June 30, 2008
Old German Knife Forging Technique – Hartkopf
In the early years craftsmen used trip hammers like the one above to forge knives, scissors and other metal goods. The picture is from the Hartkopf shop probablyt around 1920.
The early trip hammers can be mill powered, using the swift waters of the Wupper river, or later steam powered.
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DID YOU KNOW?
The first Barlow pattern knife was made in England in 1667. Made by Obidiah Barlow in Sheffield.
Comments(1)
Mr. Hyde -
I happened to run across the photo you posted on an old German knife forging technique, and thought you might be the person to ask – do you happen to know anything about the history of Hartkopf knives? As you can probably guess from my name, my interest is in part genealogical in nature, but there is also a strong connection with knife making.
My grandfather, Carl August Hartkopf, worked as a knife maker for Camillus Cutlery (near Syracuse, NY) for some 49 years (his WWI registration card lists him as a blade finisher); his son Emmet worked there for 51 years, and my father and at least two of my grandfather’s brothers worked there as well, one as young as age 12. I found some evidence of a Rhinehardt Hartkopf working as a razor maker in New York, but don’t know if this is the same Rhinehardt as my grandfather’s father. Another note has my great grandfather Rhinehardt born in Salinger, Germany (perhaps it is Solingen instead?).
The Hartkopf family appears to have emigrated from Germany to New York at about the same time as the people who founded Camilus Cutlery. Given our long family history in the business, I have wondered ever since learning of the existence of Hartkopf knives whether there might be some connection between that company, Camillus Cutlery, and my family. (I planned to write to Camillus Cutlery at one point about this, only to learn they had closed some 6 weeks earlier, after well over a century in business!)
If you can shed any light on this little mystery, or perhaps let me know of a contact who might, I’d appreciate it. Thanks!
Cheers,
Bill Hartkopf