Page 10 Knife World December 2010 WHUT IZZIT?
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Page 10 Knife World December 2010 by Bernard Levine www.knife-expert.com Mr. Tom McMurtry sent in pictures of an all metal pocketknife with coined or deep stamped nickel silver handles. His cousin found it at a yard sale in Kentucky. The knife was made in Germany, and all the markings on blades and handles are in German. The knife is a swell-end jack knife with a corkscrew in the back, operat- ing on the spring of the pen blade. Both the clip master blade and the pen blade are tang stamped HUGO MOSER/ NACHFOL- GER/ SOLINGEN. The end of the front handle is marked GES. GESCHUTZT, which means “'legally registered,” similar to a U.S. design patent -- for the artwork, not the mechanism. Each handle is embossed with a low-relief portrait bust of a Catholic clergyman. Each oval frame has the man’s name below, and his dates above. Each side also has a German inscription, in ribbons, and elaborate flower and leaf decora- tions. The designs and typography are in Art Nouveau style, as it is called in French and English, meaning New Art. In German the style is called Jugendstil, Youth Style. In Italy it is called Stile Liberty, named after the Liberty & Co. department store in London. This style was introduced in 1890. It reached its height of artistic refinement about 1895, spread widely but not deeply into the mass mar- ket in watered down form in the early 1900s, and lingered into the early 1920s when it was no longer so new and youthful. Art Nouveau enjoyed a brief revival of popularity in the excru- ciatingly youthful and new 1960s. This knife is an example of the mass-market Jugendstil after 1900, probably chosen because that was the current style, without any particu- lar association to the message being conveyed. Depicted on the front handle is Father Ad(olph) Kolping (1813-1865). On the back han- dle is Monsignor Sebastian Georg Schaffer (1828-1901). By the style of the knife, it was made shortly after the death of Monsignor Schaffer, perhaps as a keepsake to remember him by. Schaffer had been mentored by Father Kolping, and he wrote the book Adolf Kolping, der Gesellenvater (The Father of the Journeymen), third edition paperbound 1894. I found several brief biographies of Adolph Kolping online: on Wikipedia; on a blog about saints http://saints.sqpn.com/blessed-adolph- kolping/; on the website of the International Kolping Society http://www.kolping.org/ ABOUT.HTM; and in the Catholic Encyclopedia online http://www.new advent.org/cathen/06538a.htm. Kolping was born in 1813, son of a shepherd in Kerpen, near Cologne. He apprenticed to a shoemaker and worked ten years in that trade, but had long felt a calling to the priesthood. He entered high school at age 23, and despite poor health entered the University of Munich five years later to study theology. In 1845 he returned to Cologne to be ordained as a priest. “On his first assignment in Elberfeld he met Gragor Breuer, a school teacher who had set up an organization for journeymen. In 1847, Father Kolping was elected Praeses of this association [Praeses was an Imperial Roman term for gover- nor, hence a president, a presiding officer]. He had intended to lead an academic life, but his work with the journeymen made him realize that God had called him to devote his life and efforts to the young people and their organiza- tion. “A transfer to Cologne in 1849 enabled him to enlarge the journeymen’s organization. As rector of the cathedral, Father Kolping had more time to devote to travel and writing articles, which gained him recognition as a writer and journal- ist... In 1849 he published Der Gesellenverein (The Journeymen’s Society). In 1854, Kolping founded the weekly newspaper Rheinische Volksblatter (Rhine Region People’s Paper)... Through his example and efforts the journey- men’s organization grew. By the time of Kolping’s death in 1865, over 400 local groups of the journeymen’s organization had been estab- lished and were functioning throughout Europe and in America.” “The Journeymen’s Society,” wrote Monsignor Schäffer in 1894, “has extended over hundreds of thousands its protective influence, teaching the ignorant, arousing the lukewarm, filling the timid with earnestness and self-respect, strengthening the weak and saving them from the perils to which so many workmen, especially through the efforts of social democracy, are everywhere exposed.” From Wikipedia: “Besides providing for Catholic doctrine, the societies conducted classes (book-keeping, arithmetic, drawing, literary composition, music, natural sciences, etc.) In the larger cities there were free classes in crafts. Instruction was designed especially for those workmen who aimed at establishing a business WHUT IZZIT?
Transcript of Page 10 Knife World December 2010 WHUT IZZIT?
Page 10 Knife World December 2010
by Bernard Levinewww.knife-expert.com
Mr. Tom McMurtry sent in pictures of an allmetal pocketknife with coined or deep stampednickel silver handles. His cousin found it at ayard sale in Kentucky. The knife was made inGermany, and all the markings on blades andhandles are in German. The knife is a swell-endjack knife with a corkscrew in the back, operat-ing on the spring of the pen blade.
