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Looking to identify HARTKOPF & Co pocket knife. Please help
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:20 pm
by Golgotha
Good Morning!
New user here, first post! Wohoooo
I am trying to track down the manufacture date and value for an old pocket knife I just obtained.
On one blade near the fold it says "HARTKOPF & Co" and below that "SOLINGEN".
on the other side of the blade at the same location there are two devil heads and it says on two lines "ROST" and "FRE"
The knife closed measures a little over 3" On one side it says "EUROPA" and has what looks like a steam ship.
Any identification, manufacture date and value information would be greatly appreciated.
Re: Looking to identify HARTKOPF & Co pocket knife. Please h
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 7:34 pm
by Capt. Farrel
Hi Golgotha, welcome to AAPK - a very friendly place to talk about knives as I found out!
"ROST" and "FRE" should read "ROSTFREI" which is german for "stainless". As the emblem or coat of arms on one of the handles is the company logo of the "Norddeutscher Lloyd" (NDL), a shipping company,
the ship on the other side should be the "EUROPA" which went into service in 1930. So your knife was made around 1930. Interestingly enough Hartkopf in Solingen AND the Norddeutscher Lloyd in the citiy of Bremen are both still in business after all these years.
Cheers
Frank
Re: Looking to identify HARTKOPF & Co pocket knife. Please h
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:03 pm
by Golgotha
So what would be the history of the knife?
Was it made for the crew/sailors on the ship or as a dedication of some sort?
What is the knifes value?
Re: Looking to identify HARTKOPF & Co pocket knife. Please h
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:33 pm
by Capt. Farrel
I am pretty sure it was sold as a souvenir to passengers of the "Europa". The value should be higher in the USA than here in Germany as there seem to be some of these knives still around and knife collecting isn“t a major hobby here too. But this is just my oppinion and I am not an expert.

Try to check out the German Ebay.

Re: Looking to identify HARTKOPF & Co pocket knife. Please h
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 11:43 pm
by junebug
hi and WELCOME TO AAPK!!!!!!!!
IMO,
mass produced knife for the TOURIST MARKET,used,worn,sharpened,broken blade tip.....
probably go for $10-$20 dollars on ebay
COOL KNIFE.....and some ppl would like the cross over into nautical theme.....
