Custom Damascus

Custom Damascus

Boker Knives History

Due to the increasing demand in a restless political era, Hermann and Robert Boeker decided in 1829 to begin with the production of sabers. As early as September 1830, the accounting records indicate a weekly production of 2,000 items, made by 64 smiths, 47 grinders and a large number of unskilled laborers. In view of the constantly increasing variety of tools and cutting instruments and the good opportunities for worldwide sales, the family realized that the individual steps in the manufacturing process had to be spread out for optimal realization of its interests. As a result, Hermann Boeker emigrated and founded H. Boeker & Co. in New York. Young Robert developed his enterprise in Canada, founding a branch in Mexico later in 1865. This branch is still a market leader in its country under the name of Casa Boeker.

Heinrich crossed the nearby Wupper river and went to Solingen, where the German industry of cutting tools was growing by leaps and bounds at that time. In 1869, he founded Heinr. Boeker & Co. with Hermann Heuser, a well-known specialist in the field of cutting tools. The Boeker family in Remscheid and their overseas cousins had a lot of interest in and a great demand for shaving blades, scissors and pocket knives from Heinrich’s new enterprise. They had to identify their products for the overseas markets in a simple way, since many customers and consumers had problems with the German name Boeker – not considering the fact that illiteracy was widely spread. In Heinrich’s opinion, the chestnut tree near the Remscheid facility represented an ideal, easy-to-remember symbol. This brand symbol was owned by the Remscheid company, together with a second logo, the arrow. One of the few valuable documents that survived the total destruction of WWII is an ad by Boeker, Remscheid, from the year 1874, showing both logos.

The relationship between the two Boeker companies had always been extremely friendly. Therefore, Heinrich was allowed to take the tree symbol across the river with him – without any big fight or cost. Since then, not a single Boeker article has left the Solingen factory without being identified by the tree symbol. After more than 100 years of existence the old chestnut tree was the victim of lightening. In 1925 a talented artist carved a copy of the majestic tree on a piece of the trunk. This original piece of art decorates the boss’ office in the Boeker plant.

As early as 1900, the majority of articles produced by Boeker were distributed in the US market. H. Boker & Co. in New York concentrated primarily on cutting tools from Solingen. Soon pocket knives became more important than scissors, shaving blades and eating utensils. The demand increased even more rapidly than Solingen was able to supply, so that the Americans in New York began their own production of pocket knives. A little later, pliers were included as well. Since the tree symbol had become well known by then and the various branches of the international Boeker family enjoyed an excellent relationship among each other, it was not difficult to receive permission from the Solingen relatives to use the tree symbol also for the American products. Since that time, two different lines of Boeker knives have been on the American market with the same brand symbol, sometimes even with the same article numbers, but one line was made in the USA and the other in Solingen. Only the declaration of marketability clarified that one line was from Boker USA and the other from H. Boker Improved Cutlery Solingen.

The relationship was interrupted during WWII. The Solingen factory burned down completely. None of the equipment, tools, catalog materials or samples was spared. Those few originals from the past we have today survived the war in private homes and were made available to the company. The firm lost one of its most valuable assets: the registration of the tree symbol for the American market was confiscated pursuant to American law. John Boker Jr. acquired it in New York, in order to secure it for the distribution of the American and German products. Soon after the war, the destroyed factory was rebuilt. Those loyal skilled workers who had survived the war, returned and helped with the reconstruction of the building as well as the production, gradually regaining the previous high standard of quality.

The American cousins renewed their business contact with Solingen and started to place orders. Within a few years Boker, New York, had again become the principal customer. Models like the 7588 and 7474 and the most expensive item, the sports knife Flagship Model 182 could not cross the ocean fast enough to reach Boker friends all over the country.

In the early 60s, Boker USA was sold and eventually acquired by the well-known scissors manufacturer Wiss & Sons. Wiss retained the manufacture of Boeker knives and sold them together with Solingen products. Of course, this meant that the Boeker scissors ceased to be competitors of the Wiss line in the American market. In the early 70s, Wiss sold to Cooper Industries, a multinational company. This new change in America proved to be advantageous for Boker.

A very close business, as well as personal relationship developed with this industrial giant. Due to its strength on the market, Cooper was able to restore the original magnitude of the Boeker name. Thanks to the very lively business activities with Cooper for eight years, the Solingen facility could streamline its production and develop new, modern products. Without exaggeration, Boker manufactures the largest assortment of high-quality knives for sportsmen and collectors with an unsurpassed variety of materials for blades and handles. Today, Boeker knives range from 320-layer Damascus steel to very modern ceramics, with handles ranging from high-quality mother-of-pearl to Thuya root wood and state-of-the-art synthetics…

In 1983 Cooper discontinued its own knife production. Models still in demand are being manufactured in Solingen today. As a result of friendly negotiations, Cooper restored the American trademark rights three years later, providing Solingen with the opportunity to become self-reliant in the huge American market. Thus, in 1986, Boker USA, Inc. was created in Denver, Colorado. Dan Weidner, who has been part of Boker USA almost since its inception, is now the president of the company, working with a young, energetic team. The great importance of Boeker in the South American markets (Argentina and Chile) and in Mexico is due to the efficient men of the Boeker family, who were active for us in these countries in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today’s trademark includes the terms TREEBRAND and ARBOLITO. Since the Argentinian market in particular is subject to extreme economic and political fluctuations, the good name ARBOLITO was in danger of being forgotten. In 1983, Boeker Arbolito S. A. was founded jointly with the Salzmann family primarily to manufacture household and work knives in Argentina. Thanks to the constant modernization and expansion of product lines the company in Buenos Aires is able to compete worldwide with selected products today.

