DMG show Sindelfingen
DMG show Sindelfingen
On September 8, the German Messermacher Gilde (Knife Maker Guild) held its 18th annual fall show in Sindelfingen, near Stuttgart. European Blades Mag. went to report on the event.
Text and pictures Bas Martens
Text and pictures Bas Martens
The annual fall show of the German Knife Maker Guild, titled “Scharfe Sachen” (Sharp Things) is like a pristine meal in an excellent restaurant. Beautiful dishes, many surprises, and you never get too much. The Guild itself calls it an exhibition of handmade knives, rather than a knife show; members present the latest examples of their craftsmanship.
Times are changing, and the German Messermacher Guild, established 1986, is trying to change along with it. It is a consequence of the way in which the autumn show was to be organised. During their annual meeting the members decided that the fall exhibition would remain in Sindelfingen for the time being, but the show itself will gradually change. This year a first step was been made toward this goal. The joint dinner, for example, took place in a separate room in the Stadthalle and was changed to a buffet in the same room as the exhibitor’s tables. The big advantage was that the knife makers and their guests were given much more time to look at the knives and exchange 'hands on' ideas. The response was positive.
Times are changing, and the German Messermacher Guild, established 1986, is trying to change along with it. It is a consequence of the way in which the autumn show was to be organised. During their annual meeting the members decided that the fall exhibition would remain in Sindelfingen for the time being, but the show itself will gradually change. This year a first step was been made toward this goal. The joint dinner, for example, took place in a separate room in the Stadthalle and was changed to a buffet in the same room as the exhibitor’s tables. The big advantage was that the knife makers and their guests were given much more time to look at the knives and exchange 'hands on' ideas. The response was positive.
Right: A part of the show floor in the ‘Stadthalle’ in Sindelfingen.
The DMG also wants more exhibitors, while maintaining the quality of the knives. On the one hand they want to encourage more of their existing members to participate. On the other hand, according to DMG President Erich Niemeier, there are talks with guilds from other countries in order to achieve some sort of exchange. Members of a foreign guild would then be able to take part in the DMG exhibition; conversely, DMG members would have easy access to foreign meetings. Another initiative is a table for young knife makers, who can present themselves there to a wide audience. It is a matter of patience, Niemeier says. There are plenty of plans, but not everything is useful or feasible.
The accompanying pictures gives an idea of the variety of knife styles in Sindelfingen. The 19th knife show of the Messermacher Gilde will be held on September 13, 2020. European Blades Mag. will keep you informed and you can also have a look at www.deutsche-messermacher-gilde.de.
The accompanying pictures gives an idea of the variety of knife styles in Sindelfingen. The 19th knife show of the Messermacher Gilde will be held on September 13, 2020. European Blades Mag. will keep you informed and you can also have a look at www.deutsche-messermacher-gilde.de.
Left: Scrimshaw artist Eva Halat had this creative presentation on her table.
Right: A folding dagger by Friedrich Schneider. The framelock knife has a blade from Inox Damask. The
titanium handles with engraving and sculpted gladiators are by master engraver Harald Schlott from Berlin.
When opened, the knife is 250 mm long.
A linerlock folder by Alfred Dobner. Blade, bolsters and backspacer are hand forged mosaic Damask from
M. Kunz. The handle is mammoth. The liners are from anodized Titanium with file work.
The ‘E21’ from Daniel Renner. The full integral knife is made from RWL/C27 Damask and the handles are
Desert Ironwood. The knife measures 189 mm.
An all-steel knife by Jens Schneider. The 165 mm knife is made from 1.3343/HSS (M2) steel and has a
Tanto blade.
Stefan Steigerwald is famous for his Steampunk knives, but this is something different. Silversmith Georg
Schibalski from Kiel came up with a knife handle in the shape of a rhinoceros, inspired by the famous
‘Rhinecerus’ wood carving from 1515, made by German artist Albrecht Dürer. Steigerwald made the blade,
thus creating “Dürer’s knife”. The blade is N690, which was etched to give it relief. The handle is not cast,
but made from pieces of 925 silver, soldered together. The overall length of the knife is ca. 260 mm.
A fixed blade by Thomas Hauschild. The blade is home-forged 1.2442 (115W8), 1.3505 (100Cr6) and 60Ni20
Damask. The metalwork is ancient puddle iron. The handle is sea cow bone.
Attila Kertész (AFK-Knives) made this “Tuareg Harmony”. The blade is mosaic Damask by Gregory
Veriznikov, the handle materials are Titanium and mammoth ivory. The wonderful scrimshaw work was
done by Attila Harmat. The knife measures 330 mm.
