J. Anthony Carter, German Knife And Sword Makers, 1850-1945, page 480: "Founded in 1851, registered on 30th May 1883" and "may have originally registered as C. E. Schmachtenberg". I am a Genealogical researcher on Ancestry.com and I found a 1907 New York State history of William Schmachtenberg (1851-1925). William and his brother, Ewald, took over the family business in 1878 from their father, Frederick Schmachtenberg (1822-1897). I believe that C. E. Schmachtenberg who registered his firm on 30th May 1883 was a cousin or uncle of William Schmachtenberg. And I believe they were two separate firms. I have seen swords and a dagger by C. E. Schmachtenberg and only pocketknives, razors and scissors by Gebr. Schmachtenberg. I bought this circa 1880's C. E. Schmachtenberg, turned horn handle dagger, with etched hunting scenes on the blade at an antique doll store in Pompton Lakes, N. J. for $35.00 about 40 years ago. The etch has a rabbit, wild boar and stag with floral in between each animal on the front, top to tang. The reverse side with mark has a dog, etch design?, horn, trees, doe, stag, trees, floral, rifle with game bag from top to tang. It is about 17" overall with about a 13" blade.

1st picture shows the arched "C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen" mark on an 1881 Russian sword. 2nd picture is the 1881 Russian sword. 3rd picture is a Russian 1881 sword with German blade by "C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen" with "Proved" under a crown on the other side of the tang. These two swords and my German hunting dagger are the only pictures of blades by C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen that my research has found. "Research is subject to change", a quote by Mildred Clark.

Thanks for showing these very interesting items. It is a part of edged weapons we seldom see.

Dave
Admin

Thanks Dave, I hope someone has a blade by C. E. Schmachtenberg or has seen a blade by C. E. Schmachtenberg and will reply. A search on Ancestry.com does list a Carl Ernst Schmachtenberg of Solingen, however I cannot view the actual record without spending more money for European records. And it was Frederick Schmachtenberg (1822-1897) who established "Gebr. Schmachtenberg" in 1851 according to the 1907 New York State History my research found. 1851 was also the year his son, William Schmachtenberg (1851-1925) was born. William Schmachtenberg and his brother, Ewald took over their father's business in 1878. William Schmachtenberg moved to New York in 1886 to establish the New York branch and Ewald Schmachtenberg stayed in Solingen taking entire charge of the factory. William Schmachtenberg died in New York State on Nov. 26, 1925 and there is a Find A Grave memorial for him. I am also a contributor on the Find A Grave site which is the parent company of Ancestry.com

About 1999 I brought my C. E. Schmachtenberg hunting dagger to the East Winsor, Conn. Knife Show. I showed the dagger to Jim & Cindy Taylor who said it looked like it was an 1870's style and appraised the dagger for $200.00 and if I had the original scabbard, they said that would add another $100.00, I am still looking for a period sheath / scabbard for the blade which is 13" in length, 30mm wide & 5mm thick at the tang.

Here is the Nov. 2, 1845 birth and Dec. 9, 1845 Solingen baptism record for Carl Ernst Schmachtenberg, son of Abr. Schmachtenberg and Wilhelmine Meyer. Note that the book "German Knife and Sword Makers 1850-1945" by J. Anthony Carter notes that "swords and sabers were made prior to 1918" and so it is possible that C. E. Schmachtenberg died before or during WWI.

Thanks again - keep it up.

Dave

Hey Dave,

check out this "C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen" blade on this white Russian dagger.

I found this on "SAMMLER.ru" and the person wanted to know about this dagger manufacture. There are lots of pictures of this dagger, with the dagger taken down into parts.

I tried to sign into this Russian site, but it was too difficult for me.

One member said the pommel has a Russian monogram that was attributed to SHAF for sure. Not sure what Imperial monogram of Russia that is.

It sure seems that "C.E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen" blades were used in Russia.

A member of "SAMMLER.ru" posted the link to this site "C.E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen-Your new forums" (germandaggers,com) so I hope he found his answer.

The monogram is an "A3" for Alexander III, Russian Aleksandr Aleksandrovich, (born March 10, 1845, St. Petersburg, Russia—died Nov. 1, 1894, Livadiya, Crimea), Tsar of Russia (1881–94).

This probably helps to date this "C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen" example.

