UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Hunting, Forestry, and Shooting Forum ELEVEN J.A. HENCKELS HIRSCHFANGERS

This past month I have put together a couple of groups of Hunting and Forestry daggers hoping to keep alive the interest in these highly decorative types of blades. Some of the pictures I have posted in the past but I thought they might be refreshing to the new members of the forums.

HENCKELS never came along to often over the years and I learned to not let one go by because of condition. As you collect there is always that feeling that it can be upgraded later but in the case of the HENCKELS they have been few and far between. I have posted the different types of trade marks that go each of the daggers shown.

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Thank you for looking. Please add any HENCKEL hirschfangers you may have to this posting. If I find others that surface I will add them to this forum later. Please check my Webb page for views of other Forestry and Hunting pieces.

http://www.cashi.com/collection.htm

Sincerely,
HUBERTUS

Hubertus:

Those are simply amazing.

Is that last one with the TM Germany a post war item?

John

Ralph, you are correct in that Henckels are superior daggers and no wonder I cannot find any. You seem to have them all. Very nice to look at and I think they are the "Cadillac" of hunting daggers. Thanks for showing. James

Ralph,some really unusual examples.

Here's my only Henckel's contribution.

All damast - blade and fittings- with deep carved blade "etch"
both sides (signed by maker/engraver "Ericsson").

Henckel's twins on blade and quillion block.

Dear Roger,
Thank you for very much for showing your wonderful J.A. Henckels hirschfanger. It is over whelming with all of it's beautiful features.
Sincerely,
Ralph

WOW, What a beauty Roger. Makes one wonder just how many more wonderful pieces are still out there. Great piece and please show some more of your fine collection. James

JohnZ, Thank you for your input to this post. I am not sure when the requirement for the stamping of the word GERMANY was initiated.
It imposes a Post War insinuation on the Military daggers but I heard it could have been back in the 30’s on non military items. Some verification on this will be appreciated.

Jager, Thank you also for your help keeping these posts alive.

Attached is another J.A. Henckels Hirschfanger to apply to this post. This piece is 23 inches over all. It has a fabulous gold inlayed etched blade that unfortunately I have not been able to detail out in the photographs. The trade mark shows the stamped Henckel twins and the capitol letters J.A. and a additional line that has ZWILLINGSWERK. The clam shell is extraordinary due to the heavy outlay of the hound with a bird in it’s mouth. His right leg protrudes right out of the clam shell. All high lights are bright clear gold that flash out of the grip areas. These high lights also appear on the acorns on the scabbard lug. This is another extraordinary hirschfanger produced by the Henckel Company. Lately there has not been a lot activity on many of the posts and it would be greatly appreciated it any information can be attached that will help bring more of these great daggers out of the wood work.

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Thank you for looking. For additional photographs on Forestry and Hunting daggers please check my web page.
Sincerely,
HUBERTUS

http://www.cashi.com/collection.htm

Ralph & Roger,

Your latest Henckels posts are in a word, fantastic!

These magnificent Zwillingswerk Hirschfänger reflect all the best techniques and qualities of Solingen craftsmanship. Every one of these examples would be right at home displayed in the Klingenmuseum.

The slogan of an old PA-German brewery, Horlacher, says it best,
"nix besser!"

Best!

Bill

Very rare pieces seldom seen probably because of their original high price. BEST of the best with unique designs.

A additional thank you to Bill Warda and Houston Coats. Two great collectors of hunting and forestry daggers over the years. Your personal input is always greatly appreciated.

I have two more Henckel daggers that have surfaced that I am adding to this form as follows.

The first one is a plain standard hunting hirschfanger that does not carry any acorns. Unfortunately I do not have a Henckel catalogue to give you better descriptions but I want you to notice that most Henckel daggers have very dark stag grips. Also on the second dagger I will have to impose a request on Bill to help decipher the German dedication on one side of the blade.

I have worked on trying to get some decent photographs of it but my knowledge and camera both are out of touch. I did get a good photograph of the acorns on the grip because I want you to notice that on the Henckels they are not stamped but hand cut on the top of each acorn. Also they are solid and not hollow.

