DMG show Sindelfingen
The ‘Stadthalle’ in Sindelfingen is a combination of theatre and reception hall. The exhibition of the German Knife Maker Guild is held in the spacious walkways.
DMG show Sindelfingen
On September 9th, the German Messer Macher Gilde (Knife Maker Guild) held its fall show in Sindelfingen, near Stuttgart. European Blades Mag. went there for a report.
Text and pictures Bas Martens
The German Opel car company recently had a series of television commercials (maybe only outside Germany), in which prospective clients in the salesroom are surprised with the value for money they get. “You must be joking”, they react, whereupon the salesman sternly responds: “Germans don’t make jokes”.
Well, I have had some very good laughs with German friends, so I know that Germans dò make jokes. But most of them also take their work very seriously. Even more so when they are knife makers and members from the German Messer Macher Gilde (Knife Makers Guild). The shows of the Guild demonstrate the best craftsmanship the members have to offer, and that is often quite impressive.
Text and pictures Bas Martens
The German Opel car company recently had a series of television commercials (maybe only outside Germany), in which prospective clients in the salesroom are surprised with the value for money they get. “You must be joking”, they react, whereupon the salesman sternly responds: “Germans don’t make jokes”.
Well, I have had some very good laughs with German friends, so I know that Germans dò make jokes. But most of them also take their work very seriously. Even more so when they are knife makers and members from the German Messer Macher Gilde (Knife Makers Guild). The shows of the Guild demonstrate the best craftsmanship the members have to offer, and that is often quite impressive.
A small part of the spacious show floor.
This year’s show in Sindelfingen was no exception, as shown by the accompanying pictures. But in some respects, it was different as well. First of all, the general assembly choose a new president: Erich Niemeier (51), a vice-chief of police and knife maker. He takes the place of long-time president Joe Pöhler, who announced last year that he would step down. Niemeier looks at the task with great optimism.
For those who want to visit Sindelfingen: the 18th knife show of the Messer Macher Gilde will be held there again in September 2019. European Blades will keep you informed. You can also have a look at www.deutsche-messermacher-gilde.de.
For those who want to visit Sindelfingen: the 18th knife show of the Messer Macher Gilde will be held there again in September 2019. European Blades will keep you informed. You can also have a look at www.deutsche-messermacher-gilde.de.
Erich Niemeier is the new president of the German Knifemakers’ Guild. Of course he is also a knife maker
himself. This is his ‘Titanium Hunter’. The blade is Balbach Damascus, the guard Balbach Titanium Damascus
and the handle is Desert Ironwood. The bright leather sheath for the 23 cm long knife is made of biological
Calloway cow.
The ‘Twister’ by German knife maker Joe Pöhler. The name, of course, stems from the twisted handle.
The 140 mm long knife is made of one piece of Balbach Damascus.
German knife maker Dirk Rönnau (Rönnau Messer) presented this carving set. Knife and
fork are made of Damasteel, and the handles are a combination of hybrid-wood, fossil
Wisent bone and Mammoth ribs. The accompanying sheaths are made of leather with
ray skin inserts.
German knife maker Eckhard Schmoll made this elegant folder. The blade is laminated Damascus / San Mai.
The handle is Timascus.
An intriguing neck knife by German maker Wolfhard Sollord. The one-piece knife is
made from Zlatinox with handles of bronze and mother of pearl. The sheath consist
of two parts: the actual sheath and a holder with the carrying cord which has a magnetic
closures. The actual sheath is made from stainless steel and has an microfiber insert
to prevent damage to the blade, and a mother of pearl inlay.
The overall length of the knife is 105 mm.
Top and bottom:
József Fazekas is one of a handful of professional Hungarian knife makers. His craftsmanship is
József Fazekas is one of a handful of professional Hungarian knife makers. His craftsmanship is
only equalled by his imagination – just have a look at this wonderful ‘Metamorphose’, depicting the
transition from larva, to caterpillar, to butterfly. The blade is made of 1200 layers of Damascus and
the handle is Mammoth ivory. The engraving was done by Attila Harmat.
The overall length of the knife is 270 mm.
Helmut Klein made this integral hunting knife from Hehn stainless Damascus. The handles are from Desert
Ironwood, with a hidden fixture. The engravings are from René Funk. The overall length of the knife is 230 mm.
German maker Lothar Kröger calls this knife ‘Ganz schön wellig’, which can be translated as ‘rather curved’.
The blade is made of 75Ni8 and 90MnCrV8 Damascus. The handle is Ebony and Bubinga wood, separated
by a thin curved line.
German knife maker Eberhard Kaljumae showed this linerlock folding knife. The blade is made of Damasteel
Fishbone Damascus, the handles are Mammoth Ivory with a wonderful and delicate Kingfisher engraving
by scrimshaw artist Eva Halat.
Richard Zirbes calls this knife an ‘Interframe fighter’. It could, no doubt, be used as such, but the description
sells the knife short. Colour, texture and shape of the ATS34 steel and Amboina wood inserts combine to a
wonderful design.
The ‘Cliff Double Spring’ by Gary Headrick. The blade of this folder is ATS 34, the handle is Zladinox
Timascus and Blue-Turquoise composite. The overall length is 185 mm.
The ‘Classic Drop Point’ by German maker Reinhard Tschager. The blade is Johan Gustaffson Damascus
and the handle is giraffe bone. The handle has oval gold pins, and the bolsters are gold engraved. The overall
length of the knife is 210 mm.
Hermann Schmitt made this seemingly simple but elegant hunter. The blade is N690 Böhler steel,
thehandles are Grenadille wood. The overall length of the knife is 230 mm.
Top and bottom: Gunther Löbach presented his ‘Nautilus’ already last year in Sindelfingen, but for some
reason we completely overlooked it. It is a wonderful design piece with a handle made of folding titanium
segments which, when completely folded, cover the Damascus blade. When folded, the segments are
stopped by the thumb studs on the blade.
With an overall length of 45 cm, this kitchen knife by German maker Thomas
Hauschild makes an impressive performance. The blade is home-forged 1.2442,
1.2767 and .12510 Damascus, the handle stabilized Buckeye burl. The knife
has a sheath of Wenge wood with copper pins.
An automatic folder by Alfred Dobner. The blade is made of 12C27 Sandvik steel, the handle is Mammoth.
The blade opens with the aid of the little pushbutton in the left side of the bolster. The engravings are from
Alfred Dobner himself.
Robert Łaziński from Warsaw, Poland, made this ‘Black Beauty’. The blade is a combination of mosaic
Damascus and special twist Damascus from Sergey Bobkola from Tula, Russia. The handle is African
Blackwood, stabilized mammoth tusk and nickel silver. The sheath is made from buffalo leather, made
to look like crocodile.
Janusz Kozolubski made this ‘Assassin Creed’ dagger, with an overall length of 370 mm. The blade is 5.7 mm
mosaic carbon Damascus, the handle is made from Narwhal tusk, old iron and Beryllium copper. The sheath
is python and water buffalo leather.
German maker Michael Henninger showed this integral knife made of D2 (1.2379) steel with a satin finish,
and handle inserts of walnut.