Both the clip master blade and the pen bladeare tang stamped HUGO MOSER/ NACHFOL-GER/ SOLINGEN. The end of the front handle ismarked GES. GESCHUTZT, which means“'legally registered,” similar to a U.S. designpatent -- for the artwork, not the mechanism.
Each handle is embossed with a low-reliefportrait bust of a Catholic clergyman. Each ovalframe has the man’s name below, and his datesabove. Each side also has a German inscription,in ribbons, and elaborate flower and leaf decora-
tions. The designs and typography are in Art
Nouveau style, as it is called in French andEnglish, meaning New Art. In German the styleis called Jugendstil, Youth Style. In Italy it iscalled Stile Liberty, named after the Liberty &Co. department store in London.
This style was introduced in 1890. It reachedits height of artistic refinement about 1895,spread widely but not deeply into the mass mar-ket in watered down form in the early 1900s,and lingered into the early 1920s when it was nolonger so new and youthful. Art Nouveauenjoyed a brief revival of popularity in the excru-ciatingly youthful and new 1960s.
This knife is an example of the mass-marketJugendstil after 1900, probably chosen becausethat was the current style, without any particu-lar association to the message being conveyed.
Depicted on the front handle is FatherAd(olph) Kolping (1813-1865). On the back han-dle is Monsignor Sebastian Georg Schaffer(1828-1901). By the style of the knife, it wasmade shortly after the death of MonsignorSchaffer, perhaps as a keepsake to rememberhim by. Schaffer had been mentored by FatherKolping, and he wrote the book Adolf Kolping,der Gesellenvater (The Father of theJourneymen), third edition paperbound 1894.
I found several brief biographies of AdolphKolping online: on Wikipedia; on a blog aboutsaints http://saints.sqpn.com/blessed-adolph-kolping/; on the website of the InternationalKolping Society http://www.kolping.org/ABOUT.HTM; and in the Catholic Encyclopediaonline http://www.new
advent.org/cathen/06538a.htm. Kolping was born in 1813, son of a shepherd
in Kerpen, near Cologne. He apprenticed to ashoemaker and worked ten years in that trade,but had long felt a calling to the priesthood. Heentered high school at age 23, and despite poorhealth entered the University of Munich fiveyears later to study theology. In 1845 hereturned to Cologne to be ordained as a priest.
“On his first assignment in Elberfeld he metGragor Breuer, a school teacher who had set upan organization for journeymen. In 1847, FatherKolping was elected Praeses of this association[Praeses was an Imperial Roman term for gover-nor, hence a president, a presiding officer]. Hehad intended to lead an academic life, but hiswork with the journeymen made him realizethat God had called him to devote his life andefforts to the young people and their organiza-tion.
“A transfer to Cologne in 1849 enabled him toenlarge the journeymen’s organization. As rectorof the cathedral, Father Kolping had more timeto devote to travel and writing articles, whichgained him recognition as a writer and journal-ist... In 1849 he published Der Gesellenverein(The Journeymen’s Society). In 1854, Kolpingfounded the weekly newspaper RheinischeVolksblatter (Rhine Region People’s Paper)...Through his example and efforts the journey-men’s organization grew. By the time ofKolping’s death in 1865, over 400 local groups ofthe journeymen’s organization had been estab-lished and were functioning throughout Europeand in America.”
“The Journeymen’s Society,” wrote MonsignorSchäffer in 1894, “has extended over hundreds ofthousands its protective influence, teaching theignorant, arousing the lukewarm, filling thetimid with earnestness and self-respect,strengthening the weak and saving them fromthe perils to which so many workmen, especiallythrough the efforts of social democracy, areeverywhere exposed.”
From Wikipedia: “Besides providing forCatholic doctrine, the societies conducted classes(book-keeping, arithmetic, drawing, literarycomposition, music, natural sciences, etc.) In thelarger cities there were free classes in crafts.Instruction was designed especially for thoseworkmen who aimed at establishing a business
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of their own. The principal publication was theKolpingsblatt (Kolping’s Journal).”
“In Germany today, The InternationalKolping Society has more than 275,000 membersin 2,730 local Kolpingsfamilien (Kolping fami-lies), making it the largest social federation inthe country. The organization, based in Cologne,is represented in 59 countries with more than470,000 members around the world, divided intoabout 5,000 Kolpingsfamilien.”
