Böker Solingen Tiger-Damascus knife

The impressive Boker Tiger-Damascus adds a unique model to our series of pocket knives steeped in history. A collector's knife with a historical past is a real piece of living history and combines high-quality workmanship with authentic materials. Known throughout the world as the Tiger, the Panzerkampfwagen VI was used by the Wehrmacht in the late summer of 1942. It is considered one of the most famous tanks in history, despite its modest production numbers of only 1,350 units and its resulting low strategic importance. The development of the heavy tank dates back to 1937, and serial production began in August 1942. Today, only seven pieces have survived and are exhibited all over the world. Due to the low availability of the so-called The Frankentiger was even assembled for this purpose from wrecks from different years of production.

The tank parts we use come from the Tiger I tank from Schwere Panzerabteilung 502, which was destroyed in combat in Latvia in the summer of 1944 in a densely forested area near Bauska. Based on the remains found at the original excavation site, it was determined that this Tiger was an early to mid-production model. Battle damage examination of debris, military records, and local historical accounts showed that this Tiger tank collided with both a Russian T-34 medium tank and an SU-76 anti-tank gun, and was also damaged by a stationary 45 mm anti-tank gun. -tank gun. It is still unclear which of the strikes caused the most damage and sealed the Tiger's fate. However, since several 76mm shrapnels were lodged in the heavy armor, it is assumed that a nearby T-34 landed the decisive hits before it was also destroyed 300 meters away.

Otto Carius and Albert Kerscher, two of the most successful tank commanders of World War II, were at this time attempting to stop the advance of Soviet forces into Riga with Schwere Panzerabteilung 502. The division was able to so devastatingly defeat the enemy blocking forces near Tukums that it was able to withdraw to the Latvian Courland along with over 500,000 other Heeresgruppe Nord soldiers. There, the troops were surrounded in the further course of the Soviet advance. The Courland Cauldron served as a bridgehead and could be delivered by the Kriegsmarine by sea. Withstood six major attacks by Soviet forces until unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945.

The straight-edged Tiger-Damascus Boker is equipped with a unique Damascus blade made from the steel of a battle tank destroyed at Bauska. The non-steel mosaic damascus is hand-forged for us by Chad Nichols in the Dauntless pattern and resembles the tank tracks left in the ground by the Tiger's heavy tracks. Unlike traditional Damascus, the production of Damascus mosaic does not create layers, but the complex Damascus ingots are hand-formed into a mosaic in an intricate and very intricate process. The ball-bearing blade is opened via a thumb pin and locked by a solid steel frame with a stonewash finish, while the Hinderer lock acts as a safeguard against overextending the slide. The overall shape of the knife refers to the famous lines of the tank, and the decorative rotating screw is modeled on the main drive wheel. The slightly profiled handle scales made of jute micarta have precisely milled grooves that bring to mind the characteristic surface structure of the Zimmerit coating of German armored vehicles. With a hole for a lanyard and a milled clip (up/back) with a steel ball. Handmade in the Boker Knife Manufacture in Solingen. Supplied with an elegant suspended display, certificate of authenticity and individual serial number.