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German Blade Maker Marks


For collectors, historians and researchers alike, manufactures and maker marks for German blade and edged weapon producers prior to 1945 is a vast and incredible study. Solingen was blessed with abundant iron ore, charcoal, and water power, allowing it to emerge as the infamous "The City of Blades". Forging became an integral part of Solingen’s economy and the industrialization of Germany. Prior to the 1930's production was dispersed with multiple smaller "cottage" companies throughout the city. Around 1933, there were approximately 250 known and practicing blade manufactures. While the vast majority of production occurred in Solingen, there were also makers in: Steinbach, Suhl, Berlin, Riemberg, Schmalkalden, Wien and others.

After the rise of the NSDAP, legislation and guidelines instituted by the Reichszeugmeisterei der NSDAP, required approved manufacturing contracts. In 1934, a RZM production license was required to be purchased in order to continue manufacturing blades for the NSDAP. After c.June 1935, there were 65 approved manufacturers. Blades were then required to have the companies specific RZM identification code applied to each piece, where the companies marking would had been previously. In the early stages of the RZM "Transitional" maker marks could be observed with both the early maker mark and the RZM mark. By 1942, production fell to even fewer manufacturers, as raw materials were required for the war effort. Come the defeat of the Third Reich in May 1945, these artifacts became war trophies brought home by the victorious allied soldiers. Today these knives are avidly sought by collectors not only for their beauty and rarity but also for their workmanship and history.

Here is a list of manufacturers with some of their various markings and a brief history of each company.

Maker Mark Company and Location RZM Code RZM Mark
Gebrüder Christians Christianswerk, Solingen RZM M7/1 | RZM 1202/38 SS
Emil Voos, Solingen RZM M7/2 | RZM 1166 SS
Kuno Ritter Hubertus, Solingen-Gräfrath RZM M7/3
August Müller Bismarck, Solingen-Merscheid RZM M7/4
Carl Julius Krebs, Solingen RZM M7/5
H. & F. Lauterjung, Solingen RZM M7/6
Hermann Konejung, Solingen RZM M7/7
Eduard Gembruch, Solingen-Gräfrath RZM M7/8
SMF, Solingen RZM M7/9 | RZM 1198/38 SS
J. A. Henckels Zwilingswerk, Solingen RZM M7/10 | RZM 15/38 SS
E. Knecht & Co., Solingen RZM M7/11
Waffenfabrik Max Weyersberg WMW Waffen, Solingen RZM M7/12
Artur Schüttelhöfer & Co. ASSO, Solingen RZM M7/13
P. D. Lüneschloss, Solingen RZM M7/14
Carl & Robert Linder Linder-Messer, Rehwappen, Solingen-Weyer RZM M7/15
Justus Brenger & Co. Justinuswerk, Solingen-Wald RZM M7/16
A. Werth, Solingen RZM M7/17
Richard Abr. Herder, Solingen RZM M7/18
Ed. Wüsthof Dreizackwerk, Solingen RZM M7/19 | RZM 1196/38 SS
Ernst Mandewirth, Solingen RZM M7/20 | RZM M7/89
Hermann Schneider Schiffmarke, Solingen RZM M7/21
