Patents: Car-Knife
In March 1959, the company Gottlieb Hammesfahr in Solingen requested the registration of a ‘Gebrauchsmuster’ (registered design), of what it called a ‘car-knife’. This was a knife with several magnets in the handle so that it was held in place, for instance in a glove compartment.
It seems like such an obvious idea: put a couple of magnets in the handle of a knife and you never have to look for it again. Yet - as far as we know - there are no knives with a holding magnet in the handle. In any case, the idea is far from new. In 1959 the firm Gottlieb Hammesfahr from Solingen requested a Gebrauchsmuster (registered design), for what it called an ‘Auto-Messer’ (car-knife). The accompanying drawing shows three different knives, each with several magnets inset into the handle. The three are a folding pocket-knife, a fruit knife and a 'Stilett' (stiletto).
The term 'car-knife' refers to the use that Hammesfahr initially had in mind: securing the knife, for example in the glove compartment of a car. As the application says:
“The loose objects carried in the car are constantly exposed to vibrations during the journey, which in the long run impair their beauty and usability due to mutual knocking around. ... In order to save searching for the knife, it is, according to the present application, held firmly to any sheet-iron wall in the glove compartment, trunk or other suitable place by one or more strong holding magnets mounted on the knife. It can be found safely and is ready for use at any time.”
Hammesfahr even mentioned the possibility that the magnets were recessed into the handle, topped with a cover plate bearing ornaments or advertising text.
As mentioned: it seems such an obvious idea. The only problem nowadays may be that there are legal restrictions on having a knife in your car.
It seems like such an obvious idea: put a couple of magnets in the handle of a knife and you never have to look for it again. Yet - as far as we know - there are no knives with a holding magnet in the handle. In any case, the idea is far from new. In 1959 the firm Gottlieb Hammesfahr from Solingen requested a Gebrauchsmuster (registered design), for what it called an ‘Auto-Messer’ (car-knife). The accompanying drawing shows three different knives, each with several magnets inset into the handle. The three are a folding pocket-knife, a fruit knife and a 'Stilett' (stiletto).
The term 'car-knife' refers to the use that Hammesfahr initially had in mind: securing the knife, for example in the glove compartment of a car. As the application says:
“The loose objects carried in the car are constantly exposed to vibrations during the journey, which in the long run impair their beauty and usability due to mutual knocking around. ... In order to save searching for the knife, it is, according to the present application, held firmly to any sheet-iron wall in the glove compartment, trunk or other suitable place by one or more strong holding magnets mounted on the knife. It can be found safely and is ready for use at any time.”
Hammesfahr even mentioned the possibility that the magnets were recessed into the handle, topped with a cover plate bearing ornaments or advertising text.
As mentioned: it seems such an obvious idea. The only problem nowadays may be that there are legal restrictions on having a knife in your car.
The drawings from Gottlieb Hammerfahr’s registered design of a ‘car-knife’, dated 16 March 1959.