Blades of "C.E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen" may have been used years after being manufactured in Solingen.

Here are some more pictures taken with my sister's smartphone. I don't own a camera or a smartphone myself.

The Russian site "SAMMLER.ru" posted the link to this site and commented about my pictures: "There are a few photos of this item (only three) and not very good and from afar".

So, here are some more pictures of my "C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen" German hunting dagger, still not very good but, I hope, better.

Note the peened tang on the pommel. The photos of the peened tang, "Rabbit" etch, the "Boar" etch and the reverse side (makers mark) and etch near the top.

I would also like to make a correction of the 2nd Russian sword I posted with "Proved" on the reverse of tang and black handle is not an 1881 model but a 1909 model with "Nicholas II" crowned monogram.

Nicholas II or Nikolai II Alexandrovich Romanov[d] (18 May [O.S. 6 May] 1868 – 17 July 1918), known in the Russian Orthodox Church as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer,[e] was the last Emperor of Russia, King of Congress Poland and Grand Duke of Finland, ruling from 1 November 1894 until his abdication on 15 March 1917.

A member of the Russian site, "SAMMLER.ru" noted there is an 1899 "Firearms and edged weapons of E. Schmachtenberg, Moscow" catalog.

I have also found a 1901 Passport for Carl Schmachtenberg, "book-keeper", born April 9, 1851 in Solingen, living in the United States from 1880 to 1898, and was living in Moscow, Russia in 1898. Since this person was living in the U.S. 1880 to 1898, he was probably not C. E. Schmachtenberg.

I have not downloaded the .pdf file of the 1899 catalog and it may not be safe to do so. I would very much like to see what is in the 1899 catalog.

I don't know if these records have anything to do with "C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen", but the fact that two Russian swords and one Russian dagger are marked with the arched "C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen" mark, makes these records very interesting.

I just found this on a French site.

This Chef's kitchen knife was sold Sep. 2022.

This knife is marked on the blade: "C SCHMACHTENBERG, OHLIGS SOLINGEN".

This wooden-handled knife looks like it could be old.

I never seen this mark before.

"Research is subject to change", a quote by Mildred Clark.

The site had this description: "Superb and Old Family knife used to slice ham.

Holds the cutting edge superbly, brand C. SCHMACHTENBERG OHLIGS Solingen.

Difficult to find today such a quality of knife, although very artisanal".

your "C. E. Schmachtenberg, turned horn handle dagger with etched hunting scenes" is really nice looking piece... At 17" thats a big boy....

The 'Ham knife' reminds of some of the knives I saw from older cooks that they've picked up along their career. They were all good quality mainly from Germany but also Finland, England etc. but all had the same look as the one you show..

Ham knife looks about the size of a butter knife but probably bigger[?].

Hi Gaspare,

I am getting better with the smartphone camera and took the pictures of the etch on the 17" "C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen" dagger, outside on a cloudy day.

In Germany they take their Ham very seriously. Mr. Kashammer in Germany, has a "Ham carving vise".

I would guess the "C SCHMACHTENBERG, OHLIGS SOLINGEN" ham knife probably has a 4" handle with a blade about 5 1/2 inches. The seller did not list a size.

The take it very seriously in Italy, too. Parma comes to mind.

Hi Dave,

I found the e-mail that goes with the Ham carving vise:

"Greetings Calvin. I created a new HAM-HOLDER. The wooden sheet I made of yew wood. Look how beautiful it is. This tree was standing here in Oberkirch at the marketplace. It was about 300 years old and they cut it off 25 years ago. So now I made this recently. Yew is a very interesting wood. The English made the LONGBOWS of it. So amazing.
Hope you are fine. Regards, THOMAS
Will order a PATA NEGRA from Spain very soon".

I first thought that a "PATA NEGRA" was another antique Panama hat from Spain that Mr. Kashammer ordered. Then I found out it was a special Ham. LOL.

That is not a German ham. Pata Negra is a Spanish ham.

I love these dry cure hams. I lived in Europe as a child and later as an adult and was introduced to them at a young age. My favorites:

Jambon de Parme / Prosciutto di Parma. Incomparable in taste. A thin piece on a crust of bread dipped in oil plus a thin leaf of Parmesan cheese.

