Nicely carved German knife

David LaPell · Mar 25, 2021

I decided I needed a knife to go with my custom Commission rifle, and since the gun was German I needed something German to go with it. I found this Ackermannchen hunting knife that has a stag handle but that someone went and carved on. I think it's supposed to be someone with an accordion but that's only a guess. I know it's well done and looks good with the rifle, or just as fine by itself.

s&wchad · Mar 25, 2021

Great carving!

That’s a fairly common German style knife, but my first though was an ammo belt.

I guess it could be an accordion. I’m not sure what a knife has to do with an accordion, but I’ve been to some weddings with an accordion player and the idea of grabbing a knife did cross my mind.

I have a similar knife, without carving and with no visible makers mark. My sheath is also missing the tip. On the plus side, it’s sharp as a razor! I did some research after I got mine and they seemed to be popular in Germany in the early 1900’s.

Flattop5 · Mar 25, 2021

Cool knife. What does that say on the blade? "Adiermanneken"? Is that the brand?

[Late edit: "Ackermannchen", okay, sorry, I failed to read all of the OP]

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Marshwheeling · Mar 25, 2021

Ackermann is ploughman. Could you see that fitting with your carved figure?

The style of knife is called Jagdnicker,or hunting knife.

Absalom · Mar 25, 2021

Interesting knife and trademark.

The Germans in Solingen don't know the origin or maker either.

I found an article from a local paper where someone was donating a fancy stag knife set to the blade museum. Nobody, including the museum's curator, had seen the "Ackermännchen" (little ploughman) label or brand before. According to the article the city archives contain no mention of this as a brand or trademark.

Absalom · Mar 25, 2021

Marshwheeling said:
.....

The style of knife is called Jagdnicker,or hunting knife.

"Jagdnicker", indeed the right word for this type of knife, is a bit more disturbingly specific than just hunting knife, by the way.

"Nicker" comes from "Genick" = neck, and "abnicken" is a hunting-specific verb meaning to jam this knife into the upper neck of a wounded deer just below the skull to finish it off by severing the spine; it was considered more traditional and sporting than just shooting the deer again. I've watched it done for real; it ain't pretty.

Maddog 521 · Mar 26, 2021

My father brought back an identical knife that s&wchad showed and it also has the same case. I don't remember exactly where he said he got it but it was Germany during WWll. The only words I can read on the blade is
Hein Boker Solingen and it has the Boker tree on it also. Dad carried it deer hunting and field dressed many deer with it.

Retired W4 · Mar 26, 2021

I think S&Wchad had it right. The guy on the handle is wearing a bandoleer. Beautiful piece.

Nicely carved German knife

David LaPell

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s&wchad

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Flattop5

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Marshwheeling

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Absalom

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Absalom

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Maddog 521

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