Böker () was one of the first companies to offer ceramic knives as a featured product line.

History

Böker traces its origin to the 17th century as a tool maker in Germany graduating to swords and blades by the 1800s. The company claims it was producing 2000

sabre A sabre or saber ( ) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the Early Modern warfare, early modern and Napoleonic period, Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such a ...

s a week by 1839 for use in various wars. By the 1860s the company had fractured with a branch of the family emigrating to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...

and setting up plants in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

and

The United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. The German and North American factories produced similar knives and used the "Tree Brand" trademark. This continued until

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

when the Solingen factory was destroyed and "Boker USA" took control of the trademark until the German factory was rebuilt in the 1950s. In the 1960s and 1970s the company changed hands several times, with the US facility (Hermann Boker & Co) shutting down in 1983. In 1986, Boker reacquired the rights to the American brand and Boker USA was started in Denver, Colorado for US production.

Products

The production is mainly of knives for leisure, hunting and collection, as well as those for sports and professional use for military and police bodies. There is also a production section dedicated to professional kitchen knives and shaving products, including

straight razor A straight razor is a razor with a blade that can fold into its handle. They are also called open razors and cut-throat razors. The predecessors of the modern straight razors include bronze razors, with cutting edges and fixed handles, produced ...

s. The production is divided under the brands: * ''Böker Manufaktur Solingen'' is the brand offering handmade knives of the parent company Böker in Solingen, specialized in small series productions for collectors. Among the best known products there is the ''Speedlock'' switchblade and knives with damask blades, or unique pieces such as those made of steel obtained from the cannon of the Leopard tank or from the ''Tirpitz'' battleship. * ''Böker Arbolito'' is the brand of handicraft products from the

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

factory. * ''Böker Plus'' is the Böker brand for innovative and professional products conceived and developed in Solingen and manufactured overseas. * ''Magnum by Böker'' is the brand for products conceived in Solingen and designed, developed and manufactured overseas.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Boker Companies based in Solingen Manufacturing companies of Germany Mechanical hand tools Knife manufacturing companies German brands