German-Made Gear Driven Knives

[Allen]

Blades in folding knives can be opened in many ways, but those that are opened by a gear mechanism are among the more interesting types. Shown within are three German-made folding knives that use gears in the form of a rack and pinion system to open the blades. Each knife has a lever of some sort which must be pulled and pushed to both open and close the blade. The levers have teeth which interact with teeth on the back of the blade and work like any others gears that mesh together. This is actually quite an old mechanism as used on knives which have patents dating back to 1908. These types of gear driven blades were produced in at least three different countries including England, the United States, and Germany as shown. Of the three German models shown, one is marked “Made in Germany”, a second is marked “Solingen Rostfrei”, and the final one is marked “Giesen & Forsthoff Solingen”. These knives have interesting graphics on the handles which were certainly meant as tourist or commercial advertising models. The two smaller variations have celluloid handles, while the larger one has steel handles. All are clever and fun knives.

 

[kaiman]

... it's not that this forum is boring - but there's always a surprise around the corner. @Allen Thank you for showing this!

 

[Allen]

... it's not that this forum is boring - but there's always a surprise around the corner. @Allen Thank you for showing this!

Thank you boogerbrain, I believe there is absolutely no end to the volume of interesting knives.

 

[Abu]

@Allen
It’s really amazing as I am collecting knives for years and never ever have seen such funny „gear driven“. Live an learn!
As these knives were used for advertisement primarily I would assume cheaper production than slipjoint?
And by the way, that one with the Lady and metal cage reminds me on Mercator pattern.

Thanks for another focus of knives „Made in Germany“
Abu

 

[Allen]

Abu, thank you for your kind response and yes, quite interesting to see a variation based on the Mercator pattern.
This type of gear driven blade knife had a revival of sorts when William Taylor applied for a patent in 1992 (granted in 1994) for a similar but much better design.
That model (as shown) was released in 1993 and won the "Most Innovative American Design" at the Atlanta Blade Show in the same year.
While the knife was originally made by Soque River and called the "Lev-R-Lok", the rights to that model were sold to Camillus around 1997 and was produced until 2022.

 

[cut]

Thank you for sharing your expertise concerning gear driven knives, Allen!

Several Solingen cutlers have applied for patent rights to open and/or to close the blade of pocket knives by different mechanical components.
You are right that such improvements were not limited to gears in the form of a rack and pinion system (Zahnräder in Form eines Zahnstangensystems zum Öffnen der Klinge).

This is a diffent release, crafted by HUGO SERVATIUS cutler from Solingen.
You have to pull the 'ball' at the bottom end of the handle to open or to close the blade.
The 'ball' is screwed with a bar having a hook at the other end. This hook does pull or push the blade in open / closed position.

blade markings:
front side of the tang SOLINGEN PATENT
reverse side SERVATIUS GERMANY

 

[Allen]

Thank you cut, and thanks for adding this very interesting knife and information that I was not aware of.
Here is a catalog illustration from Kaufmann which I am certain you have seen before.
I am not positive on the mechanism, but I believe it uses the gear driven type.

 

[Abu]

I guess I have no permission to copy but for all owners of the A. Carter „German knives…“ get a look at page 299, Jordan, Solingen. By chance I found just another manufacturer of gear driven knives. Picture says Modell 2142 Tufa, like that one @cut has posted.

Abu

 

[Allen]

Abu, great catch on spotting that example in the Carter book. It certainly looks like the one that cut posted.

 

[cut]

Abu, great catch on spotting that example in the Carter book. It certainly looks like the one that cut posted.

Vielen Dank Abu für Deinen Hinweis auf die Abbildung solch eines Messers in Anthony Carters Buch.
Hier ist eine Abbildung des Messers aus einem original (undatierten) Katalog der nicht mehr existierenden Firma F.W. Jordan:

Die Übereinstimmung der Jordan Abbildung mit meinem Hugo Servatius gemarkten Messer ist frappierend.
Interessant ist die mit "Tula" beschriebene Ausführung des Griffs.
Ich kenne dazu Abbildungen aus mehreren historischen Solinger Musterbüchern.
Unter "Tula" versteht man eine Verziertechnik in Form von schwärzlichen Metalldekorationen auf Silber.

@ Allen: I agree that Abu's find of such style of knife is exciting! My Hugo Servatius historical files are not listing such knife.
I will compare other patterns of these two Solingen cutlers.

cut

 

[Allen]

Thank you Abu for pointing out the illustration of such a knife in Anthony Carter's book.
Here is a picture of the knife from an original (undated) catalog of the defunct company FW Jordan:

Anhang anzeigen 316201

The similarity between the Jordan illustration and my Hugo Servatius-marked knife is striking.
Interesting is the design of the handle described as "Tula".
I know illustrations of this from several historical Solingen pattern books.
"Tula" refers to a decorative technique in the form of blackish metal decorations on silver.

@ Allen: I agree that Abu's find of such style of knife is exciting! My Hugo Servatius historical files are not listing such knife.
I will compare other patterns of these two Solingen cutlers.

cut

cut, thanks for adding this illustration which I did recently see in the same catalog.

 

[cut]

Auf einem Trödelmarkt stieß ich diese Woche auf diese weitere Ausführung eines "pull ball gear driven" Taschenmessers, leider in erbärmlichem Zustand mit reichlich Korrosion und ohne Herstellermarke:

recent junk yard find in the Netherlands.

regards / Grüße
cut