Older Henckels Info Please

[former173rd]

I would really appreciate a little help on this Hobo. I'm pretty sure its old, maybe turn of the century, but beyond that Im clueless. If you can help, or know someone who can, please let me know. I can provide more photos if needed...
Thanks, in advance...

[Mumbleypeg]

Nice old survivor! Upon seeing your post the first thing I did was reach for my copy of Neal Punchard’s book J.A. Henckels Knives. Wherein there is an entire chapter titled “Dating a Henckels Knife” which unfortunately is only one page. Not blaming the author though, as the very first sentence in that chapter states “Dating a J.A. Henckels knife is no easy task”. Followed by an explanation that many Henckels models were unchanged for “decades or longer”, some tang stamps were used for “years on end”, and in old catalogs “many of the same knives and stamps appear over and over again for many years”.

There is a chart showing stamps in approximate order of use, and the stamp on your knife having the J and A separated by the stick figures (twins) with HENCKELS underneath is the oldest. There is no picture of a “hobo” style eating knife but there are pictures of “eating sets” having separate individual knife, fork, and spoon in a pouch or case. The text says “traveling eating sets” which “consisted of handles with folding blades, forks, spoons, and corkscrews” are from the 19th to mid-20th centuries. He goes on to say that by 1930 Henckels miscellaneous folding knives were decreased in number. The folding eating knife, fork, and spoon sets were “completely gone from the American market” but a few models were still sold in Germany.

So my deduction is your knife likely dates from late 1800s to 1930 at latest. That’s the best I understand from the book. Hope it helps. Neal Punchard is a member here so maybe he’ll see this and give an opinion.

Ken

[Mason]

Ken (Mumbleypeg), thanks for the nice comments towards my Henckels book and yes, Henckels knives can be tricky to date.
That is an old knife and an old stamp. I see this slot (hobo) knife knife in factory Henckels catalogs from the 1870s up through WWI.
Shown is a catalog illustration from 1893.

[bighomer]

That is a wonderful knife. x1000

[former173rd]

Thanks!....now to find someone who could use it in their collection..