Henckels SAK?

[Marshwheeling]

This is the most interesting of a handful of small knives I picked up at a garage sale recently. As usual, I apologize for the ****** cell phone pics. So far, I have been unable to find a picture, description, date of manufacture or any other reference to this knife on the net. Anyone?

The knife is made by Henckels, and has the same tools you would find on a standard 91mm 2-row Swiss Army Officer's knife. However, because the knife lacks plastic scales, it is about 1/8" thinner than an SAK.

The frame is steel, probably not stainless as it draws a magnet quite strongly. It is milled in a very fine pattern.

The ricasso of the main blade has the Henckels twins logo and the legend "J A Henckels Solingen". On the flip side, it says "Friodur", which I gather refers to Henckels' cold hardening process.

The pen blade says "Friodur" and "Germany" on the other.

The can opener has the twins logo, followed by "Nicht Rostend" (not rusting) and "D.B.C.M.", which always comes up on Google as De Beers Consolidated Mines. What's the deal there? Anyone?

[H Richard]

Very nice. It may have been a purchase by De Beers as a customer premium, a giveaway to good customers? I know, I'd rather have a diamond.

[steveno]

the only sst that I'm aware of that isn't magnetic is AISI-300 series. all other will stick to a magnet

[Texas Star]

Several Solingen makers had such knives. I have one sold by Randall in Orlando that was made by Christians in Solingen. Bo Randall knew a German who provided his factory blades for certain models and also these stainless utility knives.

Because of the cottage industry there, many Solingen makers have produced very similar knives. Some have knurled scales, some plain.

Is the main blade all the way open on yours? Mine opens all the way. Is spring pressure from having all blades open causing this one to not open fully?

Beware of opening all blades at once. I've read that this can break springs.

I had my name engraved on mine. That's one thing the stainless scales allow.

I have also seen Henckels knives much more like typical 91mm SAK's. Puma has also sold some, but maybe really made by Victorinox. The Henckels versions have dark maroon handles, not the brighter red of the Swiss item.

The Henckels logo is the sign of Gemini, the Twins. Zwillingswerk means the Twin Works. I'm a Gemini, and have several Henckels knives, but all are kitchen models.

[Marshwheeling]

As both my son and a responding member of Bladeforums pointed out, the mark is D.B.G.M., not D.B.C.M. Nothing to do with De Beers at all. To quote from the Bladeforum response: "I think the abbreviation could be DBGM (Deutsches Bundesgebrauchsmuster). A German Registration mark used from 1952."

It was also pointed out to me that the knife may well have been made for Henckels under contract by any one of a number of Solingen cutlers.

The blade angle struck me as odd, too. A first I suspected a foreign object lodged on the blade or the spring, but I couldn't see anything. A little poking with a toothpick finally dislodged a piece of something. The blade opens all the way now.

Rare or common, I like it. The blade takes a good edge, and its thinness makes it unnoticeable in my pocket.