Pocket knife from WWII Germany

[djszen]

Hi My Dad got this knife when he was in Germany in WWII. Can anybody help identify the knife and if it has a collectible value for insurance purposes?

[Owd Wullie]

Interesting. I did some google searching and found that there is an "old forge" in Wasseralfingen, DE.

Kessler is still business and schmiedewerk means forge work.

The knife has the representation of a crankshaft on the back side. It could be for a straight 6 or a V 12 cylinder engine. Doesn't look like an aircraft crank to me though. May have been for something larger such a stationary or marine engine.

I did find one document in German that related to the WWII time frame and the names listed on the knife. The document had to with cockpit instrumentation as near I could tell.

Henckels was in business during WWII.

Sorry I couldn't help more.



Rostfrei is a name of a German stainless steel.

[djszen]

Thank you very much for your research. This is a good start. It also looks like the manufacturer was Paul A. Henkel in Solingen. Is that your take as well?

[Owd Wullie]

Correct. He was a Solingen cutler.

His company was producing knives in WWII.

Currently there is a HENCKEL cutlery that is not the same. I don't keep up with Solingen stuff too much, but there has been a discussion about these two somewhere earlier in these forums.

As I'm using google's "chrome" for a browser, the forum search feature doesn't work for me anymore since I switched from FireFox. You might try searching "PAUL A HENCKELS" with the search feature and see what you can find.
EDIT, my search works now!!
Check this thread.
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... A+HENCKELS+
Good luck,
W

[john6553]

Hello djszen,
I like the design on the handle. Looks like a fire hose. The one of the blades looks worn down from sharpening; it may have seen a lot of use after all it could be around 70 years old. Nice old knife.
John