Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades A knife marked Solingen

I have a knife that bears the marks Solingen and Germany. Is this a decent knife as far as steel goes? It always seemed to work well but I snapped off the tip removing an elk leg. Just wondering if it is worth having someone reshape it. Thanks, mtmuley

Not much to go on there.

Solingen is just a City, not the brand of a particular maker. The steel could be anything. That the tip snapped might indicate that it is not top quality.

If you like the blade, have it repaired.

I just looked at it closer, and it says Solingen Cutlery. Also some other markings I can't discern. So the tip snapping off indicates inferior steel? mtmuley

as I said, with so little info it is not easy to give a real good answer.
To my knowledge, "Solingen Cutlery" is not a brand name, but tells where the knife was (maybe) made. This would be riding the coat tails of the area.
The blade snapping could well be a mark of inferior steel, heat treat, or just plain operator error.

I'm gonna lean toward operator error. When I was prying on the knife, I already knew I shouldn't be. I have another knife marked G.C. Co. Germany on one side, and Solingen 427 on the other. Any ideas about that? mtmuley

I have an old German Bowie with the GC brand on it.

Down by the hilt, this one is marked GC Company Solingen Germany 485

I have no idea what it is worth. Probably not much. It seems to be chrome plated, and being pretty old, not in such great shape.
It was given to me years ago.


I know GC made a lot of military blades. Some of those, such as an original parachute knive, are worth several thousand bucks.

As already said Solingen is a city in German that was famous for producing knives. "Solingen steel" as its often called can be excellent (think Puma, Linder ect), but I have no doubt the city must have produced some pretty average stuff as well.

Question is, wht do you think of the blade? Does it take and hold an edge? Do you generally like the steel? Your the person who's best placed to say if its worth reshaping and sharpening..

I'd be interested to see a picture of the knife if you have one??

Here's an image of a "Solingen" blade given to me when I was about 8 - can't imagine what my father was thinking. I broke off the tip and the steel is soft enough to reshape it with a file. It had a plastic stag handle and a thin brass guard that I've dicarded.

Pete, I'll try to get a pic up of both knives. I like both knives, and on one of them I had a friend custom make a handle from African Purple Heart to replace the rotted stacked leather. The other has a carved staghorn handle similar to the one in Mannlicher's photo. mtmuley