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The inscription on one side of the blade:

Fhreopreis des Landesuereing Hannooer des Allgemeinen Deutschen Vagdschurtz. fur die Abteilung Vagdfrophoen der landwirtschafrlichen Aussteffung Hildesheim 1906

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Happy Forth of July to everyone. Time to go get some Bar B Que and beer.
Thank you for looking. Please check my Webb Page for other Hunting and Forestry daggers.

http://www.cashi.com/collection.htm

Sincerely,
HUBERTUS

Simply stunning collection To be very proud of.
Congrats
Stingray

Another Henckel has surfaces while I was doing some research on a bayonet for JZ. This is a short dagger 13 inches over all. The thing that caught my attention besides being so clean was the deep stamping of the trade mark on the blade.

Sincerely,
HUBERTUS

Ralph

Here's your knife in the 1926 Henckels catalouge.

Gary

Ralph,

Nice find! I'm going to have to start looking harder!

Dear Gary,

Thank you for attaching the page from your super catalogue collections of the 1926 HENCKEL catalogue. I have been trying to promote books for collectors on the Dave Hohaus New Book Forum and your attachment to the Henckels pages says it all with your input.

Sincerely,
HUBERTUS

I think the Henckels firm played a predominant part in the supply of hunting knives and Hirschfängers during the Imperial, Weimar and Third Reich periods, their range and expertise in producing these fine weapons make them in my opinion the best there were during these periods.
A vast majority of the knife styles they produced could be bought in a variety of sizes, materials and manufacturing methods, this can be clearly seen in the examples already been listed within this thread to date.
I dearly wish I had more examples to show you.

This first piece is listed in their catalouge as Pattern #8962, it's listed as having gold coloured fittings with a blade length of 16.5", there is an example posted prior to this with the standard acid etch, you can see here the extra cost variations that Henckels offered, this piece I believe dates from the late Weimar period a golden time of the henckels firm. Even though the world was experiencing dramatic austerity this piece in it's standard form was listed at 46DM, an absolute fortune for the period, I can't imagine the extra cost involved for a blue/Gilt blade.

Gary

As I mentioned before, Henckels produced Hirschfängers in a variety of shapes and sizes, these two clearly show the variations that could be oredered. Both are basically the same pattern, one has the skinning knife and one does not, also the blade length can differ, when it does they adjusted the etch they applied. These both have steel fitting with a blued finish.

Gary

Now to the knives where I believe they offered an even greater variety.

This piece is listed as pattern # 4460 with an 8.5" blade and priced at 18.20 DM, it is only listed as a single knife, this piece has the adition of a small skinner and a custom made scabbard from the factory.The skinner is the style used with their Hirschfänger range but with a plain blade. You can see how important even Henckels thought of this set as they stamped their name on both knives.

Gary

Here's another knife which I have pictured next to the 4460, this smaller pattern # 4760 was produced in 3 different blade lengths 5", 6", and 7". These knives ranged in price from 4.90 up to 6.20DM.

Just to show what Henckels could do here is a variation of Pattern# 4460, this piece also came with a custom made scabbard but with the addition of a damascus blade.

Gary

I don't have anything more to show you, I wish I had, without doubt you could collect Henckels knives for a lifetime and not get them all. All the prices I have quoted are from a Henckels price book from 1930.

Gary

Oops, forgot one, this one is a gift to Baron von Adelebsen in 1923 by his hunting club to honour his 50th birthday. This is their standard Oberförster pattern # 9062, this piece was priced at 71 DM, by far their most expensive hirschfänger. This one though has the presentation etch instead of their standard hunting etch.

Gary

Gary, Love those Henckels. You can most often tell a Henckel piece without pulling the blade out of the scabbard. Their quality is just amazing and you show some real beauties here. I always look forward to seeing your postings for no matter how much and often one collects, there is always something new to learn. Again, amazing pieces. James

Wow, guys!

You are making me rethink my Eickhorn only collecting rule...but, it's too late, between Hubertus and Baz, you have the market cornered.

Thank you for showing us these lovely pieces.

John

Gary….,Your daggers are show stoppers. With all the detailed knowledge you have acquired and your super quality collection it is about time you put it all together and come out with a book on hirschfangers. I never get tired of reviewing you photographs.
Sincerely,
HUBERTUS

Gary,

Nothing but the best! I just love this stuff! Thanks!

Gary
as always
sublime
Paul