Wilh. Weltersbach Hubertus, Nimrod, Weidmannsheil, Solingen RZM M7/22
Carl Halbach, Solingen RZM M7/23
Reinh. Weyersberg, Solingen 3 RZM M7/24
Wilh. Wagner, Solingen-Merscheid RZM M7/25
Carl August Meis G.M.B.H. CAM, Solingen RZM M7/26
Lauterjung & Sohn Puma, Solingen RZM M7/27 | RZM 1052/38 SS
Gustav Felix Gloriawerk, Solingen RZM M7/28
Klittermann & Moog GMBH, Haan b/ Solingen RZM M7/29
Gebr. Gräfrath Gräwiso Solingen, Solingen RZM M7/30
August Merten Wwe Eichenlaub, Solingen-Gräfrath RZM M7/31
Robert Müller & Sohn ROMÜSO, Solingen-Merscheid RZM M7/32
F. W. Höller, Solingen RZM M7/33
Carl Rudolf Jacobs, Solingen-Gräfrath RZM M7/34
Wilhelm Halbach, Solingen RZM M7/35
E. & F. Hörster, Solingen RZM M7/36
Robert Klaas, Solingen-Ohligs RZM M7/37 | RZM 1051/38 SS
Paul Seilheimer, Solingen RZM M7/38
Franz Steinhoff GmbH Mobile, Solingen RZM M7/39
Hartkopf & Co., Solingen RZM M7/40
Rudolf Schmidt, Solingen RZM M7/41
WKC, Solingen RZM M7/42
Paul Weyersberg & Co., Solingen RZM M7/43
F. W. Backhaus, Solingen-Ohligs RZM M7/44
Karl Böcker, Solingen RZM M7/45
Emil Gierling, Solingen RZM M7/46
Paul Ebel, Solingen RZM M7/47
Otto Simon, Steinbach Kr.M. RZM M7/48
Friedr. Herder Abr. Sohn, Solingen RZM M7/49
Gebrüder Heller, Marienthal RZM M7/50
Anton Wingen Jr., Solingen RZM M7/51
Herbertz & Meurer, Solingen-Gr. RZM M7/52
Gust. Weyersberg Nachf., Solingen RZM M7/53
Gottfried Müller, Herges-Vogtei RZM M7/54
Robert Herder Windmühlenmesser, Solingen-Ohligs RZM M7/55
C.D. Schaaff, Solingen RZM M7/56
Peter Lungstrass, Solingen-Ohligs RZM M7/57
Louper, Louis Perlmann Flamme, Solingen RZM M7/58
C. Lütters & Co. Löwenwerk, Solingen RZM M7/59
Gustav Ludwig Köller Nachf., Solingen RZM M7/60
Carl Tillmanns Söhne LUX, Solingen RZM M7/61
Friedrich Plücker jr., Solingen RZM M7/62
Herder & Engels, Solingen-Ohligs RZM M7/63
Friedrich Geigis, Solingen-Foche RZM M7/64
Carl Heidelberg, Solingen RZM M7/65
Carl Eickhorn Original Carl Eickhorn, Solingen RZM M7/66 | RZM 941/38 SS
Gottlieb Hammesfahr, Solingen-Foche RZM M7/67
Tiger Tigerwerk Lauterjung & Co., Solingen RZM M7/68 | RZM 1316/40 SS
H. A. Erbe AG, Schmalkalden RZM M7/69
David Malsch, Steinbach RZM M7/70 | RZM 1164/38 SS
Hermann Hahn, Solingen Wald RZM M7/71
Karl Robert Kaldenbach, Solingen-Gr. RZM M7/72
F. & A. Helbig Gaesler, Steinbach RZM M7/73 | RZM 1163/38 SS
Frieder. Aug. Schmitz, Solingen RZM M7/74
Heinrich Böker & Co., Solingen RZM M7/75
Herbeck & Meyer, Solingen-Höhscheid RZM M7/76
Gustav Schneider, Solingen RZM M7/77
Herm. Linder Söhn, Solingen RZM M7/78
C. Bertram Reinhard & Sohn, Solingen RZM M7/79
C. Gustav Spitzer, Solingen RZM M7/80 | RZM 1197 SS
Karl Tiegel Tiegelwerk, Riemberg. Schl. RZM M7/81 | RZM 1241/39 SS
Gebrüder Born, Solingen RZM M7/82
Richard Plümacher Sohn, Solingen RZM M7/83
Carl Schmidt Sohn, Solingen RZM M7/84
Arthur Evertz AES, Solingen RZM M7/85
C. Remscheid & Co. REMEVE, Solingen RZM M7/86
Malsch & Ambron, Steinbach RZM M7/87
