Heinrich Böker & Co., Solingen | RZM M7/75
The Heinrich Böker & Co. Stahlwaren-Fabrik company was founded in Solingen in 1869 by Heinrich Böker and Hermann Heuser. Prior to that time the Böker family company traces its beginnings back to Remscheid where it manufactured pocket knives and scissors. The company expanded to sabers in 1829 and a year later, accounts of 2000 pieces a week were being made. However, with the cutlery industry exploding in Solingen, Heinrich Böker and Hermann Heuser crossed the Wupper river to set up shop at Schützenstraße 30. Hermann Böker eventually sought global opportunity and emigrated to New York to found "H. Böker & Co." Robert Böker, the younger, built a company in Canada and a subsidiary in Mexico in 1865. The famous (chestnut) tree trademark was first registered in Solingen on November 10, 1870. The company manufactured: straight razors, scissors and pocket knives in the 1880s, soon followed by table and kitchen knives and daggers, etc. Böker began sales in Britain by the 1870s. In 1900, Justus Böker and Adolf Heuser were listed as the owners. The business registered with the Solingen commercial authorities on June 4, 1904. Combat knives were manufactured in World War I. In the full page 1922 advertisement Böker explains that they exclusively used the very best steel in their products. Furthermore, their philosophy was based solely on the principle that: "The best is just good enough." This clearly showed in their craftmanship. Heuser and H. Wilhelm Böker were owners from 1925-33. During the Third Reich era, contact between the American company and German company ceased. The Solingen company manufactured: SS and RAD daggers along with HJ knives. It received it's RZM M7/75 number by 1937, yet lost it on June 2, 1943. Come 1939, Franz Buchenau was the new owner. The building, located on Schützenstraße 30, suffered a bombing and the plant burnt down completely. After the war the factory was rebuilt. Come the 1980s Böker expanded to South America with locations in Argentina and Chile. The "Böker Messershop" remains on Schützenstraße 30 to this day. It continues to be a global innovation leader and one of the largest manufacturers of: sports knives, utility knives and collector knives in Europe.
| Maker | Heinrich Böker & Co. |
| Location | Solingen |
| RZM Number | RZM M7/75 |
| Trademark | Chestnut Tree |
| Founded | 1869 |
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Reference:
Hogle, N. (2021). The Collector’s Guide to Hitler Youth Knives.