UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Hunting, Forestry, and Shooting Forum JAGDMESSER THREAD

Hello folks, we all like and appreciate the Hirschfangers,Standhauers and their other large brothers but how often do we take a minute to show and enjoy the smaller "messer" that are real works of art in their own right?? I hope this will be a thread that will showcase these knives that were out there in the field with the hunters while the flashier Hirschfangers were hanging in the closet at home! So please pull them out and post them here. I will start with a few sheath knives that I have aquired over the years. Some are pre and war time made and a few are post war...

First group includes a Saufanger or "Verlangerungsmesser" by Gebr. Grafrath Solingen(shown in there prewar catalog) with the pre and war time maker mark. Also two "nickers", one by Sudd Messer Fabrik with the "immatation Stag" done in wood, and an Anton Wingen. Lastly in the group is a Jagdmesser by Knecht & Co. with a nice blade etch.

Next group are all folders, the most unappreciated group of German hunting blades in my opinion. I really like the folders becouse they are a piece of the period you can carry around in your pocket and share without looking like a nut!! In this group you see two beautiful Jagdmesser with shotshell puller bolsters, one by Klaas and the other by Wingen. Also a large Jagdmesser by Gebr. Grafrath with Stag scales to die for!! Next is a folder by Gustav Voss(Foxhead mark) that is a "trick lock" type, the main blade locks and is unlocked by pushing down on the spine of the folded secondary blade! Fun to hand to your friends open and ask them if they can close it. Last is a "Lever Lock" switchblade folder by Boker, opened by flipping down the thumb lever and squeezing it. Also released from its locked position the same way. I know this Boker to be post war due to buying it myself in Nuremberg in the 90's! These were very popular pre war though and hope to see some more shown on this thread!

more pics...a small flock of Cranes on the Klaas! All a bit different from blade to blade...

more...killer pre-war Gebr. Grafrath...

Gustav Voss trick lock....

Last, etched blade of the Boker lever lock switchblade, anyone wanting more pics of any of these just ask!!! Lets see all your JAGDMESSERS guys!!! Kevin.

Kevin,
Your collection is amazing...very nice. I love these little pointy knives.
Here's my contribution.

Rich

THANKS for your contribution Rich! I thought you might post the twin of my Sudd Messerfabrik!(nicer shape than mine!) And your Kuno Ritter (the the owning family and original trade name of modern day Hubertus!!) is simply exceptional and a real beauty!! Kevin.

Kevin,

An excellent, long-overdue subject.

I completely agree with you that these types of hunting/forestry blades are often ignored and neglected. There are literally hundreds of fine models and styles to choose from - an amazing variety of high quality weapons/devices exist in this collecting field. The tooling and precision of these knives is comparable to a surgical instrument, in fact, many of the original manufacturing companies produced both. Really a great area in which to study Solingen's engineering and qualitative excellence.

Hope you might enjoy this deluxe version by Anton Wingen, Jr. (you can just make out the mis-stamped knight-logo on the blade) Several of these Nicker models have animal head motifs on the pommel cap, to include the more modern post-war examples, so be careful in that respect if you want to collect pre-1945, examples. Here we have a detailed gamsbock's head decorating the cap, along with the familiar dense, black horn grip from the same animal. Lots of clever handwork and fine animal engravings throughout the fittings, to include the original owner's initials, "FS."

Good collecting to all !

Bill

2/5

3/5

4/5

5/5

Bill,
So glad to see you posted this one. Absolutely stunning top shelf item for sure.

I know you have more of these treasures tucked away and would love to see them also.

You have a fine quality collection.

Rich

A very nice varity of some really top notch knives being shown here. The quality and detail are amazing. Thank you all for making my day!

Bill, The detailed hand work on that baby is second to none!! Really unique and beautiful piece. You guys are blowing me away here! Lets see more....

Mine hasn't the quality of what has been shown so far. Mostly new in fact.

Mikee,

These are splendid little knives to collect, both pre and post-'45 examples can make excellent additions to anyone's collection of Solingen steel.

That's one interesting "desk-organizer" in your photo, a silver and gold raptor's foot clutching an eagle for the top, very nice!

Best!

B~

Mikee,

Very nice example you show here.

The combination of detail and quality on these seem to be endless.

Thanks for showing.

Rich

Mikee, VERY nice example! Has very fancy fittings and very nice color to the stag grip! Is there a maker on the blade? WHAT is the object under the knife too!!?? Like to see some folding knives here from your collections too!! Kevin.

My humble pair of messers............