J. A. Schmidt & Sohne, Riemberg i. Schlesien RZM M7/88
Eickelnberg & Mack, Solingen RZM M7/90
Carl Malsch Spitzer, Steinbeck Kr. M. RZM M7/91 | RZM 1221/39 SS
Peter Daniel Krebs, Solingen RZM M7/92
Ewald Cleff, Solingen RZM M7/93
Gebr. Bell, Solingen RZM M7/94
J. A. Schmidt & Soehne, Solingen RZM M7/95
Rich. Drees & Sohn, Solingen RZM M7/96
F Koeller & Co., Solingen-Ohligs RZM M7/97
Ernst Erich Witte Kroneck, Solingen RZM M7/98 | RZM M7/183
Franz Weinrank, Wien RZM M7/99
Pils Franz Söhne, Postfach 10, Steinbach RZM M7/100
Fritz Weber, Wein RZM M7/101
Franz Pils & Söhne, Steinbach RZM M7/102
Josef Hack Hack-Werke, Wien RZM M7/103
Ludwig Zeitler, Wien RZM M7/104
Rudolf Wurzer, St. Christophen RZM M7/105
Georg Kerschbaumer, Steinbach an der Steyr RZM M7/106
Karl Oschmann & Co., Brotterode i. Th. RZM M7/108
Thomas Wielpütz, Solingen-Höscheid RZM M7/109
Felbeck & Pickard, Solingen RZM M7/110
H. Herder, Solingen RZM M7/111
Carl Wüsthof Gladiatorwerk, Solingen RZM M7/112
Berndorfer Metaliwarenfabrik - Arthur Krupp AG., Berndorf RZM M7/113
Hugo Linder C. W. Sohn LINOR, Solingen-Weyer RZM M7/114
Erhardt Reich, Schweina RZM M7/115
Franz Frenzel Frenixwerk, Nixdorf RZM M7/116
Julius Pilz Söhne, Nixdorf RZM M7/117
Jacobs & Co., Solingen-Gräfrath RZM M7/118 | RZM M7/29
Artur Wingen Chromolit, Solingen
Carl Linder, Solingen Merscheid
Ernst Grah, Solingen-Wald
Friedrich von der Kohlen, Solingen
Gebr. Lützenkirchen, Solingen
Gustav Voss, Solingen
Hammesfahr & Cie., Solingen
Hugo Köller, Solingen
Ludwig Groten, Solingen
Wagner & Lange, Solingen
August Bickel, Steinbach-Hallenberg
Julius Bodenstein, Steinbach Kr.M.
Gebr. Böhme Nachfl., Brotterode
Ernst Bonsmann, Solingen
Böntgen & Sabin, Solingen
Ernst Bruckmann Mann, Solingen-Ohligs
Rudolf Büchel, Solingen-Merscheid
Gebr Halbach Bulldog, Solingen-Ohligs
Ernst Busch, Solingen
Clemen & Jung, Solingen
E. H. Otto Curdts Nachf., Solingen
F. Dick, Esslingen
Ernst Dirlam Hoffnungswerk, Solingen
J. Dirlam & Söhne, Solingen
J. E. Dittert & Co., Neustadt i. SA.
Albert Dörschel, Solingen
C. Eppenstein Sohne, Solingen
Rob. Giersch, Solingen
Giesen & Forsthoff, Solingen
Carl Grah, Solingen-Ohligs
G. Reinhold Grah, Solingen-Foche
Carl Haas, Sol.-Wald
R. Haastert & Büll, Solingen-Wald
HACO, Berlin
C. G. Haenel Waffen-u. Fahrrad-Fabrik, Suhl
Eugen Haering, Solingen
Gust. Häker, Solingen
Rich. & E. Hartkopf, Solingen
Gebrüder Heller, Schmalkalden
Henkel & Müller Macero, Solingen-O.
Herder & Sohn Diogenes, Solingen-Ohligs
Wilhelm Hoppe, Solingen
Johanniswerk, Gefrees, Bayern
F.W. Jordan, Solingen
Emil Kaiser & Co., Solingen
Kaufmann & Söhne, Solingen
C.F. Kayser, Solingen
F. A. Kirschbaum & Co., Solingen
Carl Kloos, Solingen Landwehr
Aug. Knecht, Solingen
Koch & Rau KR, Solingen
Wilh. Kober & Co., Suhl
Paul Kohl, Solingen
Wilh. Krieger, Solingen-Merscheid
HCH. Krom, München
Gebr. Krumm, Solingen
Gebr. Krusius Gazelle, Solingen
Carl Fr. Kührt, Zella-Mehlis
Aug. Küllenberg, Solingen-Gr.
