Boker Knives’ Humble Beginnings in Germany

The history of Boker knives began in the 17th century in Remscheid, Germany. The first Boeker company was merely a small tool factory shaded by a very big chestnut tree. 100 years later, their tools were still among the most important products available in Germany and the surrounding area. Their strict adherence to quality and fine workmanship was likely the reason for their booming business.

Due to political chaos in 1829, brothers Hermann and Robert Boeker made up their minds to product sabers. By September 1830, records show that 64 smiths, 47 grinders, and contingent of unskilled workers were producing 2,000 items per week. The Boeker family were cognizant of the increasing need in the world for an assortment of tools and cutting instruments. This generated a window of opportunity for them to grow.

H. Boker & Co. in the U.S.

With plans of growing their enterprise, they resolved to extend their production to other countries. So in 1837, Hermann emigrated to New York and founded H. Boker & Co. in the United States. Since many Americans found it difficult to say the family name, Hermann removed the first ‘e’ for the company name. Robert, the younger brother, chose Canada to start his first enterprise. Robert started another branch in Mexico called Casa Boker in 1865 that still exists today as a major hardware store.

Back in Germany, their cousin Heinrich Boeker moved to nearby Solingen which was experiencing a substantial expansion in the cutting tools industry. He established Heinr. Boeker & Co. in 1869 with a well-known cutting tools specialist by the name of Hermann Heuser. The balance of the Boeker family including Remscheid, New York, Canada and Mexico were all extremely eager about Heinrich’s new venture. This is due to the fact he was producing goods that were popular such as scissors, shaving blades, and pocket knives.

Tree Brand Symbol

Regrettably, there was a recognition problem for Heinrich’s products outside of Germany. Heinrich felt that the tree design that symbolized the chestnut tree near the first workshop was perfect because it would be easy to remember. His relatives in Remscheid owned the symbol and they generously let him to utilize it for his own products without charging him a dime. After that, every single Boeker product has left the Solingen plant with the mark of the tree symbol on it.

As early as 1900, articles made by Boeker were chiefly distributed in the U.S. market. H. Boker & Co. in New York concentrated mainly on distributing the Solingen plant’s cutting implements. In a short while, pocket knives were in more demand than scissors, shaving blades, and eating utensils. When Solingen wasn’t able to keep up with the growing demand, the American Boker company began to produce pliers and pocket knives themselves in the early 1900s.

By this time, the tree symbol had become familiar worldwide. Luckily for the American Boekers, they had maintained their close bond with their Remscheid relatives. Like their cousin Heinrich, they were granted permission to use the tree symbol on their American-made products. Now the American market had two different lines of Boker knives with the same brand name — occasionally they even had the same article numbers although one was made in the U.S. and one in Germany. Only the declaration of marketability identified the difference as “H. Boker Improved Cutlery Solingen” or “Boker USA”.

Boker Solingen Bombed During World War II

Their good association was sharply cut off as a consequence of WWII. The Boeker factory was razed to the ground during a two day Allied bombing raid on Solingen in late 1944. Absolutely nothing survived the fire — no tools, equipment, samples, or catalogs. Luckily some original Boeker pieces survived the war in personal homes and were later made available to the company.

After the war, the seizure of one of their most important possessions pursuant to American law was probably more harmful than the bombed out building: The tree trademark’s official record for the American market was gone. As a result, John Boeker Jr. in New York registered the tree symbol to make sure it was available for distributing American and German products.

The destroyed factory in Solingen was rebuilt once more at the end of the war. Showing their dedication, a lot of the skillful workers that got through the war helped rebuild the factory. Once manufacturing started again, it took some time to reattain their high caliber of quality and even more to increase production. Continuing their relationship where they left off, their New York cousins started placing orders again. In only a few years, Boker in New York grew into their principal customer again.

Cooper Industries Obtains Boker USA

Boker USA was sold in the early 1960s. Later it was bought by Wiss & Sons, an established scissor manufacturer. Wiss proceeded with manufacturing Boker knives and sold them together with the Solingen products. Needless to say, they effectively wiped out their major competition in the U.S. scissor market.

In the early 1970s, Wiss sold Boker USA to a multinational company, Cooper Industries, an industrial giant. Cooper worked meticulously with Boker USA to reinstate the original high regard for the Boker name. After eight years, the Solingen facility was able to streamline its production and build new, modern products. Boker now produces and distributes the largest selection of high-quality knives available for both sportsmen and collectors. Boker in Solingen has produced Cooper’s popular knives since 1983 when Cooper discontinued producing its own knives.

Cooper generously reinstituted the Boker trademark rights to the German Boker Company in 1986 which made them capable of being successful again in America’s huge market. Concurrently, they set up Boker USA Inc. in Boulder, Colorado.

Boker Celebrates 140 Years of Making Knives

Since Heinrich Boeker started the factory in Solingen, 2009 is Boker’s 140th anniversary. Boker has been releasing one special edition collector’s knife every month to celebrate their long tradition of making knives. Only 140 pieces of each anniversary knife have been made except for the Camp Knife which is 1,869 pieces. The diversity of Boker’s models is obvious in these 12 models in both materials and designs. Each knife comes with a certificate, shows the 140th anniversary logo, and is serialized. Boker collectors will certainly enjoy these knives for years to come!

Boker companies that still exist presently are:

  • Heinr. Boker Baumwerk GmbH in Solingen, Germany
  • Boker USA, Inc. in Denver, Colorado, USA
  • Boker Arbolito, S.A. in Buenos Aires
  • Casa Boker S.A. de C.V. in Mexico

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