Robert Klaas, Solingen-Ohligs | RZM M7/37
The Robert Klaas Feine Solinger Stahlwaren company traces its beginnings back to 1834, with the pen knife company "Daniel Pauls." Daniel Pauls (1798-1863) had a flourishing business selling penknives throughout Germany and in the United States in 1850. At the age of 26, Robert Klaas (1831-1908) trained as a scissor maker and married Pauls' daughter. Pauls died six years later, and left his entire estate to his daughter and son-in-law Robert Klaas. Klaas then merged his scissor business with the penknife business, and entered his own name in the Solingen register on February 10, 1869. Success and production grew rapidly and the factory expanded several times over the following years. When Robert Klaas retired in 1897, his sons: Walter (1858-1912) and Ernst (1860-1916) assumed control of the company. Max Klaas, the third son, moved to the United States in 1889 to manage the sales in North America. Fritz Röntgen, joined the company as a clerk and married Frieda Klaas, Walter's daughter, in 1906. When Walter Klaas died in 1912, Ernst Klaas made Fritz Röntgen a partner. Four years later Ernst passed and Röntgen was appointed as manager of the firm. The Robert Klaas trademark (commonly known by collectors as "kissing kranes"), was registered as two storks (störche, a completely different species), in 1893. The initial trademark did not have their beaks touching. Storks were known as cranes (kranich) in the United States so Klaas registered the "Crane Brand" trademark as well to help facilitate exports to North America. Frank Röntgen (1911-1983, son of Fritz Röntgen and Frieda Klaas) joined in the late 1920s. He was placed in charge of South American sales, during the mid-1930s, and became a partner in 1947. In 1920, Robert Klaas was listed as a manufacturer of: pocket knives, scissors and straight razors. Advertisements from the same era often promote a much wider range of products, including: pocket and pen knives, professional, hunting, gardening and grafting knives and hair clippers. There are no early records of involvement with military swords, daggers or bayonets. In 1934, Klaas celebrated its centennial anniversary and the city of Solingen renamed the street that leads to the building "Robert-Klaas-Strasse". 1935 records show the company situated on Robert-Klaas-Strasse 37. Come the Third Reich era, Robert Klaas supplied the NSDAP and Wehrmacht with edged weapons. In the early period, Klaas manufactured some of the finest quality ss daggers and beautifully hand enhanced Army daggers. A 1938 sales catalog lists several types of: Army swords, Army, 1st & 2nd Model Luftwaffe and Navy daggers, DJ & Forestry hirschfängers, dress, fire and police bayonets, HJ knives and SA/NSKK daggers as well as several fine etchings for swords and bayonets. The first page illustrates Klaas's sought after fanned P-guard art deco sword. Klaas used the RZM M7/37 (1935) number, the ss contract code RZM 1051/38 ss (1938) and the bayonet letter-code "ltk" (September 1943). Third Reich edged weapons by Robert Klaas remains recognized for their quality and exclusive manufacturing characteristics. In 1938, Hugo Schiesen, a grandson of Ernst Klaas, also joined the business where he worked until 1991. Trading stopped in 1945, but soon after recommenced. Hugo Schiesen's two sons, Hans-Gerd and Ernst Jurgen Schiesen, followed their father in 1961. In 1983, Klaas purchased the "Hahn und Henne" or "Hen & Rooster", better known by Third Reich collectors as "C. Bertram Reinh. Sohn" (best known for their rare ss daggers). Klaas later purchased the "Böntgen & Sabin" (Bonsa) firm (a rare maker of SA daggers). Robert Klaas pocket knives were in great demand, especially in the USA. Klaas is now on Pfeil Strasse 37 in Solingen. The company continues to make pocket knives and continues to use the Hen & Rooster trademark.
| Maker | Robert Klaas |
| Location | Solingen-Ohligs |
| RZM Number | RZM M7/37 | RZM 1051/38 SS |
| Trademark | kissing kranes |
| Founded | 1834 |
Looking to sell your dagger or sword? We are always buying. Please, Contact us we would be happy to assist you.
Reference:
Hogle, N. (2021). The Collector’s Guide to Hitler Youth Knives.