World Knives: History of Solingen: Part I

Solingen Project | World Knives | Header

FREE KNIFE WITH EVERY ORDER!

THE SOLINGEN PROJECT

Call in orders call toll
free: 1-866-862-5233
Mon - Fri 9 - 5pm PST

	Nautical \| Culinary \| Blanks \| Hunting \| Horticulture \| Scandinavian \| Sheaths \| Daggers \| Pocket \| Mushroom \| Accessories \| Folding \| Bowie \| Miniature \| Tips \| News


		History of Solingen: Part I This is part I of my description of the history of Solingen, Germany as it relates to the cutlery industry.

Move mouse over map to locate country

Solingen Project | World Knives | background image

Have you joined The World Knives Gold Club yet? It's free and you will save money with deep discounts and discounted shipping for Gold Club items.

Solingen, Germany has the most dynamic history of any of the worlds “knife towns”. No other place has produced and exported as many cutlery items as has Solingen. According to some sources during the turn of the century close to 50% of all cutlery exported worldwide came from this one little German town. That’s production!

The origins of cutlery manufacture in Solingen can be traced to the Wupper river and the small grinding mills called Kottens (cottages) which used the swift moving Wupper to power their grinding wheels and trip hammers.

The Wupper Valley was not suited for agricultural purposes like much of the surrounding area. However the area was perfect for metal production. The soil was rich in iron for the production of raw material. The surrounding hardwood forests allowed for easy access to the coal necessary for the forging process. Finally, the proximity to powerful export companies allowed for easy export possibilities.
The kottens operated much like the early grist mills in New England. Harnessing the power of the swift Wupper river they allowed for increased production and created a much needed locus of industry for the area. Besides the obvious grinding and forging jobs there were several other jobs created.

Men and women were paid per piece for carrying metal goods from the Wupper Valley up the steep hillside to Solingen proper – sometimes in novel ways.

As much as a boon the emerging cutlery production was it held many of the dangers endemic to hard trade work. Unlike today the grinding wheels were made of natural stone material that was vulnerable to flaws. Many lives were lost when these large stones rotating at a high rate of speed would explode due to these natural fractures. This explosion would send sharp pieces of heavy stone in every direction injuring or killing those in close proximity.

The often cold and damp environment along with unnatural body position and grueling work would cause a host of physical problems for workers. In addition workers would suffer a form of Black Lung Disease from breathing the dust that came off the wheels while grinding.

In the coming days I will add part two and expound on the Kottens and the people who worked them.

Chris Hyde
World Knives, Ltd.

- A Few Words about Spyderco Knives - Knives and Golfclubs – Weapons? - Customer Satisfaction - 1906 Solingen Metalworker Photo - Blade Geometry by Joe Talamadge - Blade Steel Guide - Bowie Knives - Contact and Shipping Information - Culinary Knives - Custom Knives - Daggers - Design and Geometry - Deutsches Klingenmuseum (German Blade Museum) - Folding Hunters of Solingen, Germany – Gottlieb Hammesfahr Co. - Fontenille-Pataud - Free Gift Wrapping! - FREE KNIFE WITH EVERY ORDER - French Knives - Gift Ideas - Guaranteed Delivery By Christmas 2008! - History of Solingen: Part I - History of Solingen: Part II - Hunting Knives - I Buy Knives - Imported Knives - Italian Knives - J.A. Henckels 1903 – Solingen, Germany - Japanese Knives - Joker Knives - Knife Care by Jay Fisher - Knife History Documentary | The Solingen Project | World Knives - Knife Links - Knife Sharpening and Theory by Steve Bottorff - Knife Sharpening Tips by Jay Talmadge - Knife Tips - Knives - Knives of Solingen, Germany - Kubotans By CK Kubotan - Laguiole Knives - Linder Knives - LINDER SOLINGEN, GERMANY - Carl Linder Nachf. - Local Shopping - Maserin Ivo Sedazzari Steak Knives - Cutting Edge Italian Design - Mercury Knives - Miniature knives - Money Back Guarantee - Mushroom Knives - My Favorite Knife Steels - News - News - News - News - Okapi Knives - Old German Knife Forging Technique – Hartkopf - Pocket Knives - Rheinisches Industriemuseum - Scandinavian Knives - Secure On Line Ordering - Sheffield Knives - Shop Locally - Short Schrade History and Collectors Suggestion - Spanish Knives - Stag Knives - Steels Used By Knife Makers - test - The Knife: Primary Form of Art, Culture and Design – Proliferation of Use - The Knife: Primary Form of Art, Culture and Design - THE KUBOTAN: BASIC TECHNIQUE - The Perfect Gift - THE SOLINGEN PROJECT - Types of Steel - Unique Knives - Vintage Knives - Vintage Pocket Knives - Yatagan French Knives
Argentina - Asia - Cambodia - El Salvador - England - Finland - France - Germany - Greece - India - Indonesia - Italy - Japan - Nepal - Norway - Russia - South Africa - Spain - Sweden - Turkey - United States - Various
Boker - Brusletto - Chambriard - Citadel - CK Kubotan - Eickhorn - EKA Knives - Fontenille-Pataud - Forge De Laguiole - German Bull - Hartkopf - Hattori - Helle - Hen & Rooster - Herbertz - Hubertus - J.A. Henckels - Joker - Khukuri - Kizlyar - Linder - Lion Steel - Maruyoshi - Masahiro - Maserin - MCusta - Mercator - Mercury - Miguel Nieto - Muela - Myerchin - Nontron - Okapi - Opinel - Other Knives - Puma - Rapala - Ros Arms - Roselli - Sheffield Knives - Spyderco - Taylor's Eye Witness - Therias et L Econome - Vintage Knives - Viper

Home

Catalog

Blog

Why Buy from World Knives? Find out here

Toll Free: (866) 862-5233 Cell: (360) 250-1573

2103 Harrison Ave. NW, STE. 2-646 Olympia WA 98502-2607 USA