 View the complete line of Boker Knives.

About the Author

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Indian Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Polish Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions UK Auctions

Best Match Time: ending soonest Time: newly listed Price: lowest first Price: highest first Price + Shipping: lowest first Price + Shipping: highest first

Harrison Custom Damascus Bowie Knife with Amboyna Burl    US $359.99

CUSTOM MADE DAMASCUS SUPERB HUNTING KNIFE 2094    US $24.99

Custom HANDMAD Damascus steel pocket knife BONE handle    US $39.99

GORGEOUS custom handmade damascus steel dagger    US $14.99

Custom Damascus Steel 3 Blade Pocket knife Stag Handle    US $29.99

Custom Handmade Damascus steel Medium Bowie Bone Handle    US $23.00

Keith Coleman Custom Hand Made Knife w Damascus Blade    US $259.99

Custom Handmade Damascus Steel Ranger Knife    US $45.00

Custom damascus folding Lock Back Knife BONE handle    US $29.99

Custom Handmade Damascus steel Bowie WALNUT Handle    US $49.99

Custom HANDMAD Damascus steel pocket knife STAG HANDLE    US $39.99

Custom Damascus steel Bowie BUFFALO HORN Handle    US $35.00

CUSTOM HANDMADE DAMASCUS KNIFE CAMEL BONE100SHARP    US $29.99

CUSTOM HANDMADE DAMASCUS KINFE MADE BY ATLANTIC LTD    US $29.99

ROCKBLADES CUSTOM HANDMADE DAMASCUS STEEL CHEFS KNIFE    US $51.00

W EDWARDS CUSTOM HANDMADE DAMASCUS STEEL BOWIE KNIFE    US $121.50

ROGER JAMES CUSTOM HANDMADE DAMASCUS STEEL KNIFE GREAT    US $60.00

RAINY VALLOTTON CUSTOM CARVED BUFFALO HORN DAMASCUS    US $1,000.00

RAINY VALLOTTON CUSTOM BONE DAMASCUS HELLS RAZOR    US $1,250.00

Custom Made Double Edge Dagger w Damascus    US $150.00

21 inches CUSTOM DAMASCUS KNIFE STAG CROWN DAGGER    US $74.99

SG 60I CUSTOM made damascus steelTANTO knife CAMEL BONE    US $20.50

JOHN MILLERS CUSTOM HANDMADE DAMASCUS STEEL KNIFE    US $76.55

WILLIAM EDWARDS CUSTOM HANDMADE DAMASCUS STEEL KNIFE    US $61.00

CUSTOM DAMASCUS KNIFE DOUBLE GRIP AXE BURL WOOD HANDLE    US $29.99

ONE OF A KIND CUSTOM MADE DAMASCUS HUNTING KNIFE    US $16.50

STEVE HANNENS CUSTOM MADE DAMASCUS STEEL FOLDING KNIFE    US $100.00

1

	Sabriya: Damascus Bitter Sweet (Interlink World Fiction) List Price: $12.95 Sale Price: $10.36 Used From: $5.00 Average Rating:
	Sabriya portrays life in Damascus in the 1920s. Central to the story is Sabriya's journey to self-knowledge, intertwined with the rise and eclipse of national and feminist awareness during her painful life.

	Timber Wolf Custom Damascus Folding Knife List Price: $72.00 Sale Price: $33.99
	This 3" Timber Wolf folder one of the newest line of Damascus knives by Timber Wolf. Each knife features refined dark hardwood handle scales and a beautiful 2 1/5" hand-forged Damascus steel blade and accenting Damascus bolsters...

	Bear & Son Cutlery CHAB194LD Custom Heritage Series Damascus Mid Size Toothpick Pocket Knife with Genuine Abalone Handles List Price: $319.95 Sale Price: $189.50
	Bear & Son Knives - Custom Heritage Series Damascus Mid Size Toothpick Pocket Knife with Genuine Abalone Handles: Model BC-CHAB194LD. 4 1/4" closed. 512 layer Damascus steel long clip blade. Abalone handles with nickel silver bolsters and inlay shield...

	Leo Damascus IV Custom Made List Price: $1,999.00 Sale Price: $1,722.40

	Silver Wire Inlays With Allen Eldridge (2 DVDs) Sale Price: $54.00
	Learn the techniques and tools that are required to create beautiful silver wire inlay patterns for knife makers from Allen Eldridge. Allen has been creating masterful work for over 40 years and he will take you step by step on three projects that are divided by three levels of difficulty: Basic; Intermediate; Advanced...

Everyday Life and Consumer Culture in Eighteenth-Century Damascus (Publications on the Near East, University of Washington) List Price: $50.00 Sale Price: $43.66 Used From: $40.00

Damascus was for centuries a center of learning and commerce. Drawing on the city's dazzling literary tradition-a rich collection of poetry, chronicles, travel accounts, and biographical dictionaries-as well as on Islamic court records, James Grehan explores the material culture of premodern Damascus, reconstructing the economic infrastructure, social customs, and private consumer habits that dominated this cosmopolitan hub in the 1700s...

	BW Custom Damascus Celtic Clover Trapper List Price: $37.99 Sale Price: $29.99
	Brian Wilhoite began his career with Smoky Mountain Knife Works in 1987. Studying under company president Kevin Pipes and many other designer and industry professionals, Brian honed his knife design skills...

Custom Damascus and BM skirmish cutting competition