MESSER HQ 

There’s nothing better than finding quality vintage pocket knives at the flea market—and today was a good day. I came home with two great additions to the collection: a vintage Heinrich Kaufmann & Söhne K55K six-blade utility knife and a 3-dot W.R. Case & Sons Case XX 6232. The Kaufmann was made as a promotional knife for the German company Meiller and is a fantastic example of the craftsmanship Heinrich Kaufmann & Söhne was known for. Founded in 1856, the company produced the famous K55K until it ceased operations in 1995. In my experience collecting vintage German pocket knives, original Kaufmann-made K55Ks are among the highest-quality six-blade utility knives you’ll find, with excellent fit and finish and great snap and pop on every tool. The Case XX 6232 features jigged Delrin handles, a clip point master blade, and a pen blade. It has excellent snap and pop on both blades and, aside from a small crack in the Delrin on the pile side, is a really clean example that I’m happy to add to the collection. Which one would you have picked up? Let me know down in the comments! If you enjoy vintage pocket knives, Solingen history, flea market finds, and traditional slipjoints, be sure to subscribe for more videos. #PocketKnife #CaseXX #Kaufmann #K55K #FleaMarketFinds

A recent find: a Friedrich Herder Abr. Sohn two-spade, two-rivet knife. I believe it dates to the 1940s or 1950s. Let me know what you think.

In this video, we take a closer look at a beautiful pre-World War II Böker 182 Sportmesser from Solingen, Germany. This is an exceptional example, especially considering its age. The knife features thick, beautifully figured stag horn covers, classic threaded nickel-silver bolsters, and the traditional multi-tool Sportmesser configuration. Everything remains intact and tight, and the blades appear full. The overall condition is remarkable for a knife of this age and makes it a particularly nice example of an early Böker Sportmesser. Pre-WWII examples in genuine stag are not easy to find—especially preserved in condition like this. If you enjoy vintage German pocket knives, Böker history, Solingen cutlery, and antique Sportmesser, subscribe for more knife collecting and historical research. Messer HQ #Boker #Sportmesser #VintageKnives #Solingen #PocketKnives

German rivet knives are one of the most distinctive—and least documented—families of traditional Solingen pocket knives. In this video, I trace their history through original German pattern books and knife catalogs, compare archival examples with knives from my own collection, and examine the different forms in which these unusual working knives were produced. These traditional slipjoint knives are generally recognized by their wooden handles, simple working blades, and two or three large decorative rivets positioned on the mark side of the handle. They were made in various sizes and appeared with smooth, threaded, and decorative Kullen-style bolsters. Inexpensive shell-handled variations also existed. Based on the examples I have documented, these knives appear most commonly in three recurring frame shapes: • Spear-point frame • Clip-point frame • Sheepsfoot or hawkbill-pruner frame Certain blade shapes were typically associated with particular frames, although exceptions existed. I also cover two-bladed examples, electrician’s knives, different rivet configurations, unusual variations, and the spear-point version that has survived into modern production. Much of the historical material shown in this video was uncovered during a recent research trip to Solingen, Germany, where I examined original knife catalogs, pattern books, and archival documents at the Deutsches Klingenmuseum and Stadtarchiv Solingen. Among the material discussed in the video: • A hand-drawn Friedrich Koch pattern book dated 1859, containing several knife designs with decorative rivets • An approximately 1880 Peter Hendrichs pattern book showing two spear-point rivet knives and a sheepsfoot example • Similar knives documented by Gebrüder Christians during the 1890s • Further examples from Hammesfahr and Heinrich Kaufmann around 1900 • Later knives produced by numerous Solingen manufacturers throughout the twentieth century The 1859 Friedrich Koch material suggests that the broader use of decorative handle rivets may extend back into the 1850s. However, the clearest evidence I have been able to find for this recognizable family of German pocket knives begins with the Peter Hendrichs material from around 1880. It also became clear during my research that these knives were not a proprietary design belonging to one manufacturer. Similar versions were produced by numerous Solingen knife companies over a period of many decades. The three frame categories used in this video are my own descriptive classification based on the knives and historical material I have examined. I have not found an official period classification system for the family, and additional frame shapes, earlier examples, or undocumented variations may still exist. Some extremely rare examples are shown through digital reconstructions based directly on original period catalog illustrations. Have you encountered one of these German rivet knives? Do you recognize an additional maker, frame shape, blade variation, or catalog reference? Share what you know in the comments. Corrections, disagreements, and additional documentation are always welcome. More from Messer HQ: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messerhq Messerforum research thread: https://messerforum.net/threads/nieten-taschenmesser-pattern-nietenmesser.144341/ Solingen research video: https://youtu.be/jSImkI0Ra0Q?is=EeqKZ88PvoSv8H2G #GermanRivetKnives #SolingenKnives #KnifeHistory #VintagePocketKnives #Nietenmesser

