Traditional manufacturer of handmade pocket knives and stilettos from Solingen.
Friedrich Hartkopf e.K.
Solingen, GermanyNew on Amplifa
The Manufactory
The pocket knife manufactory Friedrich Hartkopf e.K. has existed in Solingen since 1890 and produces high-quality pocket knives and stilettos by hand. The range comprises around 210 different variants, from traditional pocket knives and hunting pocket knives to the traditional costume stiletto. A lockback knife with a single blade involves well over 60 work steps from raw material to finished product. The blades are made of stainless steel (e.g. 1.4034, 1.4110, 1.4116) or Damascus steel, the bolsters of solid nickel silver, and the handle scales of genuine hardwood scales such as ebony, padauk, coconut wood, olive wood and snakewood. The liner (blank frame) is made of brass. Distribution is exclusively through specialized retailers; there is no factory outlet. The company is based at Donaustraße 36 in Solingen.
- Site
- Solingen
- Processes
- Pocket knife and stiletto manufacturing by hand, Handcrafting of pocket knives and stilettos, Distribution exclusively through specialized retailers (no factory outlet), Advice and service beyond the statutory warranty period
- Materials
- 1.4034, 1.4110, 1.4116, Damascus steel 300-layer wild Damascus, Damascus steel 300-layer Damascus with small roses, Damascus steel stainless 145-layer rose Damascus, Nickel silver, Brass
- Founded
- 1890
- Industries
- Knife/manufactured goods, Hunting/outdoor knives, Traditional costume fashion accessories
- 01
Raw material (blade steel, nickel silver, brass, wood)
- 02
Handcrafting of the blades
- 03
Production of bolsters, liners and handle scales
- 04
Assembly
- 05
Final inspection and service
Materials
Stainless steel 1.4034
Blade steel for pocket knives and stilettos.
Stainless steel 1.4110
Blade steel for pocket knives and stilettos.
Stainless steel 1.4116
Blade steel for pocket knives and stilettos.
Damascus steel (Balbach)
300-layer wild Damascus, 300-layer Damascus with small roses, and stainless 145-layer rose Damascus for Damascus blades.
Nickel silver
Solid bolsters of the pocket knives.
Brass
Liners (blank frames) of the knives.
Ebony
Genuine hardwood scales for the handle scales.
Padauk
Genuine hardwood scales for the handle scales.
Coconut wood
Genuine hardwood scales for the handle scales.
Olive wood
Genuine hardwood scales for the handle scales.
Snakewood
Genuine hardwood scales for the handle scales.
Sites
Solingen
DEProduction and administration
- Materials
- Stainless steel, Damascus steel, nickel silver, brass, wood
- Handcrafting
Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket knife and stiletto manufacturing by handAssembly | – | – | – | – | Stainless steel, Damascus steel, Nickel silver, Brass, Wood |
Additional services
History
- 1890
Founded by pen-blade etcher Friedrich Wilhelm Hartkopf in Solingen (Obernkatternberg 8).
- 1893
Purchase of the 'Maschine' premises at Untenkatternberg 18 from the Stadt-Sparkasse Solingen and relocation; part of the 80 workstations was rented out to home workers.
- 1919
Purchase of the property at Hochstraße 48a through to Bergstraße 51 and relocation of production to Bergstraße.
- 1921
Death of the founder; the company passed to his sons Karl, Kuno and Richard Hartkopf.
- 1932
High bad debts due to the global economic crisis; bankruptcy averted through a composition (settlement) proceeding.
- 1939
Sale of the property at Hochstraße and Bergstraße; relocation of manufacturing to Zweigstraße 12.
- 1953
Sale of the 'Maschine' premises at Untenkatternberg 18.
- 1959
Termination of the business premises at Zweigstraße 12 and purchase of the property at Donaustraße 36.
- 1960
Move to Donaustraße 36; after the death of Richard Hartkopf, the company passed to his son Günter Hartkopf.
- 2008
Purchase of the company by son Holger Hartkopf, who added stiletto production.
- 2015
125th company anniversary.