, I could tell you something about this pattern and the whole knife and its history.
Let me hear your opinions, Ladies and Gentlemen!
Kind regards
Andi
