Gottlieb Hammesfahr Solingen Foche

[Rifleman]

I bought a knife yesterday at a show that looks like a Swiss army knife.I believe this style is referred to as a Pradel style.It is stamped Nirosta on all four blades.Do any of you know the time period it is from?The picture below is the only one like it I could find online.The one I have has red fiber handles as opposed to the wood handles on the one in the photo.

[knife7knut]

Nice little knife;probably post war utility knife. If you could post pics of the other blades;especially the screwdriver and can opener it might help ID it better. Although the stamp is Germanic;it looks a bit like a French champagne pattern. I have a bayonet with the Gottlieb Hammesfahr stamp but have no clue what rifle it fits.

[btrwtr]

The knife you posted has water buffalo horn handles. If you could post a picture of your knife you might get some help with your questions. If the blades are actually Norosta steel it is most likely a mild form of stainless steel.

[kootenay joe]

Rifleman please post pictures of the red fiber handle knife that was on it's way when you made your OP.
I recently started a thead about the vintage German Utility type knives with the red fiber handles: http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 35&t=49985.
Although i have not been able to find any specific information about this handle material or when it was used, the knives i have date i believe from the time between WW I & WW II. This type of handle might be slightly older than WW I.
"Nirosta" was a brand name used by G.H. beginning in 1921. The factory closed some time before 1971 when it was demolished.
I am looking forward to seeing your Gottlieb Hammesfahr knife !
kj

[Rifleman]

Thanks for the replies.I'll some pics up sometime tomorrow.

[Rifleman]

Pictures.The tang is hard to read.

[kootenay joe]

Nice. Thanks for showing us.
It is a very traditional German pattern: awl & corkscrew hinged at mid point bottom deck and on top: master blade & screw driver/cap lifter at one end and secondary clip blade and tin opener at the other end. I have 5 different brands of this set up all with these same red handles ranging from 3 1/4" to 4 1/4".
Yours however is different in one aspect: master blade is a clip. All of mine have a spearpoint master which is standard. Clip blade likely means more recent production ? (i.e. more recent than spearpoint)
I would like to learn about these red handles: what is it's industry name(i.e. real name) what is it made of and when first used and when did it's usage stop ?
I have 2 Swiss Army knives with these red handles, one from 1942 and the other from 1956. It was soon after 1956 that this handle material was no longer used on the SAK.
Rifleman, what is closed length of this G-H knife ?
kj

[Rifleman]

The closed length is 4 1/4 inches.Thanks

[Tsar Bomba]

I have a bayonet with the Gottlieb Hammesfahr stamp but have no clue what rifle it fits.

My guess is your bayonet fits a German Mauser K98K. Here is a photo of one (not mine) with bayonet, sheath, and frog (plus a dress bayonet which weren't often used in combat):

I have a number of these Mauser bayonets, although none with that particular stamp. Over the holiday break I'll endeavor to get them photographed.

[btrwtr]

Nice looking knife Rifleman. I'm not sure about the handles but wonder if they could be bakeltie.

Nirosta steel is austenitic and not heat treat hardenable. It has a high chemical and corrosion resistance. Not sure if the blades in your knife are actually Nirosta steel or not. Very interesting knife at any rate.

[kootenay joe]

J. Anthony Carter in "German Knife & Sword makers 1850-1945" says that "Nirosta" was a brand registered By G.H. in 1921. He goes on to say "Hammesfahr was the first German manufacturer to make cutlery with stainless steel blades based on the invention of rust free steel by the Krupp steelworks in Essen. The 'Nirosta' brand name (now registered by Krupp) was specifically intended for these products."
The early stainless steel did not make the best of blades. I have an early stainless Schrade Cut Co Jack and hunk of steel has fallen out and the edge is too soft to sharpen. I see it as a valuable piece of history showing the troubles SCC had getting a good batch of stainless and then getting their heat treatment right.
kj