Handmade Mother of Pearl Hen & Rooster Knife

  • Handmade Mother of Pearl Hen & Rooster Knife

  • Handmade Mother of Pearl Hen & Rooster Knife

  • Handmade Mother of Pearl Hen & Rooster Knife

  • Handmade Mother of Pearl Hen & Rooster Knife

  • Handmade Mother of Pearl Hen & Rooster Knife

  • Handmade Mother of Pearl Hen & Rooster Knife

  • Handmade Mother of Pearl Hen & Rooster Knife

Handmade Mother of Pearl Hen & Rooster Knife
Hen & Rooster, Solingen, Germany
Mid 20th Century (ca. 1945 - 1950)
Stainless steel, mother of pearl, horn, brass
Blade: 12,7,cm
Hilt & Blade: 23,5cm
Hilt, Blade, Sheath: -cm
Collection Date: 2010
Collection Number: 79

The Hen & Rooster company traces its roots back to Solingen, Germany. It was started in 1845 by Carl Bertram, who was a well-known poultry businessman. He began manufacturing his own line of cutlery using the Hen and rooster logo to mark his brand around 1865. Since then, the company has been considered to be some of the world's finest cutlery, never mass produced, with superior workmanship of its hand-made knives until the firm was purchased in 1975 to A.G. Russell of Springdale, Arkansas.

The blade is straight, double- edged, made of stainless steel with a medial ridge. The ricasso at the base is marked on one side with "Hen & Rooster," and a stamped logo. On the reverse marked, "Handmade Stainless Solingen, Germany." The hilt is composed of mother of a pearl grip with stacked horn segments separated by brass spacers. Brass crossguard and pommel.

This knife likely dates to right around post World War II era, 1945 - 1950. At this time, many knives were handled in stag and mother of pearl and were considered some of the best knives on the market. This is the only example that I have found of its type. Missing its original sheath. An attractive handmade knife of quality.