Jambon des Ardennes. A lesser known variety from South Belgium

Jambon de Bayonnes. One of France’s best

Jamón Serrano. Spain’s answer to Prosciutto di Parma. The Pata Negra (black hoof) you show is similar.

Dave

PS – As you are seriously into these daggers / knives, I suggest you buy a digital camera and learn how to use it and how to manipulate the images on a computer.

You are correct Dave, that is not a German ham.

Mr. Kashammer said: "Will order a PATA NEGRA from Spain very soon". This picture is Mr. Kashammer's HAM-HOLDER with his PATA NEGRA, Spainish ham with the black hoof.

The e-mail text was from pictures of the HAM-HOLDER without the ham as first made by Mr. Kashammer.

You also make a good point about buying a digital camera, but I have my eye on something with an etched blade right now.

I did find that my brother-in-law has a camera that plugs into the computer, so maybe I can try that first and save the money for more edged weapons.

Man you guys are making my tummy growl. I sure miss going to the Metzgerei.

For me it is the charcuterie or the cheese shop that I miss plus the boulangerie.

It is interesting to note that many of the great snacks like those hams began as the food made in the summer or autumn to sustain people through the winter centuries ago.

Butcher from the middle ages

Haven't changed much have they . Schlachtermesser from the firm Wolff.

Henckels Damascus knifes came with boxes. If you have more please post them would love to see more.

This thread took a detour from Schmachtenberg to HAMburg.

How do I get back to Schmachtenberg?

Post something about them

What do they eat in Schmachtenberg? That ham did look awfully good.
Ed

At the Schmachtenbergshof you can order a schnitzelburger.

With cheese and bacon ? I ate many a schnitzel during my two years in the army in Germany. Some with sauces and some plain, but not that way

In Valencia, I'd love to visit this place

Dave,
Holy smoked ham! Wow!

Another famous ham,

Arnold Ziffle of Hooterville, was the guest of honor at a Hawaiian Kalua in Hawaii with the rest of the cast of "Green Acres".

Arnold was the only cast member who did not return and was presumed delicious.

Wow!! What a deli!! Humgh, well ??, let me see ??, I guess I'll take??? Yea!, I'll take the ham.
Great photo Dave, you take the trophy.
Ed
PS, But the sandwich looks good too.

"crust of bread dipped in oil plus a thin leaf of Parmesan cheese." Dave we have this every couple weeks on a Sunday,,,and with some Prosciutto,,,and the 'Red' of course!..
When we were in Europe the Prosciutto was way more plentiful in Spain than Italy [more affordable too!]...

- Italy, Spain, France, they all used the old knives like in Mikees post of the 4....

I have found 4 letterheads from "Climaxwerk Gebr. Schmachtenberg".

The letterheads are from 1909, 1914 and two from 1915.

The list of their products at the top of the letterhead, do not include Schwert (Sword) or Dolch (Dagger) and I believe this is further evidence this company did not make swords or daggers.

I have never seen a Sword or Dagger with the "Gebr. Schmachtenberg" maker's mark.

They do list Jagdmesser.

Last night I found an "Antique German Germany 19 Century Engraved Hunting Dagger Knife w/ Scabbard" listed on a popular auction site.

This unmarked 19th century German hunting cutlass has same hunting scene etch on the blade as my "C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen" hunting dagger.

The etch is in better condition than my blade so I am posting these pictures. If anyone has a blade with this hunting scene etch on a German edged weapon, I would like to see it.

It is possible that this unmarked 19th century hunting cutlass was also made by C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen. It has stag handle with D-guard and is about 21 3/8" with a blade length of 15 7/8".

I will next post the 3 close-up photos of the blade etch in detail.

19th century German hunting Cutlass, with German hunting scene etch. known to be used by C. E. Schmachtenberg.

Last 3 photos in detail.

I have found an image that is a match for the unmarked Hirschfanger shown above with an etch used by C. E. Schmachtenberg.

The thread by Baz69 (Gary), "Braunschwegischer Gala Hirschf�nger" posted 02/07/2007, on page 13 of the Hunting, Forestry, and Shooting Forum, shows this same pattern was made by WK&C and is also listed as Imperial Eickhorn pattern # 164.

The etch on the WK&C example has a different scene from the above known C. E. Schmachtenberg etch.