A couple of steel Boker brothers

[Arie Leib]

Hi guys. I present to you two steel knives from Boker. Please pay attention to the hallmarks and the brand name, they are written differently. Also on one of them it is written Germany in Spanish Allemania. I can assume that it is an export version for Latin America. I am confused about the hallmarks. According to the information from the official website, one of them was made 1900-1924, and the other 1924-1935. But this is nonsense, because stainless steel has not been invented yet. I'm waiting for your feedback. Sorry for poor quality. Thanx.

Boker (Bro1)
H. Boker & Co (Bro2)

 

[Abu]

I guess both are dating from the 60s, where those kind of promotion knives were very common. In german called „Herrenmesser“ / Gentleman knives. The stamp which includes „Alemania“ had primarily been used up to the 60s. And was not restricted to exports only. As evidence the mark on the handle is advertisement for GECO ammunition, for more ask Google.

Abu

 

[porcupine]

...stainless steel has not been invented yet...

Stainless steel was invented separately both in England and Germany around 1912/13

 

[Arie Leib]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. But look what I found. Boker tang stamps If you follow this table, it turns out that Vet1 was made in 1950-1960, and Vet2 was made in 1920-1930. And yes, stainless steel was already invented. By the way, Vet2 has great steel, it's damn sharp. It stung me when I was taking a photo of it. That's why the photo is not very good quality. I was afraid to stain the carpet 😆
Abu, thank you for Geco, I will definitely check it out. I'll broaden my horizons.

 

[kaiman]

Interesting fact is that Carter listed Geco itself (p. 214), with several brand names besides "Geco". And, fun fact: Just yesterday I saw a fixed boy scout knife ("Fahrtenmesser") with the Geco brand-stamp and "Solingen" on it, down in the dark place who's name shall not be mentioned in here ...

 

[Abu]

and Vet2 was made in 1920-1930.

You are probably right. There are no dots (Ö) above the O? Can’t zoom the pic that much.

Abu

 

[Arie Leib]

Yes, there’re no dots

No dots

 

[cut]

An undated Heinrich Böker sales catalog that I already referred to with illustrations in regards to several vintage Treebrand knives in this subforum's posts does not list any 'Gentlemens' Knife'. Several facts make me date that calalog to the early / mid 1930s.
The GECO brand marked gentlemens' knife pattern is illustrated in Heinrich Böker's 1952 sales catalog.

I have access to several GECO brand sales catalogs. Genschow company marketed hunting equipment of many different kind as wholesaler, including knives from several Solingen cutlers.
Gentlemens' Knives are not illustrated in these catalogs during the 1920s to 1960s time rage.

regards
cut

 

[Arie Leib]

An undated Heinrich Böker sales catalog that I already referred to with illustrations in regards to several vintage Treebrand knives in this subforum's posts does not list any 'Gentlemens' Knife'. Several facts make me date that calalog to the early / mid 1930s.
The GECO brand marked gentlemens' knife pattern is illustrated in Heinrich Böker's 1952 sales catalog.

I have access to several GECO brand sales catalogs. Genschow company marketed hunting equipment of many different kind as wholesaler, including knives from several Solingen cutlers.
Gentlemens' Knives are not illustrated in these catalogs during the 1920s to 1960s time rage.

regards
cut

Dear Mr. Сut, thank you for your deep and fundamental answer. After it I conclude that Abu and I were right about the period of production of the knife with the Heinrich Boker (Vet2) mark being 1920-1930. Right?

 

[cut]

I did not research in my files so far for dating different Boker TREEBRAND marks. I learned from (US) BLADE MAGAZIN many years ago a detailed chart with dates of BOKER TREEBRAND marks and their POSSIBLE dates (Boker celebrated an anniversary that time). This chart was used and up-dated by the American author Neal Punchard for a great book "BOKER - two centuries and two countries ..." , the German translation followed soon.
Abu is specilised in collecting Boker's Sportmesser (but qalso Bohemian knives). You will possibly know his thread on this particular "Sportmesser" knife pattern, which was made and marketed by various other Solingen cutlers, too. Due to this fact he is is 'supervising' different options of Boker's TREEBRAND mark and he surely is a specialist in this particular marking.
From my collection of vintage 'paperwork' of Solingen's cutlers I learned, that the present publications by Knifeworld and Neal Punchard's book particuarily do not match with historical illustrations from my archieves.
I have a different focus on knife collecting. I respect collectors' own interest in the wide field of knives and I understand very well, that a collector specialized in one cutler's brand wants to learn thouroughly researched developments of trademarks in order to date a knife precisely.
So far I did not list all Boker marks in my files and therefor cannot state ABU's dating 1920-1930. I am unsure if BOKER ever offered such Gentlemen Knives prior to the 1930.
Why does the c.1930 Boker sales catalog not list any such (or other pattern) all steel gentlemen's knife?
BTW: Boker's claim of dating the origin of the SPORTMESSR to 1869 is not correct.

regards
cut

 

[Abu]

Due to this fact he is is 'supervising' different options of Boker's TREEBRAND mark and he surely is a specialist in this particular marking.

Gents, just stop this. Toooo much honor, thanks.
But actually I just collect knives and Bökers are only a few of them. Best guess dating fits my interests, not chasing any precision. In my thread of Humpbacks somewhere I already mentioned that I gave up any trial about that. As there are too many contradictions. When Böker doesn‘t know, who will? My references are the publications Zalesky/Punchard.

So far I did not list all Boker marks in my files and therefor cannot state ABU's dating 1920-1930

I didn‘t date, either. I finally stated that Arie is „probably“ right as HE referred to the Zalesky datasheet.

Abu

 

[Arie Leib]

Guys, thank you very much for your interest in my post and your deep encyclopedic knowledge. It deserves respect.
The more you dive into knives, the more you realize how much chaos there is. One thing starts to contradict another. But it's damn fascinating. Abu said it perfectly: "When Böker doesn't know, who will?"
It is important for every collector of vintage knives to know the age. I keep a special catalog with a description of the items in my collection, where this column is one of the most important.

By the way, I just found out that Abu is interested in Bohemian knives. In that case, I have a surprise. I will post it tomorrow.

 

[Abu]

Bohemian knives. In that case, I have a surprise

I am eager to be surprised! 🥹

Abu