On this research trip, I traveled from Munich to Solingen, Germany—the world-famous City of Blades—to spend three days researching the history and origins of early German Sportmessers and German rivet knives. My goal was to uncover early references, catalogs, trade materials, pattern books, advertisements, and other primary sources that could help document the development of these fascinating knives. During the trip, I visited the Solingen City Archive, the German Blade Museum (Deutsches Klingenmuseum), and the German Blade Museum archives, where I spent hours digging through historical materials in search of clues about early Sportmesser designs, humpback utility knives, and traditional German rivet knives. One of the highlights of the trip was discovering early references to Sportmesser-style humpback utility knives, along with a wealth of information about German rivet knives and their historical development. I also had the opportunity to explore some incredible exhibits at the German Blade Museum, including the famous 154-blade giant pocket knife, the impressive blade wall, and countless examples of Solingen craftsmanship spanning centuries. This trip was an overwhelming success, and I found a tremendous amount of material that I’ll continue studying and sharing in future videos. #Solingen #Sportmesser #RivetKnife #KnifeHistory #GermanBladeMuseum

Here’s a better picture of the humpback utility knife with a solid screwdriver from the 1910 Luna catalog. After taking a closer look, I now believe this is a 5-blade utility knife rather than a 6-blade utility knife. You can’t see what’s behind the corkscrew, and the illustration doesn’t show any additional tool there. On other catalog examples, when a tool is positioned behind another, the artist usually makes an effort to show at least part of it. Combined with the fact that the awl is already on the front side, it raises the question: if there were a second backside tool, what would it be? It would likely be something noteworthy, and I would expect the catalog illustration to show it. Because of that, I believe this is a humpback-frame 5-blade utility knife, not a 6-blade. While it isn’t the smoking gun connecting it to the fabled ancestor Böker utility knives, it is evidence that German manufacturers were producing multi-blade utility knives with a humpback frame as early as 1910. At the very least, it demonstrates that the humpback utility knife pattern was already established in Germany by 1910.

I spent the day in the archives of the Deutsches Klingenmuseum (German Blade Museum) in Solingen, and I’d say I hit pay dirt. I uncovered a huge trove of factory catalogs, sales catalogs, dealer catalogs, and trade literature documenting the history of German knives and cutlery. Among the discoveries, I was able to trace German rivet knives back to at least 1859. I also found two rare Sportmesser-type knives featuring solid screwdrivers—one from a 1910 Luna Solingen catalog and another from a 1924 Gebrüder Christians Solingen catalog. Combined with my research at the Solingen City Archive, I’d call this trip a huge success. I’ve got thousands of pages of catalogs and records to go through, and I have a feeling there are still more discoveries waiting to be found.

This giant pocket knife is one of the standout exhibits at the Deutsches Klingenmuseum (German Blade Museum) in Solingen, Germany. According to the museum, it was made by Herbert Kullenberg of Solingen between 1926 and 1938 as a showpiece (Prunkstück). The knife contains an incredible 154 parts and bears the coat of arms of the City of Solingen. Built to showcase the skill and craftsmanship of Solingen’s cutlers, this oversized multi-blade knife is a remarkable example of the city’s long tradition of knife making. Filmed at the Deutsches Klingenmuseum, Solingen, Germany. #Solingen #KnifeHistory #GermanBladeMuseum #PocketKnife #Knives

During my visit to the Deutsches Klingenmuseum (German Blade Museum) in Solingen, Germany, I came across this incredible wall of historic blades. One of the most impressive displays in a museum dedicated to the history of knives, swords, and edged tools. #Solingen #KnifeHistory #GermanBladeMuseum #Knives #CutleryHistory