LEUCO, Bayern
Johann Leupold, Bayreuth
Hugo Linder Deltawerk, Solingen
Otto Linder, Solingen-M.
E. Lüttges & Co., Solingen
Aug. Malsch Fr. Sohn, Steinbach Kr. M.
Karl Malsch Gust. Sohn, Steinbach Kr. Mein
May & vom Hau, Solingen-Ohligs
Albert Mebus, Solingen
Artur Melcher ARMESO, Solingen-Merscheid
Melzer & Feller, Zella-Mehlis
Pfeilringwerk, Solingen
Joseph Münch, Brotterode
C. Gustav Neeff, Solingen
Neidhardt & Schmidt, Brotterode
Ferd. Neuhaus, Solingen
Küpper & Oertling Neptun, Solingen
F. Ed. Ohliger, Solingen
Julius Ohliger, Solingen
Daniel Peres, Solingen
Hugo Rader, Solingen
Ernst Hugo Rasspe, Solingen
Kuno Meissenburg Undine, Solingen
Josef Reuleaux, Solingen-Wald
Ernst Römer, Solingen
August Rother, Solingen
Ernst Röttgen, Solingen
Perfectum Ewald Spitzer, Solingen
Eugen Scheidt, Solingen-Ohligs
C. Schlieper, Solingen
Jos. Schlimbach, Solingen
Abraham Schnittert WASSO, Solingen-Wald
E. Schrick, Sohn, Solingen
Hugo Servatius, Solingen
Spalteneder, Muchen
Otto Stover, Solingen
Sudd. Messerfabrik, Gefrees
Gebr. Torley, Solingen
Eduard Vitting, Solingen
Adolf Volker, Schmalkalden
F. von Brosy-Steinberg, Solingen
Waffenhammer Max Kaiser, Deggendorf
Wester & Butz, Solingen
Gottfried Weyersberg Söhne, Solingen
Gustav Wirth, Solingen-Gräfrath
Josef Wolf, München-Au
Isaac Wolfertz, Solingen
Carl Zander Kwick, Solingen
Paul A. Henckels, Solingen
Ernst Pack & Söhne, Solingen
Aesculap Jetter & Scheerer, Tuttlingen
Curt Hoppe, Solingen
Gottfried Hoppe Söhne, Solingen
Solinger Axt- und Hauerfabrik, Solingen
Julius Bahrl Jr., Solingen
Richard Balke & Söhne, Solingen
Fritz Barthelmess, Muggendorf Bavaria
Eduard Becker Kolumbuswerk, Solingen
Gebr. Becker, Solingen
Carl Bender, Solingen
Gebr. Berns Otter, Solingen
Hugo Berns Hubeo, Solingen-Ohligs
Karl Burgsmüller, Berlin-Charlottenburg 5.
Ernst Kemper, Solingen
H. Kolping, Solingen
H.W. Pauseback, Solingen
Gebr. Weyersberg, Solingen
J.P. Sauer & Sohn, Suhl

There are many other makers that are not listed here. I expect to add more with time. Some additional maker marks include:

  • Aschenbach CIE, Solingen-Grafrath
  • Gunter Bastian, Solingen
  • Curten & Holtgen, Solingen
  • Feldbeck & Pickard, Solingen
  • Grah Gebr., KG (Grasoliwerk), Solingen
  • Carl Kaiser & Co, Solingen
  • Georg Kerschbaumer, Steinbach
  • Friedrich Koch (Friedrichwerk), Solingen
  • Heinrich Krieghoff, Suhl
  • Arter Krupp AG, Berndorf
  • Kupper & Sohnius (Fleischerwerk), Solingen-Remscheid
  • Ottersbach & Co., Solingen
  • Pumeto, Solingen
  • Albert Rottgen, Solingen
  • Franz Rupprecht, Duren
  • Gustav Schneider Nachf, Solingen
  • Gebr Wester (Fridericus), Solingen