All About Pocket Knives

If you could help with some info... A German pocket knife with whale logo, who is the maker? How is the quality of steel? Is this a "Keeper" Is this a good 'Lill EDC for the steel used in the blade?

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:51 pm If.....

Maybe Richartz, Gebruder & Soehne.

New_Windsor_NY wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 10:22 pm

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:51 pm If.....

Maybe Richartz, Gebruder & Soehne.

Thanks Skip, I'm gonna do some research

It is an inexpensive brand, very little collector value but likely the blade is made of good steel & properly tempered. Once sharpened i'm sure it will cut well and be a good user knife.
kj

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:51 pm A German pocket knife with whale logo

Very cool "Whale" tang stamp. If it was a pattern I collected I would buy it in a heartbeat just for the cool stamp . I recommend hanging onto it since detailed tang stamps like that are rarely seen on modern knives anymore. YMMV.

QTCut5 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 11, 2021 12:54 am

GSPTOPDOG wrote: ↑Sun Oct 10, 2021 9:51 pm A German pocket knife with whale logo

Very cool "Whale" tang stamp. If it was a pattern I collected I would buy it in a heartbeat just for the cool stamp . I recommend hanging onto it since detailed tang stamps like that are rarely seen on modern knives anymore. YMMV.

Thanks Q and k.j. I will heed your words of wisdom... I am a sucker for good tang stamps Whenever I post pictures I always try and get a clear tang stamp picture. I think that is one main reason I like Case and Queen knives, great tang stamp histories

Noice example mate! I do love me these little pen knives...
Like Kj said, not worth much from a collector standpoint; but that's only because only a few of us collect them. The quality on most is A+, steel is excellent, handy to have around. Just one warning, if you do plan on carrying her, watch out! They are easy to misplace, found that out the hard way...

I've seen this stamp a few times, just can't remember the company. Have my big book on German cutlery, I'll dig around when I'm feeling better (hurt myself wrenching on the square).

Oh, and being a single blade example, is less common to find.

mate.

Skip nailed it!

Couldn't find it in my big book, so I went and cross-referenced with Goins. Going from there, it lead to Gebruder Richartz & Sohne AG, Richartz for short.
The Whale stamp was trademarked in July 1911. It was updated in 1934, 1992, and 1997. They expanded into Sheffield in the 20's, name was Richards Bros. & Sons'.
The Big One. Still chugging on both sides of the channel, big outfit.

So with that knowledge, I'd date your baby post-war, to the 60's. Could be newer, but I'd safely say not.

Richards Solingen...later also as Richardz in Sheffield, also known as Lamppost...