“On August 8, 1906 the Archbishop of Vienna,Anton Joseph Cardinal Gruscha... took the firststep towards the canonization of FatherKolping... After the Second World War theseefforts were resumed and finally, on January 22,1991, Pope John Paul II signed the documentsfor his beatification... Father Kolping is remem-bered as the ‘Father of All Apprentices’ and hisfeast day is on 10 December.
“The beatification ceremony took place inRome on October 27, 1991.” A pilgrimage toRome is now planned for the 20th anniversary,in 2011, to petition for Kolping’s canonization,his elevation to sainthood.
*As to the knife, I have only one reference to
Hugo Moser Nachfolger (Nachfolger means “suc-cessor”). The firm was listed in the 1915 editionof Kelly’s directory of world Manufacturers. Iasked Mr. Henning Ritter of Solingen, presidentof Hubertus, if he had more information. Hereplied:
“The Hugo Moser company was founded in1862. A mid 1890s advertisement lists the nameas Hugo Moser Nachfolger (successor), offeringtable knives and scissors. Early 1900s recordsindicate that the company was trading in knivesand metalware. In 1904 this cutler registered avertically divided shield as trademark, and Iknow HUMONA as a brand name. 1930s Moseradvertisements list fruit knives, cake slicers,pastry tongs and garnitures. The latest entry ofHugo Moser Nachfolger in Solingen directoriesdates from the early 1960s.”
I wonder if Hugo Moser had been a member ofa Kolping family in Solingen, or perhaps even inColgone, 25 miles to the south?
Knives in this style, with relief portraits ofprominent persons coined into metal handles,were typical of the 1895-1914 period. This par-ticular knife was made after 1901, for sale inGermany, not for export to the U.S. All knives ofthis type are uncommon today, and I have notseen a Kolping knife before, or for that matterany knife made by Hugo Moser Nachf.
I have seen knives of this type commemorat-ing famous people of many countries in Europe,Africa, Latin America, etc., but all of them madein Solingen. Some show just one person, sometwo, some with two or three on each side. Theyhave handles of various metals. Usually nickelsilver (white brass); also aluminum, silver, andeven iron.
Company of West Rutland, Vermont. In thethird, S & W licensed its brand and logo toTaylor Cutlery of Kingsport, Tennessee, whoimported the knives from Asia.
Smith & Wesson called this knife the #6041Swing Blade Sporter. It was introduced duringthe first era, but I don’t know the exact date. Itis shown in Knives ‘82 (page 176), published in1981, and not described as a new product. I don’thave a catalog from that time, but I do have aVermont Cutlery catalog that was sent to me in1988. It shows this knife, with sheath. That cat-alog also shows the double-edged Swing BladeBoot Knife, #6042, with sheath.
Smith & Wesson took inspiration for thesedesigns from the “Funny Folders” custom madeby T. M. Dowell of Bend, Oregon, beginningabout 1970. Dowell in turn took inspiration fromthe little Ambassador brand advertising knivesmade this way by Colonial Knife Company ofProvidence, Rhode Island, since the early 1950s.But the concept is a lot older than 1950.
This mechanism was invented by VandaliaSlater of Hunt’s, New York. Slater applied for apatent on December 8, 1892. Patent No. 499,047was granted on June 6, 1893. I have seen one ortwo unmarked knives of this type with brasshandles that might possibly have been that old,but I doubt it. Evidently the design languishedunappreciated for more than half a century. Ifyou have a marked version that might date backto the 1890s, please send in pictures of it.
*Please send me an email to [email protected]
com.com, or mail paper correspondence to WhutIzzit, c/o Knife World, Box 3395, Knoxville TN37927.
The only American market version I canrecall is a type listing the name of each U.S.president in a ribbon, sometimes with pictures ofone or two of them, typically Washington orLincoln, or else the current president when theknife was made. Mainly these have aluminumhandles, and were made by P. Daniel Peres ofSolingen.
*Mr. Paul R. of Virginia asked about a very dif-
ferent all metal folding knife. He writes,“Attached are some photos of the knife I needidentified, Smith & Wesson U.S.A. ‘hidden’ or‘secret’ knife. Overall length closed 4-1/8 inches,open length 7 inches. Stamped U.S.A./ S & W(logo)/ STAINLESS, no other markings.” Hisphotos clearly show the sequence of opening(and closing) this clever mechanism.
There have been three eras in the productionof Smith & Wesson branded knives. In the first,1974-1986, Smith & Wesson manufactured itsown knives in its Springfield, Massachusetts,factory. In the second, 1986-1993, S & W brand-ed knives were contracted by Vermont Cutlery