A fixed blade by Erich Niemeier. The 7.4 cm blade is made from RWL-34, the handle is a combination
of Titanium Damask, Stellar’s sea cow rib, and Bog oak. The overall length is 18 cm.
The “Dragon”, a sub hilt fighter by Janusz Kozolubski. The blade is mosaic Damask, the handle Walrus.
The overall length is 24 cm. The sheath is Ray skin.
József Fazekas (Pyraster) named this wonderful dagger “Sak” (Chess). The guard is shaped like two bishops,
the handle ends in a tower, and the centre of the blade has the structure of a chess board. The blade is a
combination of mosaic Damask and torsion Damask, the handle is Mammoth ivory, fibre and blued iron.
The overall length is 33 cm.
A framelock folder by Metin Anan. The blade is Balbach Inox Damask, the handle scales are Titanium.
It’s hard to see from the picture, but this little neck knife by Dirk Rönnau measures only just over 10 cm.
The blade is torsion Damask, the handle is Mammoth ivory, Silver and Thuja wood.
Wolfhard Sollorz made this elegant dagger with an accompanying steel scabbard. The dagger is from
ATS34 steel, with a handle made from stainless steel and Mammoth ivory. The overall length is 270 mm.
The scabbard is made from stainless steel, and has a microfiber inlay to avoid scratching. The knob on
the scabbard has a Mammoth ivory inlay.
A fixed blade by Richard Zirbes. The knife is made from CPM440V steel, the handle is Indian water buffalo,
with a white scrimshaw of the back of a female nude. The overall length of the knife is 218 mm.
The Gary Headrick # 11. In this linerlock folder, he used his last piece of this particular Hank Knickmeyer
Damask for the bolsters, which has motifs of spiders, acorns, Halloween masks and an occasional middle
finger. The blade is Friedrich Schneider Inox Damask, and the handle material is black pearl. The overall
length of the knife is 21.5 cm.
The “Yatagan” is a backlock folding knife made by Johann Klemm. The blade is RWL34, the handle is
Ebony. When opened, the knife measures 190 mm.
Eberhard Kaljumae always makes a special knife for the DMG show in Sindelfingen. This is his 2019 Year
Knife. The full integral knife is made from torsion Damask and measures 260 mm. The handle scales are
(white) Ivory on one side and (black) Buffalo horn on the other. Each has scrimshaw with half a buffalo’s head.
The “Dark Warrior” by Robert Lazinsky. The blade is N9E (1.1830) steel, selectively hardened and the
handle is Bog Oak and Nickel Silver. The overall length of the knife is 337 mm.
A backlock folding knife by Hermann Schmitt. The blade is Damasteel, the handle has Titanium liners, Bronze bolsters and Wildebeest horn scales.
Johannes Ebner calls this knife “Stealth”. The blade is Ebner Damask, the handle is an intricate composition
of Carbon fibre, Mokume Gane Shibuichi, Shakudo, Silver, Copper and Gold. The overall length of this miracle
is 25 cm and it comes in a custom made wooden box.
Polish knife maker Bartosz Hermann presented this “Dragonfly”, a linerlock folding knife with an M390 blade and Titanium GrV handle. The overall length is 225 mm.
Hermann Masshammer has developed something very remarkable: a slip joint knife with an adjustable
spring tension. The secret is on the inside of the handle, but the main idea is that of a divided spring,
where the pressure on the front part of the spring (which controls the friction force on the blade) can be
adjusted through a screw in the rear part, from practically zero to stiff.
The “Osik”, a fixed blade by Markus Becker. The blade and bolster are his own Inox Damask, the handle is Osik.
Italian knife maker Paolo Petricca presented this “Serengeti”. The blade and bolsters are Carbon Damask,
made by Alessandro Simonetti. The handle is Mammoth ivory, with scrimshaw by Sara Petricca, representing
images of Africa.
Ludwig Fruhmann made this integral knife from Damasteel and Mother of Pearl. The overall length is 185 mm.
A little linerlock gentleman’s folding knife by Michael Henninger. The blade is made from Balbach Pyramid/Rose Damask, the handle is Titanium with Carbon Fibre inlays. Unfolded, the knife measures 15 cm.
Steffen Bender calls this knife “EDC CF NX”. That may seem a bit confusing, but it explains it all: the
Everyday Carry (EDC) knife has Carbon Fibre (CF) handle scales and is made from Niolox (NX).