UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons HJ Edged Weapons Forum Mysterious markings inside HJ knives

OK, we usually don't see the inside of our HJ knives, but sometimes they are broken and reveal some interesting findings. I bought an Early Klaas HJ for under $100 to get the scabbard. The grip plates were attached but broken, and the blade was ruined by sharpening. I removed the grip plates so I could remove the HJ diamond if needed. The quality metal hilt has an interesting symbol cast into it. The inside of the grip plates held a surprise of maker markings!

Close up of casting mark

grip pieces

PUMA! Marking on one side- image is molded into the grip in reversed image

Eickhorn! on the other side. On a Klaas HJ. Hmmm, must have been some sharing of parts to help production along...

Diamond

Diamond reverse has some lettering, I can't quite read it, as is covered by the circle with prongs

Notice the molded opening for the round portion of the prong attachment...this fits like a glove, which is why some diamonds on original HJs don't wiggle.

Thanks for fine pics and sharing this info with us

Looks like the HJ diamond says "Hoffstatter". I have an HJ in similar condition that I planned to sepperate the parts. If I find anything interesting I'll post it.

Here's a different HJ grip plate with Eickhorn markings, also a reverse impression.

Yes Raymond, let's see some of the guts of these Hjs

John,

Very cool, I love seeing stuff like this, if only to make the hobby that much more interesting. Sometimes it's all in the details.

VERY interesting thread!!! Thanks for sharing.

Indeed interesting. My thanks for sharing this information. I wonder why the logos are stamped backwards?
Raymond is correct on the Hoffst�tter Bonn maker mark.

--dj--Joe

Very interesting. Perhaps this is evidence that Eickhorn cast their own grips inhouse or at the very least owned the die at the caster. The mirror image of the maker mark just indicates that mark was the correct way on the mould. These were never ment to be viewed by anyone other than the casting house and the factory.
Sure hope trhis thread done not take the recent "disassemble everything movement" yet another step!! :>

cool..... i wana see inside all mine now, sounds destructive lol dam

I think thats neat as heck that there are two different maker marks on one grip,and its assembled on a third maker!! I mean what the heck happened here? Eickhorn sold to Puma and then Klaas bought it from Puma?? And why would puma bother marking it? Could Eick and Puma have gone together on making the molds for these grips? HMMM. Interesting stuff. Kevin.

Thanks for the input guys, I agree, interesting stuff! Feel free to add pics of other HJ 'guts' to discuss.

john

The reversed markings are most probably evidence as Lakesidetrader stated: �owned the die at the caster�. I have learned the hard way that you almost should �Never say never�. But I will make an exception here, as Eickhorn did not make its own 98K bayonet grips, but instead purchased them from outside specialist supplier(s). And the markings would have distinguished them from other grip molds that had different dimensions.

My sincere compliments for some very interesting images!! FP

Interesting research!

I do not have any HJ-knife parts, so I will not have any input here, but I will follow attentively.

Best greetings,

Herman

Looking again at the images of the sand cast (?) handle - I�m wondering if it also might be a subcontracted component. Are any pictures available of the other side? FP

Great pictures, an Eick/Puma/Klaas production.

It makes you wonder how many other daggers you have in your collection which are made up from numerous sources although at first glance appear maker specific.
Also interesting for me to see how the blade was attached, pretty flimsy considering the abuse they recieved and suprising so many remain intact.

stange - looks almost like russian Cyrillic characters...!

quote:

Originally posted by vintagetimenow:
Diamond reverse has some lettering, I can't quite read it, as is covered by the circle with prongs

Love those exploded views! Very interesting.

I took apart one of the knives, RZM M7/72 (Kaldenbach) and found no markings. I still have M7/68 (Tiger) and a transitional Eickhorn to do.

quote:

Originally posted by Fred Prinz (aka "Frogprince"):
Looking again at the images of the sand cast (?) handle - I�m wondering if it also might be a subcontracted component. Are any pictures available of the other side? FP

FP, the other side has no markings....

John

John, Thanks for looking.

Not too long ago Manion�s had some unfinished parts that looked like they came right off a factory stock room shelf. No HJ handles, but what I found really interesting was the fact that of two dress bayonet handles: one was sand cast, and the other was die cast. The die cast one had a �CE� molded into the handle interior. With different internal configurations for each, which is why I was interested in what the other side of the HJ knife looked like.

As I�m sure you and others no doubt have already figured out - to me how they made all the different items is fascinating stuff!!!

Thanks Again, FP

An older but interesting thread. -------

--dj--Joe