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Need info on old German pocket knife

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:08 pm
by BuckeyeSchatt
I was given an old Walther-Werke Ferdinand Walther Grimma two blade pocket knife and would like some information on it . It appears to have silver metal handle material. One side has name of knife and 1937 date , two men on left pouring metal into mold and right side has one man with hammer and anvil. On the other side has two different pictures of factories and dates 1897-1937. The knife is in very good condition. I searched web but not much info. Thanks for help.

Re: Need info on old German pocket knife

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 7:53 pm
by gsmith7158
Buckeye the company name on that knife is a German company that makes transformers and electrical connectors. Started in 1897 and still in business. Rostfrei on the pen blade means rust free in other words stainless steel. Obviously an ad knife made in Solingen. Might be hard to date.

Re: Need info on old German pocket knife

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 8:34 pm
by philco
I'm gonna take a wild guess and say 1937 for the date on that knife..........it's just a gut feeling. :wink:

Re: Need info on old German pocket knife

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 9:50 pm
by gsmith7158
I would take a wild guess and say that this factory was redirected in or shortly after 1937 to fuel the Nazi war machine. This company moved from Grimma to Bavaria in 1945 and again to Eisenberg in 1970 . So I would think it would be a commerative knife made sometime after 1945. I doubt that Hitler allowed much advertising.

Re: Need info on old German pocket knife

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 11:56 pm
by BuckeyeSchatt
Thanks for input. Is it possible that knife was made in 1937 ? Hopefully someone has the answer. This is why knife collecting is so interesting.

Re: Need info on old German pocket knife

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 12:25 am
by gsmith7158
It's very possible Buckeye as the company that made this knife, Solinger Metallwaren Fabrik was pretty much bombed I to extinction by the Allies about 1945. I don't know how prevalent the use of stainless steel was in Germany at that time but not many U.S. companies used it. The company restarted operations in 1955 as smaller company.they were at one time the largest knife maker in Solingen.
As I took a second look at this knife that top line on the left looks like it might translate to 40 year anniversary. That said 1937 sounds like the mark.