UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Hunting, Forestry, and Shooting Forum C. E. Schmachtenberg, Solingen

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