Graef & Schmidt Welkut Stag Cattle

[RalphAlsip]

This is a brand that I don't try to collect, but I do collect Cattle knives. How's that for a rationalization?

I think this knife dates from around 1950, or maybe a few years earlier. It looks to be in original condition (check out the bluing on the punch blade) with some pitting on the blade spines and on the backsprings.

Thanks for looking

[dcgm4]

No need to rationalize when a knife has stag that nice!

[LongBlade]

Nice knife Ralph - nice all the way around ... The rationalization part of buying knives is way too easy..... think that is part of the disease if I am not mistaken - at least for me ... probably the reason I have a smaller collection of knives I call "Special Opportunties"

[royal0014]

Beautiful piece! Got a cattle-bug myself

Please, NO offense intended, but what's with the punch?
Kinda looks like sharpie instead of 'bluing' .. .. ..

[tongueriver]

That is a lovely knife. My impression on the bluing is that it is the result of case hardening in a bone and charcoal fire. Is this so, or am I dreaming (again)?

[RalphAlsip]

Thanks all for the kind words about the knife.

With regard to the bluing on the punch blade... I have seen bluing on the concave part of the punch blade on several different brands. I don't know how it gets on the blade in the first place, but the "case hardening" thought seems plausible. My uninformed speculation is that the blade polishing part of the finishing process does not get applied to the concave part of the blade. So it would be more about not removing it vs. applying it.

Maybe someone with more knowledge of the metal forging and finishing process will see this and comment.

[bighomer]

Beautiful knife, I never try rationalizing about accumulating anything, it's just fun, life is short enjoy while you can.

[Mumbleypeg]

Jerry that's a unique old beauty - great find!

That's the same rationalization that took me from having nearly all Case knives, to a mess of various whittlers and scout patterns, to whatever has nice bone or stag.

However I'm proud to say I've somehow managed to gain some control - my current focus is limited "to infinity and beyond!".

Ken

[RalphAlsip]

Thanks Ken. LOL on your definition of "control". It seems to be working - you have broad range of beautiful knives

Hope the stormy weather is staying away from your part of the world. The tornado video I saw captured in Kansas yesterday was awe inspriring and terrifying at the same time.

[Mason]

Great looking and well made knife RalphAlsip, and I think you are right on the money with the C. 1950 dating.
Here is a spring fired lever action model from the same time period. I love the blade stamps on these knives.

[RalphAlsip]

Thank you Mason. Your auto knife is a really great example, too!

[Miller Bro's]

Nice knives, they used some very attractive stag on their knives.

[galvanic1882]

Nice knives and I agree with MB that is some nice stag especially on the cattle knife!!

[kootenay joe]

Levine lists Graef & Schmidt as an importer of Henckels knives located in NYC from 1883-c1948, and as a manufacturer in NYC & Irvington N.J. from 1940-52. Welkut branding was used for the 1940-52 knives.
So this Welkut Cattle knife was made in USA ? even though tang is marked "Germany" ?
Can someone please explain this ?
thanks, kj

[terryl308]

RalphAlsip, nice cattle knife but the punch blade I don't believe is "heat colored" for sure not color case . Looks more like someone put some Dikem or blue marker on it instead. Dikem is a dye used by machinest to mark patterns on bare steel, put the blue dye on then scratch their pattern in it before machining. Any way Nice Knife! Terry