One is Puma....The other no maker and blade is a little rough
but I'm happy with them

No maker on this one....
As always.... excuse my photographic skills (getting old)

Kevin,

Thanks, I agree it has a beautifully colored stag grip not often seen, but no maker. The gold and silver object is of a very nicely detailed eagles talon (Fang des Adlers) grasping a snake. I use it on my desk. Glad you all like it. Thanks.

Lou,

Very nice and not humble at all. And nice plaque as well. Wish I owned it, never seen that on a hunting knife before. I like Pumas!

Hmm! pictures didn't take the first go around. Here's the no maker blade. Thanks for asking.

.

Mikee, Very nicely decorated piece and i like the plaque also. Have we seen it before? I see a partial date but how about a picture. James

Lou,

That Puma is very nice, good score. That second one has a unique blade style, neat how it 'steps-up' one layer like that.

Mikee,

Great gilded highlights to that etch pattern, those don't come around too often. Yes, that does look like a top-notch hunter's Christmas gift, is that a recent score? Looks to be some excellent 'schnitzing' on thay unit ...

Kevin,

Would love to see more nice folding-knives too, those big hefty suckers are great, but smaller ones can be just as nice. Has anyone ever seen any personalized models, or have one they could post?

Great stuff fellas, thanks!

Bill

Lou, I agree, your Puma with the Third Reich reference is quite unusual!! very neat. Like the other too with that unusual blade, nice fancy fittings on that too!

Mikee, That etching and guilting is really special! THANKS for showing..

Bill, I agree, lets see some folders!!!

Kevin..

James, Bill, Kevin,

Thanks for asking. Actually I've had it for quite some time and I don't believe I've shown it before. I use it on one of my end tables and try to keep it filled with candy. The left side is the same as the right and it's dated 1945. It has a trademark on the back and on the front the artists name. Glad you all like it! Thanks.

My contribution to hunting knife. Does come from my own family, a relative of mine got it presented by his university professor. Further history unknown. a knife with many uncommon details.

Why it is a hunting knife! St.Hubertus is shown.

And the period during which this knife was produced is no mistery...

And a never by me seen makersmark.

I have shown this knife before (can´t remember when and where) but I think it fits this thread again.
Regards,

Wotan,

WOW! I don't remember you showing it. That is one heck of a nice Spezialmesser. I don't recall seeing that brand before either. Does the pommel come off to store something in the hollow grip and does it have a scabbard? That's a treat! Thanks for showing it...again.

Wotan,

Fantastic piece to say the least. The ornate detail on the handle is just superb.

Thanks for showing.

Rich

Thank you for looking and I am glad that you appreciate this knife.
Mikee, as you recognized correctly the handle is hollow, kind of tube. The material of the knife is an early kind of high quality stainless steel. The handle is cut and carved steel, hollow as stated. There are not the least traces of welding, all seems to be one piece although I am sure that the blade and the pommel (no, the pommel cannot be removed) was separately fixed.
There was only a very very simple and fragile handmade "scabbard" (just a sewn together piece of leather" which did not match in any respect and it is now gone to time.
In all the well known books about manufacture marks i could not find this mark or even a close one.
It is my assumption that this is an assistant- or masterpiece either from a knifemaker or a related profession (gun maker, graveur etc etc) -therefore also the fantasie mark- but I do not know anything for sure.
Anyway imo it is a very impressive, in a curious way but in high quality manufactured knife.
Regards,

I would have to agree and a one of a kind. It really is something special! I looked in my references as well,nothing except other much older stars, but not even close to your defined brand.

Wooow Wotan,what a unique knife,i have never saw something similar,very nice.



Congrats
Stingray

Wotan,

This elegant piece reminds me of the 'open-type' designs of the Göring hunting knives. Of course those were designed in a flatter, 3-D, linear fashion but the quality is "right up there ... one for the books!" There should be no doubt this was crafted by a master-smith - your relative must have been held in high esteem to receive such a wonderful gift.

It makes me wonder how many other fine, unknown hunting/forestry weapons from this period are out there, belonging to families and private collections? Has anyone ever been 'behind-the-scenes,' at the Klingenmuseum in Solingen? I'll bet they have a few lovlies tucked away..?

Some of the guys are complaining about the relative quiet here on the forums ... I guess they haven't seen this thread then? How much more could you ask from an edged-weapon? Nothing to say or comment on here, ... kidding, right? There's a good possibility that we've all become over-priveledged and spoiled-rotten with the internet these days? Do we dream only of Himmler Birthday Degen and other such grandiose, elusive things, eh?

I must honestly admit that this fantastic knife has exceeded my expectations in all aspects - from stem-to-stern. This is one of those rare gems that you'd want to inspect on your desk with a good magnifying glass for several days..!

Kunsthandwerk.

Thanks good sir!

W~