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Boker?

Okay I am just starting and there seems to be alot of boker knives out there. I have read up on them here and other places seems they have made alot of knives over the years and alot of there records where destroyed during WW2. I love the german made knives, but there are a flood of Boker half priced knives out there. While investigating why they are so cheap, I found a post that says Boker is having the parts made cheaply in China and then assembled in Germany, by there craftsmen. They can call it manufatured in Germany that way. Now these seem to be anything that ends in the 700 series of knives. Has anyone found this also? I try and only belive half of what I see on the net. If you look at the knives they say Boker nothing else on the blades, this leaves me to believe the steel is not german steel? It seems that the special or limited series knives are german made and german steel, I think???

So my next ? is has the Eye Brand company and Hen and Rooster outsorced this way also? If so what are the tell tell signs to know if you are getting a liget German Made and German Steel knife?

Thanks for the warm and freindly welcome into your community, I have truly enjoyed myself here!

Brian

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on September 8, 2013 at 22:16

Here is some other Boker Info I found more to come! http://www.iknifecollector.com/group/bokerfans/forum/topics/boker-w... and you may have read this but here is another link:http://www.iknifecollector.com/group/bokerfans/forum/topics/the-his...

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Permalink Reply by Shlomo ben Maved on September 8, 2013 at 22:41

Boker basically has four levels of knives and are priced accordingly.

Completely made in Germany (Boker), Made in Argentina (Arbolito), Made in Germany of imported parts (Plus) and made elsewhere as in India or Taiwan or China (Magnum)...This is just a general rule as there are models in one category that actually belong in another.

If it says made in Solingen then it was totally made there...If it says made in Germany then it can have parts imported i.e. Swedish steel that was shaped and tempered locally or imported woods for handles scales like Ironwood from Mexico but everything made has to be shaped, assembled and finished in Germany.

Price is usually a good indicator!

Item no.:02MB018 Magnum Scout--A 7" blade, 11⅞" OAL 440 steel with ... could never have been made in Germany as the labour to assemble it is more then what the knife retails for.

I hope this helps some.

Oh, by the way, some of the older blades were made in the USA (there was a break in the family) and those are the collectible ones (price wise)...I have a fair number of their blades but all are German or Argentinian made.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on September 9, 2013 at 11:37

Hen and Rooster knives are made by Boker. Only knives made before 1980 are the real deal, made in the small Betram Germany shop. The brand name was bought by a Mr. Frost, that's all that's real, the name. A lot of other German companies have done something similar.

The Kissing Crane shop in Germany is closed and they are made China now days. You will find a lot of info and history in the Group Bladesmith Babes, here in our club. The author and researcher is Miss Sue, { Old Widow}. She has written about a lot of different brands. Read them, you'll learn a lot.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Martin on September 9, 2013 at 21:20

Joined the grp there is alot of info thanks Robert, thanks Shiomo ben Maved, and Steve good info also.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on September 9, 2013 at 21:27

Your welcome. We have Boker fans at all these different levels some like the old Vintage and some like the new production lol so its all over the map! Hope it helps you a little though there is so much to that brand!

Brian Martin said:

Joined the grp there is alot of info thanks Robert, thanks Shiomo ben Maved, and Steve good info also.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on September 10, 2013 at 8:17

You are welcome. Please don't give up on Boker or other knife brands. You just need to learn about the history of what you are buying. The knives you posted are all fine knives but your future buys must be educated. It is easy to get burned. Sometimes the seller may not know he is selling a fake.

Also, with a lot of companies, having their knives made by someone else, it is up to the buyer to get their info on production facts. Vintage knives made before a company switched to a production somewhere else are going to have a greater value.

Puma knives are a good example. They went out of business and another company now owns the brand and are being produce all over the place. The vintage knives made before the break up are much more collectable and valuable.